Virtualbox – Guest Additions for GUI-less servers

This is the only page that I’ve seen that correctly directs folks how to apply Virtualbox Guest Additions for GUI-less servers like Ubuntu server.

Basic gist of commands:

• Create Ubuntu server instance under VirtualBox (obviously).
• Start VM, goto Devices – Insert Guest Additions CD image to mount the ISO image.
• From the terminal, run the following commands:
  • $ sudo su
  • $ apt install gcc make
  • $ mkdir –parents /media/cdrom
  • $ mount /dev/cdrom /media/cdrom
  • $ /media/cdrom/VBoxLinuxAdditions.run
  • $ reboot
• After reboot:
  • $ modinfo vboxguest
  • $ sudo usermod –append –groups vboxsf — “$USER”
  • $ cat /etc/group | grep “$USER”
• Host shares should now be mounted in Ubuntu guest under /media via the installed VBoxService service, set to start on system boot-up.
• All done.