VirtualBox running CentOS 6 Notes

https://www.virtualbox.org/

Other Tips for VBox Guest Additions on Fedora 22/21, CentOS/RHEL 7.1/6.7/5.11

Follow the provided installation instructions in the manual.

Note: Just because the host machine is 64-bit does not mean the VirtualBox will run a guest 64-bit machine. Processor limits of the host machine seem to be the culprit or certain manufacturer's chips seem to be the limit.

Guest Additions in Run Level 3 - see VirtualBox General Notes

December 2015:

Machine took power hit and UPS failed. VirtualBox application would start, but no virtual machines would start. Kernel error. Had to remove VirtualBox and reinstall the same version (VirtualBox-5.0-5.0.10_104061_el6-1.x86_64.rpm)

November 2015:
1) Building the OpenGL support module [ FAILED ]

July 2015:
1) VirtualBox 5.0 mini toolbar does not work correctly in full screen

February 2014:
1) Boot error message: (modprobe vboxdrv failed. Please use 'dmesg' to find out why)

Install the dkms rpm package. It can slow the time to perform updates but it will stop this error message and also allow VirtualBox to work with new kernels seamlessly.

December 2013:
1) Upgrading to VirtualBox-4.3-4.3.4_91027_el6-1.x86_64.rpm causes failures when trying to start the VMs

Need to go into BIOS and under security options allow VirtualMachines to run.

2) Error message:
Building the OpenGL support module [FAILED]

Follow workaround on https://forums.oracle.com/message/11282251 or https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=58855

# cd /usr/src/kernels/2.6.32-431.el6.i686/include/drm/ 
# ln -s /usr/include/drm/drm.h drm.h 
# ln -s /usr/include/drm/drm_sarea.h drm_sarea.h 
# ln -s /usr/include/drm/drm_mode.h drm_mode.h 
# ln -s /usr/include/drm/drm_fourcc.h drm_fourcc.h

April 2013:
OpenGL support fails when installing Guest Additions on VirtualBox 4.2.10 r84104

Mount the Guest Additions CD .iso (Devices> Install Guest Additions…)

Open terminal as root:

# export MAKE='/usr/bin/gmake -i'
# cd /media/VBOXADDITIONS_4.2.10_84104
# sh VBoxLinuxAdditions.run

https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=42424

March 2013:
No X Display CENTOS 6.4

Need to investigate. Problem exists with VirtualBox 4.2.8 r83876

http://wiki.centos.org/Manuals/ReleaseNotes/CentOS6.4#head-a39645d5503daf52829401f298c60712af070009

https://www.centos.org/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?viewmode=flat&order=ASC&topic_id=41802&forum=55&move=prev&topic_time=1362817803

https://www.centos.org/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=41693&forum=55

Appears that removing /etc/X11/xorg.conf (save to a backup file) and letting the system rebuild xorg.conf allows VirtualBox to come again into graphical X Windows.

August 2012:
Crashes and won't boot

Crashes immediately upon boot on Dell E510 hardware. Add "edd=off" to kernel boot parameter.

July 2012:
Crashes and won't boot

Chipset problems cropped up for later kernels in Centos6.2…kernel panic upon booting. Fix is:

Change chipset settings in the VirtualBox Manager from PIIX3 to ICH9. Turn on IO APIC. Reboot guest CentOS.
https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=49007

The default settings under System > Motherboard was Chipset PIIX3, unchecked enable IO APIC

Other notes:

To migrate a VM install from other piece of hardware, just rsync ~/.VirtualBox and the location of the Virtual Box machine (default is ~/VirtualBox VMs)

When updating kernel on VM, you need to re-install guest additions and restart guest OS to get the seamless view/auto resize mode again.

Network:
http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/virtualbox-network-sharing.html

Screen resolution:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=691495
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=5145028#post5145028

Install the "VirtualBox Guest Additions" add-on to the Virtual Box Manager. Then login to the guest system and double-click the desktop icon for Additions. This package will enable proper screen resolution, mouse behavior, etc.

Change the guest OS to a higher display resolution and maximize the guest VM display window

Change theme if desired (under System > Preferences > Appearance > Themes)

Change mouse pointer to white (under System > Preferences > Appearance > Themes > Customize)

Change the system fonts to 8 point (System > Preferences > Appearance > Themes) and under the Advanced tab change the DPI resolution from the default (98) to 96.

Set up .bashrc

Set up gnome-terminal to monospace 9pt, unlimited text scrollback, blinking cursor if available

If desired, install webcore-fonts-1.3-1 (and see if Monospace 9pt fonts looks any different)

Adobe Reader is not installed in default channel - see CentOS Additional resource page at http://wiki.centos.org/AdditionalResources/Repositories and look for the Adobe Repository

Install Adobe flash (download rpm from Adobe website)

Install work's VPN software. Likely need to do a 'yum install libxml2.i686' first, though.

KRDC on CentOS6 guest OS: the width needs to be about 6 pixels less than current screen resolution to avoid the end scrollbars. Be sure to use FQDN.

KRDC on CentOS5 host OS: works fine; appears to make rdp:/hostname.domain.com by default a VNC connection which doesn't have odd black cursor/mouse.

Issues with CentOS6 installed under VirtualBox:

Old note for after new kernel install…..do this as root:

/etc/init.d/vboxdrv setup

Possible tests: