070813 - VirtualBox OSE 1.4.0

[easuter]

At long last, the Open Source Edition of VirtualBox 1.4.0 (Innotek's x86 virtual machine software) is available for download from the testing repository.
This release represents a huge improvement over the 1.3.x series, in terms of stability, speed and handling of system resources.

Master Source: http://vectorlinux.osuosl.org/veclinux-5.8/source/testing/emulators/VirtualBox/
Package: http://vectorlinux.osuosl.org/veclinux-5.8/testing/emulators/VirtualBox-OSE-1.4.0-i586-1vl58.tlz

Code:

VirtualBox-OSE: VirtualBox 1.4.0 OpenSource Edition
VirtualBox-OSE:
VirtualBox-OSE: innotek VirtualBox is a family of powerful x86 virtualization
VirtualBox-OSE: products for enterprise as well as home use.
VirtualBox-OSE: Presently, VirtualBox runs on Windows, Linux and Macintosh hosts
VirtualBox-OSE: and supports a large number of guest operating systems including
VirtualBox-OSE: but not limited to Windows (NT 4.0, 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista),
VirtualBox-OSE: DOS/Windows 3.x, Linux (2.4 and 2.6), and OpenBSD.
VirtualBox-OSE:
VirtualBox-OSE: Website: http://www.virtualbox.org/
VirtualBox-OSE: License: GNU General Public License, version 2

Kernel modules for VL 5.8 Standard/SOHO:

Package: http://vectorlinux.osuosl.org/veclinux-5.8/testing/drivers/VirtualBox-OSE-kmod-1.4.0_2.6.18.5-i586-1vl58.tlz

Code:

VirtualBox-OSE-kmod: VirtualBox kernel module
VirtualBox-OSE-kmod:
VirtualBox-OSE-kmod: For use with kernel 2.6.18.5 only!
VirtualBox-OSE-kmod:
VirtualBox-OSE-kmod: Website: http://www.virtualbox.org/
VirtualBox-OSE-kmod: License: GNU General Public License, version 2

Package: http://vectorlinux.osuosl.org/veclinux-5.8/testing/drivers/VirtualBox-OSE-kmod-1.4.0_2.6.20.3-i586-1vl58.tlz

Code:

VirtualBox-OSE-kmod: VirtualBox kernel module
VirtualBox-OSE-kmod:
VirtualBox-OSE-kmod: For use with kernel 2.6.20.3 only!
VirtualBox-OSE-kmod:
VirtualBox-OSE-kmod: Website: http://www.virtualbox.org/
VirtualBox-OSE-kmod: License: GNU General Public License, version 2

After installing the main VM package (VirtualBox-OSE), you need to install a kernel module for it. If you are using the stock kernel provided in VL 5.8 Standard and SOHO select the correct kernel module package to be installed (run "uname -r" if in doubt about which kernel you have installed).
If you have a custom kernel, then don't install either of the kernel module packages, instead you can find a directory in /opt/VirtualBox-OSE-1.4.0 called kmod-src, which contains the kernel module source code prepared for you. Simply enter the directory and run the vl-kmod-build.sh script to compile and install a kernel module for your system.

On another note, this app may be very useful when the graphical installer gets into testing stages.
It is very user-friendly (so almost anyone can participate in the testing), and allows you to from boot an ISO image on your hard-drive, so no need to burn a new CD every time a new testing version of the installer comes out 

Post feedback in this thread only.

[roseway]

Unless I'm missing something, this doesn't seem to include the guest additions.

[easuter]

Unless I'm missing something, this doesn't seem to include the guest additions.

How do you mean?

[roseway]

Sorry, I was expecting to find a file called VBoxGuestAdditions.iso which is used to boot from after installing the guest OS. It seems that this version of VirtualBox uses a different arrangement.

[easuter]

Sorry, I was expecting to find a file called VBoxGuestAdditions.iso which is used to boot from after installing the guest OS. It seems that this version of VirtualBox uses a different arrangement.

Yeah, now you simply install the guest OS and boot it by selecting the profile you created for it

[roseway]

Actually I think I was right the first time - that file is missing. After you install the guest OS and boot it, you go the Devices menu and select 'Install Guest Additions...'. This results in an error message saying that it's unable to find VBoxGuestAdditions.iso. I've copied that file from an installation of VirtualBox-1.4.0 in another distro, and now the 'Install Guest Additions' menu item works correctly.

[easuter]

I see...however, no ISO file was created when the sources were built, so I'm not sure if this is a feature offered by default for the opensource edition.
I will ask on the VirtualBox mailing lists about this

[rbistolfi]

I got the win community version, so i can have VL at work . It has the iso in the package. It gives to the guest the capabilities for sharing folders and a clipboard with the host. IIRC, that is why the kernel modules are needed, so the iso should be there, no idea if the file is in the default package or is an optional download.
BTW, VL runs great on it, I am looking forward to test this package on my vl box..

[roseway]

It also installs a better graphics driver and adds the feature of seamless cursor movement between the host and guest.

[roseway]

I've been looking into this some more, and I see that there is a licensing problem here. The OSE version is GPL software but doesn't include the guest additions. The free binary version does include the guest additions, but the licence doesn't permit redistribution without specific permission. I don't know if Innotek would grant that permission to VL, and if not then we can't include the guest additions.

[easuter]

I see..well, it might just be a matter of asking InnoTek's permission

BTW, does the guest additions ISO you used work correctly with this build as it is?

[roseway]

Yes, it seems to work exactly as it should. It came from a Kubuntu installation, but I don't remember now if it was from their repos or from the VB site.

I'm happy to request permission from InnoTek unless someone with more VL authority wants to do it.