Ubuntu guest in VirtualBox - some tips

1. Getting a high or fullscreen resolution for your Ubuntu guest:

If installing the Guest Additions doesn't give you a high enough resolution for a decent sized window, or nor a fullscreen resolution, try the following link:

Ubuntu In VirtualBox – Set A High Screen Resolution - Linux/Unix Tutorials | Dream.In.Code

I found I had to edit my xorg.conf (/etc/X11/xorg.conf) to give me fullscreen resolution. After you make the change, just reboot, and you will have your desired resolution (windowed or fullscreen). If fullscreen, just choose Fullscreen from the virtualbox view menu option.

2. Sharing a Windows folder with Ubuntu:

- In settings for the guest, choose your Windows folder to share.
- In your home folder in Ubuntu you can create a new folder (VBoxShared for example).
- Open the terminal in Ubuntu, and type the following command:

sudo mount -t vboxsf NameofYourWindowsFOlder ~/NameofYourFolderToShareInUbuntu

For example, if in the guest settings your choose a Windows folder called VirtualBoxShared, and created a folder called VBoxShared in Ubuntu in your home folder , you would use the following command:

sudo mount -t vboxsf VirtualBoxShared ~/VBoxShared

Just type in your password when prompted, and hit enter.

To make things quicker,

- You can open gedit, enter your command, and save it to the Desktop.
- Then right click on the saved file, choose Properties, then Permissions,
and check "Allow executing file as program"
- Then just double click, and choose Run In Terminal, and enter your password.

If you want to automatically access your Windows share every time you boot into your Ubuntu guest, you can do the following:

Add yourself (username) to the vboxsf group using the following command:

sudo usermod -a -G vboxsf username

Then logout and log back in, and your Windows shared folder should show up /media in the filesystem with read/write permissions.

Make sure that in the settings in VirtualBox for your Ubuntu guest, you select the Windows shared folder as auto-mount.

3. Create desktop launchers (for those who like desktop icons, in the Gnome Classic desktop, for example):

How To Create Desktop Launchers in Ubuntu 11.10(Oneiric)*|*Ubuntu Geek

To make things quicker, open gedit, paste the command into it, save to desktop, and make executable, as in step 2 above. Most all of your program executables will be in /usr/bin when your browse for your command.

I hope these tips help.

Tom

good info for those that run Ubuntu in virtual box