Get Debian in fullscreen on VirtualBox

[MPREv]

Hi,

I got a Windows 7 (x64), 4GB of RAM, VT-x and a Display of 1440x900.

I've got installed Virtual Box and ran a Debian Linux (Console only!) in it.
But the Proble ist to get it working in full screen or at least full-screen window.

I know i ned to use the [HOST]+[F]. But this also don't do a got job,
as the Content is in a small box in the center of the Display with black around.

I also tried a WinXP in the VBox. At first it doesn't work:
1024x768 -> smaller than Display
1280x800 -> bigger than Display in vertical i have to scrool
[Crt]+[D] --> Installin the Virtual Box Addins --> 1024x768 now fits the screen.
(Installation starts automaticaly)

So I also tried it with the Debian. But no action with [Crt]+[D].
Tried: 'aptitude install virtualbox-ose-guest-modules virtualbox-ose-guest-utils'
--> "Starting VirtualBox Additions ... cannot modprobe vboxadd kernel module fail! fail!"

So I'm still not happy.
Any one with suggestion for VBox.
Or what virtualisation should I use?

 

[Night Hawk]

The size of the windows besides dragging the edges manually to fill the screen is mainly determined by the screen resolution options seen in the OS run on VBox. To the greater extent this will also be a factor with any other VM program.

If the distro lacks the higher resolutions you will be limited to the size the highest available will be seen at for the most part. Dragging the edges will then only results in seeing a white border surrounding the desktop. VMs for the most are geared to run in windows not maxed out to full screen. Even when running Windows as well as the XP Mode this is the norm with that as well.

 

[Lemur]

I hope this works for you...
How do you make VirtualBox full screen - Ubuntu Forums

 

[Night Hawk]

That would be similar to the ALT+ENTER key combo seen with Windows according to the answer seen there.

I just checked with ubuntu only seeing two 640x480 on the 9.10 and the latest Mint 9 seeing the 1440x900 option there.

 

[Pusspa]

u need guest additions im guessing?

 

[Night Hawk]

The OS you install is a guest addition. You are running a guest OS on a Windows host machine using Virtual Box or anotner VM ware.

 

[MPREv]

u need guest additions im guessing?

As already mentiond I allready tried it.

The Debians with aptitude:
'aptitude install virtualbox-ose-guest-modules virtualbox-ose-guest-utils'
--> "Starting VirtualBox Additions ... cannot modprobe vboxadd kernel module fail! fail!"

And also the ones from Vbox:
'sh VBOX-Linux....-x86.s'
...
....
Doing non-kernel setup of the Guest Additions ... done.
Installing the Window System drivers ... fail!
(Could not find the X.Org or XFree86 Window System.)

The size of the windows besides dragging the edges manually to fill the screen is mainly determined by the screen resolution options seen in the OS run on VBox. To the greater extent this will also be a factor with any other VM program.

If the distro lacks the higher resolutions you will be limited to the size the highest available will be seen at for the most part. Dragging the edges will then only results in seeing a white border surrounding the desktop. VMs for the most are geared to run in windows not maxed out to full screen. Even when running Windows as well as the XP Mode this is the norm with that as well.

Yeah, but running Debian directly on the Notebook also shows th _whole_ Diplay used for the Console (no mater of the 'resolution').
In the true full screen mode at least ther shouldn't be a need of a high resolution.
Or how can i change a Resolution in the console?

 

[Dark Nova Gamer]

Do you have X11 installed on the Debian system? Are you trying to modprobe the guest additions module into the kernel without Super User permissions?

Heres a thought, you could try getting the source code for the guest additions from Oracle, compile the kernel module, and then inject it into the 2.6.32 kernel headers (for compatibility even if its not the most current).

Best luck to you!

 

[Night Hawk]

When not in the full screen mode the resolution settings determine the size of the window you see. For ubuntu a Debian based distro the 9.10 install on VBox only saw two options for 640x480 and 800x600.

When not wanting the full screen taken up being in the full screen mode for access to things like the taskbar in the host 7 like the pinned snipping tool for example that could be an obstacle even with a dual monitor setup. Fortunately Virtual Box has another option for that as well.

Adding one more image you can see the option for guest additions under "devices". That's mostly for applications you plan to install however.

 

[ahriman]

... cannot modprobe vboxadd kernel module fail! fail

I think your problem is that your linux installation doesn't support dynamic kernel modules:

From the VirtualBox installation manual (pg 70): (referring to Linux guests)

1. Before installing the Guest Additions, you will have to prepare your guest system for building external kernel modules. This works similarly as described in chap- ter 2.3.2, The VirtualBox kernel module, page 37, except that this step must now be performed in your Linux guest instead of on a Linux host system, as described there. Again, as with Linux hosts, we recommend using DKMS for Linux guests as well.

If it is not installed, use this command for Ubuntu/Debian systems:

sudo apt-get install dkms

<snip>
Make sure to nstall DKMS before installing the Linux Guest Additions.

2. Mount the VBoxGuestAdditions.iso file as your Linux guest’s virtual CD-ROM drive, exactly the same way as described for a Windows guest in chapter 4.2.1.1, Installation, page 66.

3. Change to the directory where your CD-ROM drive is mounted and execute as root: sh ./VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.run In a 64-bit Linux guest, use VBoxLinuxAdditions-amd64.run instead.

 

[MPREv]

Do you have X11 installed on the Debian system? Are you trying to modprobe the guest additions module into the kernel without Super User permissions?

No (don't need X11 in commandline) and No (i use root).

Heres a thought, you could try getting the source code for the guest additions from Oracle, compile the kernel module, and then inject it into the 2.6.32 kernel headers (for compatibility even if its not the most current).

hmmm.... what?

Adding one more image you can see the option for guest additions under "devices". That's mostly for applications you plan to install however.

I also tried Ubuntu and installed the Addins ...
There now the Combination for real fullscreen (without black boarders) works:
-> set high resoulution on guest
-> [Host] + F
-> [Host] + G

But here i'm missing 32 Bit color.
(But thats not a major problem, as i'm looking for a Debian comandline solution. dual monitor setup --> same)

But Debian still not working.

I think your problem is that your linux installation doesn't support dynamic kernel modules:

Tried something like this ...


Following result:

VirtualBox Guest Additions installer
Verifying archive integrity... All good.
Uncompressing VirtualBox 3.2.8 Guest Additions for Linux........
Removing the installed version 3.2.8 of VirtualBox Guest Additions ...
Building the UirtualBox Guest Additions kernel modules
Your guest system does not seem to have sufficient OpenGL support to enable
3D effects (this requires Linux 2.6.27 or later in the guest system)
This Guest Additions feature will be disabled.

Building the Main Guest Additions Module ... done .
Building the shared folder support Module ... done.
Doing non-kernel setup of the Guest Additions ... done.
You should restart your guest to Make sure the new Modules are actually used

Installing the Window System drivers ... fail!
(Could not find the X. Org or XFree86 Window System.)

now with "Starting VirtualBox Additions ... done"
but no change .. big black boarder still there in fullscreen mode.

 

[Pusspa]

looks like your debian dosent have open GL. (i hope you see the humour in having an unwanted big black boarder compared to border btw...)

 

[Dark Nova Gamer]

THEORY ONE
I indeed tried the same thing with vBox additions under the most current linux headers and received the same error. It seems that vBox additions and the module that it is trying to compile is currently not supported with the most current linux headers.

Its a theory at best, but it makes sense.


THEORY TWO
Make sure that the version number of Guest additions you are attempting to install match the version number of your VirtualBox Installation (the Client itself).

I read up a bit, and saw people were having the same error when trying to install vBox Guest additions 1.6.2 when their VirtualBox Client was at 1.5.x. So make sure everything is updated!

 

[WiFi Ed]

Here's what I did to get Guest Additions installed successfully for Crunchbang 10 "Statler" (Debian-based distro) in VirtualBox 3.2.8 running on Windows 7 64 bit.
Installing Guest Additions on Debian « VirtualBoxes – Free VirtualBox® Images

I can drag the VB window across both monitors and get Crunchbang at 2560 x 1024.