VirtualBox on iMac, unable to see "Shared folder". Linux Mint 18 and 19, both.

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tilt

VirtualBox on iMac, unable to see "Shared folder". Linux Mint 18 and 19, both.

Post by tilt »

I use VirtualBox on an iMac and run both Mint 18.3 and 19 in separate VMs.

When I created the VMs for both, I enabled sharing my iMac's home folder with both VMs and asked for both to be auto-mounted and permanent.

However, when I run the VMs I cannot see the shared folder at all, I cannot see any "networked" drives at all.

When I click on "Network" in the file manager, I see "Windows Network" and upon clicking it says Unable to mount.

Is there something I have configured incorrectly?

If it helps, earlier versions of Mint and VirtualBox had no problems in mounting the shared folder; but I have also faced this issue when trying out other distress; so the issue is not related merely to Mint. I am guessing I have to ask this question ion a VirtualBox forum and not in a Mint forum.

Thank you and cheers

Sorry, forgot to include version details:

Mac OS X High Sierra 10.13.5 running on a 2013 iMac 27"

VirtualBox Version 5.2.12 r122591 (Qt5.6.3)

Mint 18.3 Sylvia as one VM
Mint 19 Tara as the other VM.
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
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catweazel
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Re: VirtualBox on iMac, unable to see "Shared folder". Linux Mint 18 and 19, both.

Post by catweazel »

tilt wrote: Sun Jul 01, 2018 1:53 am However, when I run the VMs I cannot see the shared folder at all, I cannot see any "networked" drives at all.
This may be a bug in VBox. Take a look in /media for a directory named sf_ followed by the name of the share in Windwoes.
"There is, ultimately, only one truth -- cogito, ergo sum -- everything else is an assumption." - Me, my swansong.
tilt

Re: VirtualBox on iMac, unable to see "Shared folder". Linux Mint 18 and 19, both.

Post by tilt »

Thank you for the prompt response, cat weasel.

Mint 19 - the /media directory is empty, nothing in it.

Mint 18.3 - does have an sf_ entry with the name of the shared folder, but there's nothing inside that folder.

BTW, I do not have any Windows anywhere; I am on a Mac. It is merely that in Mint, the only entry under "Networks" is Windows, I have no idea why.

Cheers
altair4
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Re: VirtualBox on iMac, unable to see "Shared folder". Linux Mint 18 and 19, both.

Post by altair4 »

Mint 19 - the /media directory is empty, nothing in it.
Sounds like you didn't add the VBox Guest Additions: Devices > Insert Guest Additions CD Image

And remember: You need to add yourself to the vboxsf group:

Code: Select all

sudo gpasswd -a tilt vboxsf
Then logoff ( the guest ) and log back in again.
Please add a [SOLVED] at the end of your original subject header if your question has been answered and solved.
tilt

Re: VirtualBox on iMac, unable to see "Shared folder". Linux Mint 18 and 19, both. - SOLVED

Post by tilt »

Thank you, altair.

I downloaded the guest additions iso, but when I try to click on Devices|Insert Guest Aditions Image, I get an error window saying Unable to insert virtual optical disc ?Applications/VirtualBox.app/Contents/MacOS/VBoxGuestAdditions.zio into the machine Linux Mint 19 Tara.

Cheers


=EDITED TO ADD: Sorry, altair, your suggestion worked. Problem solved.

I got the error message mentioned above, but then also noticed after I posted here that the disk image was mounted inside the VM. So, I ran the outrun in that disk image and it installed the guest additions, and then I added myself to the group like you said, and it is all well now. Everything works.

Thank you.
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