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Asked: 2024-09-24T06:25:18+05:30 In:

What are the steps to connect to a shared folder in VirtualBox on an Ubuntu guest system?

I’ve been wrestling with trying to connect to a shared folder in my VirtualBox setup, and honestly, it’s been a bit of a headache. I’m running Ubuntu as my guest OS, and while I’m somewhat familiar with VirtualBox, this shared folder thing is throwing me for a loop.

First off, I’ve already set up my VirtualBox environment and have a virtual machine up and running. I thought connecting to a shared folder would be as simple as clicking a few buttons, but it hasn’t been smooth sailing. I created a shared folder on my host machine, and I even went into the VirtualBox settings to add that folder to the VM’s shared folders list. But when I boot up the Ubuntu guest, I can’t seem to find where to access those shared files.

I’ve tried using the command line to mount the shared folder, but I keep running into permission issues or commands that don’t seem to work. I’ve seen some suggestions online about using the “mount” command along with “vboxsf”, but every time I type it in, it either throws an error or just doesn’t do anything at all. So frustrating!

Also, I’ve been told I might need to install some guest additions for everything to work properly, but I’m not too sure why that’s the case. Do I need to install those before I can connect to the shared folder? And if so, what’s the proper way to do that?

It would be super helpful if someone could break down the steps for me, like the order in which I should do things, and any configurations I might need to check in Ubuntu. I mean, do I need to change any settings or permissions on the folder itself? I just want to be able to easily access my shared files without all these technical hiccups.

So, if anyone out there has been in the same boat or knows the safe boat route, please share your wisdom! Your advice will definitely save me from losing my mind over this issue.

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    3 Answers


    1. Struggling with VirtualBox Shared Folders? Here’s a Simple Guide!

      It sounds like you’re having a tough time with shared folders in VirtualBox, but don’t worry—you’re not alone! Let’s break it down step by step:

      1. Install VirtualBox Guest Additions

      Before anything, you need to install the Guest Additions on your Ubuntu VM. This is super important because it enables features like shared folders. Here’s how:

      1. Boot up your Ubuntu virtual machine.
      2. In VirtualBox, go to the menu and click on Devices > Insert Guest Additions CD Image.
      3. Open a terminal in Ubuntu (you can do this by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T).
      4. Make sure you have the necessary packages to install the Guest Additions by typing:
        5. sudo apt update && sudo apt install build-essential dkms linux-headers-$(uname -r)
      5. Next, mount the CD image by running:
        6. sudo mount /dev/cdrom /media
      6. Now, run the Guest Additions installer:
        7. sudo /media/VBox_GAs_*/VBoxLinuxAdditions.run
      7. When it finishes, reboot your VM:
        8. sudo reboot
      8. This ensures everything is set up correctly!

      2. Set Up Shared Folders

      Now that you have Guest Additions installed, let’s set up your shared folder:

      1. In the VirtualBox Manager, select your VM (but don’t start it).
      2. Click on Settings > Shared Folders.
      3. Add your shared folder from the host by clicking the + icon.
      4. Make sure to check Auto-mount and Make Permanent options.
      5. Start your VM again.

      3. Accessing Shared Folders in Ubuntu

      After rebooting, the shared folder should be accessible:

      1. Open the terminal again.
      2. Check if your shared folder is mounted by running:
        3. ls /media
      3. Look for a folder named like your shared folder. If it’s there, great!
      4. If not, you may manually mount it using:
        5. sudo mount -t vboxsf YourSharedFolderName /media/YourMountPoint
      5. Replace YourSharedFolderName with the name you gave the shared folder and YourMountPoint where you want it accessible.

      Troubleshooting Tips

      If you run into permission issues:

      1. Make sure your user is part of the vboxsf group by running:
        2. sudo usermod -aG vboxsf $(whoami)
      2. Log out and back in to apply the group changes.

      That should cover the basics! Follow these steps, and you’ll hopefully have smooth sailing with your shared folders. Don’t hesitate to ask if you hit any snags along the way!



    2. To successfully connect to a shared folder in your VirtualBox Ubuntu guest, the first step is to ensure that you have installed the VirtualBox Guest Additions. This is essential, as the Guest Additions provide seamless integration between your host and guest systems, allowing for features like shared folders to function properly. To install the Guest Additions, first, boot up your Ubuntu VM, then go to the VirtualBox menu at the top and select “Devices” -> “Insert Guest Additions CD image.” Follow the on-screen prompts to install it. After installation, reboot your VM to apply the changes. Make sure your user has permission to access shared folders by adding the user to the ‘vboxsf’ group using the command `sudo usermod -aG vboxsf `, and then log out and log back in to take effect.

      Once you have the Guest Additions set up, you should configure the shared folder. Make sure that the folder on your host machine is accessible and has the correct permissions. In the VirtualBox settings for your VM, navigate to the “Shared Folders” section, click on the plus icon to add your folder, and ensure “Auto-mount” and “Make Permanent” are checked. When you start your Ubuntu guest again, the shared folder should automatically mount under `/media/sf_`. If it doesn’t appear, you may manually mount it using `sudo mount -t vboxsf `. Replace `` with the name of your shared folder and `` with the directory where you want to access it. If you continue to encounter permission issues, double-check that your user belongs to the `vboxsf` group and that you’ve set up the folder permissions correctly on your host system.



    3. To successfully connect to a shared folder in your VirtualBox Ubuntu guest, the first step is to ensure that you have installed the VirtualBox Guest Additions. This is essential, as the Guest Additions provide seamless integration between your host and guest systems, allowing for features like shared folders to function properly. To install the Guest Additions, first, boot up your Ubuntu VM, then go to the VirtualBox menu at the top and select “Devices” -> “Insert Guest Additions CD image.” Follow the on-screen prompts to install it. After installation, reboot your VM to apply the changes. Make sure your user has permission to access shared folders by adding the user to the ‘vboxsf’ group using the command `sudo usermod -aG vboxsf `, and then log out and log back in to take effect.

      Once you have the Guest Additions set up, you should configure the shared folder. Make sure that the folder on your host machine is accessible and has the correct permissions. In the VirtualBox settings for your VM, navigate to the “Shared Folders” section, click on the plus icon to add your folder, and ensure “Auto-mount” and “Make Permanent” are checked. When you start your Ubuntu guest again, the shared folder should automatically mount under `/media/sf_`. If it doesn’t appear, you may manually mount it using `sudo mount -t vboxsf `. Replace `` with the name of your shared folder and `` with the directory where you want to access it. If you continue to encounter permission issues, double-check that your user belongs to the `vboxsf` group and that you’ve set up the folder permissions correctly on your host system.


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