Virtualbox allows you to run a VM for Linux, Windows or anything else.

Getting Shared Folders working

  • Guest OS: Ubuntu 12.04
  • Host OS: Windows 7 x64

  1. Set up a new folder in Windows e.g. C:\vm which will be used to host the shared folder

  2. Configure the Guest Folder in the Virtualbox UI through Machine > Settings… > Shared Folders and create:

  • Type: Machine folder
  • Folder path: C:\vm
  • Folder name: vm
  • Auto-mount, make permanent

  1. Mount the Guest Additions CD in the Virtualbox UI through Devices > Insert Guest Additions CD Image…

  2. Install the Linux Guest Additions from your Linux terminal (as root):

mount /dev/cdrom /mnt              # or any other mountpoint
cd /mnt
./VBoxLinuxAdditions.run
reboot
  1. You should now have a new system path /media/sf_vm but you won’t be able to access it except as root. You need to add your user ID to the vboxsf user group:
usermod -a -G vboxsf jevon
id jevon                       # list groups

  1. Finally, you need to restart your SSH session so that the new groups can be picked up.

  2. Optionally, create a symlink to the media folder so it’s easier to find:

ln -s /media/sf_vm ~/vm