Chuffed: USB devices working in VirtualBox

BigAl-sa

BigAl-sa

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I finally got my scanner working under XP in a VirtualBox (Kubuntu 8.10). I must write it up soon as I can't begin to describe all the trails I've been up and down trying to get VirtualBox to recognise USB.

YIPPEE!

(Here's hoping I did everything right and it still works tomorrow!)
 
I'm very impressed with Virtualbox too, it's a little erky here and there, but the guest OS's run extremely fast, I even got Quake 3 to run at a perfectly playable framerate (Linux host, XP guest) thanks to their new 3D acceleration features.
 
VirtualBox is a great program, but the installation steps under Linux have always looked a bit hectic to me, so I've always used the Windows version. That being said, one day I'll try my luck with the Linux version, to learn something new.
 
n1hilist said:
I'm very impressed with Virtualbox too, it's a little erky here and there, but the guest OS's run extremely fast, I even got Quake 3 to run at a perfectly playable framerate (Linux host, XP guest) thanks to their new 3D acceleration features.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, I've not yet been able to get the 3d stuff running yet (dxdiag says not available). Maybe I'll make that my next quest :D
 
The_Librarian said:
Virtualbox is a nice virtualizer.

I use it at work for a few VM's :)
Click to expand...

Yeah, I also have a VM running at work for customized software that just does not work in Linux or WINE. Was not a huge mission get USB devices recognized, haven't tried any games yet, but will do when no one is looking! :D

B
 
BigAl-sa said:
Unfortunately, I've not yet been able to get the 3d stuff running yet (dxdiag says not available). Maybe I'll make that my next quest :D
Click to expand...

I think it's only OpenGL apps that work, I must test it on some small D3D apps and see, but afaik it only does pass-through on 3D Acceleration for OpenGL but I might be wrong.

In the Adv properties you can enable 3D accel and set video ram, I'm using Vbox 2.1.0
 
The only downside with Vbox, is that you can't auto-boot your guests when your host boots, this is something I use VMWare Server for.
 
Asha'man X said:
VirtualBox is a great program, but the installation steps under Linux have always looked a bit hectic to me, so I've always used the Windows version. That being said, one day I'll try my luck with the Linux version, to learn something new.
Click to expand...

It's not hard to install on Ubuntu, infact it's in the repos but it's an older version, on their site you can download the .deb files for Ubuntu, once downloaded double click and it should install.
 
Asha'man X said:
VirtualBox is a great program, but the installation steps under Linux have always looked a bit hectic to me, so I've always used the Windows version. That being said, one day I'll try my luck with the Linux version, to learn something new.
Click to expand...

I have always been able to install VB without any issues or bugs. Now only to try and get a usb-> serial device to be seen in VB as a serial port :p
 
n1hilist said:
It's not hard to install on Ubuntu, infact it's in the repos but it's an older version, on their site you can download the .deb files for Ubuntu, once downloaded double click and it should install.
Click to expand...

AFAIK the version in the repositories is the open source version, and doesn't have USB support. I've always preferred the version off the innotek website.

I used to run CS3, Photoshop and Flash, inside a VM. :)
 
web said:
Seems like quite a job on kubuntu, Mandriva was much simpler to get Virtualbox working , running opensuse 11.1 now will give it a go today and see how it goes.
Click to expand...
Not sure if I'm reading you right here: installing VB is quite painless on Kubuntu. Getting USB to work is where the pain comes in (and as I understand it it's painful on all versions of Ubunutu).
 
n1hilist said:
I think it's only OpenGL apps that work, I must test it on some small D3D apps and see, but afaik it only does pass-through on 3D Acceleration for OpenGL but I might be wrong.

In the Adv properties you can enable 3D accel and set video ram, I'm using Vbox 2.1.0
Click to expand...
I checked, in the Vbox settings it say 3d acceleration is running, but dxdiag says it's not - will look into that further sometime. Will be nice to get Heroes of Might and Magic 3 running.
 
chiskop said:
AFAIK the version in the repositories is the open source version, and doesn't have USB support. I've always preferred the version off the innotek website.

I used to run CS3, Photoshop and Flash, inside a VM. :)
Click to expand...
One of the only reasons I have to use win is for my photo editing apps: I have to use DPP for converting RAW as those apps I've managed to get running under X don't do a good job; Gimp throws away EXIF info with tiff files; kipi plugins do not have a stable version for KDE4, so Gwenview is virtually useless; to use my current scanner (the sane drivers don't work too well) - the reason for this thread :D
 
BigAl-sa said:
Not sure if I'm reading you right here: installing VB is quite painless on Kubuntu. Getting USB to work is where the pain comes in (and as I understand it it's painful on all versions of Ubunutu).
Click to expand...

I know the first time installed Virtualbox i had endless hassles trying to get USB working now I do it in this order on Mandriva.

1.) Installed OSE version from the repo's this makes sure i get all the correct kernel requirements otherwise i get confused :D
2.) run # /etc/ini.d/ ./vboxdrv setup
3.) Reboot my linux machine.
4.) Make sure VB is working
4.) Remove the OSE version (only that leave all the kernel bits)
5.) Install the package from sun's site.
6.) Reboot laptop.
7.) Start VB and load my virtual windoze drive.
8.) Install guest additions
9.) Select my shared folder and activate USB devices.

I have one "windows harddrive" (.VDI ) that I use on all my laptops so I don't have to activate windows each time i install VB.

Tried the same procedure on Opensuse yesterday and it worked, I suppose looking back at my list now it is rather long winded and I am sure I could probably skip a few steps but it always works that way so will stick to it.
 
web said:
I have one "windows harddrive" (.VDI ) that I use on all my laptops so I don't have to activate windows each time i install VB.
Click to expand...
Now that I like :D Not sure how legal it is, but I must remember this!
 
BigAl-sa said:
Now that I like :D Not sure how legal it is, but I must remember this!
Click to expand...

:o let me rephrase that, I like to play around with Linux my work laptop I normally keep one distro on, was Mandriva for the last two years now been running opensuse 11.1 for the last week, but used to annoy me was everytime I re-installed Linux or tried a different distro I had to re-do my "windoze" installation now I just backup the .vdi harddrive and once I have VB running I just use the same "windoze harddrive". That way I dont have to re-install all the software everytime, makes life simpler and I am a simple fella after all. :D
 
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