VirtualBox Lubuntu/Ubuntu
Installing guest additions

Addet at:Mon, Jul 08, 2019 Updated at:Sun, Sep 15, 2024

In this article I will show you how to install VirtualBox guest additions under Lubuntu/Ubuntu in order to use functions such as clipboard, drag and drop and shared folders. These functions make the workflow between guest and host much easier. Linux Lubuntu is used in this guide. Lubuntu is based on Ubuntu, which means that this guide can be used on many other Linux distributions.

What is needed:

Install Guest Additions

1. Determine VirtualBox version

The first step is to determine the correct VirtualBox version so that the correct GuestAdditions version is downloaded and used for the installation.

To determine the VirtualBox version, simply click on Help/About VirtualBox... in the menu and read the version in the info box.

The version is shown in this info box. In this example, it is version 7.0.18

2. Download the VBoxGuestAdditions_x.x.xx.iso

Now go to the VirtualBox downloads page VirtualBox Downloads and download the corresponding VBoxGuestAdditions version.

In this example, it is the file VBoxGuestAdditions_7.0.18.iso, i.e. matching the previously determined VirtualBox version.

3. Mount downloaded iso file as drive

Next, the downloaded iso file must be mounted as a drive in your VM.

To do this, go to "Settings" in VirtualBox and then to "Storage". Here you select your downloaded ISO file using the disk symbol (1). This now selected ISO file will be mounted as a drive when you start your VM.

4. The installation - Installing guest additions via terminal

At this point we will carry out the installation. To do this, start your VM and open the terminal. Then execute these three commands one after the other in this terminal.

With the first command you log in to the terminal as root. With the second command you change the directory to the integrated IOS file. Here you have to enter your user name instead of chaincheck. With the third command you then install the guest extensions. 

$ sudo -i

$ cd /media/chaincheck/VBox_GAs_7.0.18/

$ ./VBoxLinuxAdditions.run

The installation of the guest additions takes about 2 minutes. During the installation, the resolution of the VM can change several times. That's okay. Restart your VM after the installation.

5. Testing Guest Additions - Copy&Past Bidirectional

After restarting the VM, the guest extensions are active. To test this, you can open the menu and set Shared clipboard to bidirectional (see image). Once this is activated, you can use copy & paste between your guest and host.

If the menu is not visible, the Virtualbox menu can be displayed using the key combination [Ctrl (right)] + [Pos1]. This also works with a remote connection.

Now you can copy and paste text between the VM and your guest system.

The installation of the guest additions is now complete.