Linux - How do I maximize by Linux Window in VB? - Mac-Forums.com

iPod Nano · 10-28-2009, 02:02 AM

I am running Ubuntu Linux (just to be trying it) in Virtual Box. Does anyone know how I can make my Ubuntu virtual machine actually take up the FULL SCREEN instead of a small square of the screen.

vansmith · 10-28-2009, 07:01 PM

You have to install the guest additions to install vid drivers. Boot up the VM and when your desktop is loaded, go to Devices > "Install Guest Additions...". Once that is done, you will notice that the additions installers will be mounted at /media/VBOX...(I can't remember the full name but it can't be hard to find as there shouldn't be much in /media if anything). Open up a terminal and type the following:

Code:

sudo /media/VBOX<whatever the rest is>/VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.bin

It might be called VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.run but I'm not sure.

Once the additions are installed, reboot your VM and away you go. As an aside, you should always install the additions. It gives you some other features like shared folder support and pointer integration (so you don't have to click in the VM just to use it).

iPod Nano · 10-29-2009, 08:36 PM

When you say the "media" folder, do you mean in the VM or in Mac OS X? I can't find it in either.

vansmith · 10-29-2009, 09:17 PM

In your Ubuntu VM. To correct my previous post, the image with the additions isn't mounted to /media/VBOX<and the rest>. Instead, it is mounted to /media/cdrom0. I know this as I just installed the additions in my new Ubuntu 9.10 VM.

iPod Nano · 10-29-2009, 10:07 PM

Sorry, I can't find it. Will you take me through this one step at a time?

vansmith · 10-30-2009, 07:21 PM

No problem.

1. Once your Ubuntu VM is booted, go to Devices > Install Guest Additions. That will mount the installers and you should notice a CD icon on your desktop called something along the lines of "VBOXADDITIONS_<version number>". <version number> = the version number of VB.
2. Open up a Terminal window (Menu > Accessories > Terminal) and type the following:

Code:

cd /media/cdrom0/
sudo ./VBOXLinuxAdditions-x86.run

Enter your password, let it install the additions and then do as they ask by rebooting your VM.

I know this works - I did it last night and I just booted up my machine to get all the names right.

iPod Nano · 10-31-2009, 07:39 PM

I tried and it says "No such directory found".

vansmith · 10-31-2009, 07:52 PM

/media/cdrom0 should be there. What are the contents of your /media/ directory?

iPod Nano · 10-31-2009, 07:56 PM

Sorry to be making this so difficult, but I see no media directory. I tried going to it. Not there. A search revealed nothing.

vansmith · 10-31-2009, 08:02 PM

Trust me, you have one. Are you sure you're looking in the root directory? In other words, are you sure you're looking in /?

iPod Nano · 10-31-2009, 08:06 PM

Ah! There we go.

I see "cdrom"
"cdrom0"
"floppy"
"floppy0"

vansmith · 10-31-2009, 08:07 PM

As long as the vbox guest additions are mounted, you should see all the installers in cdrom0.

iPod Nano · 10-31-2009, 08:10 PM

Alright. I tried opening it and it wouldn't do much. Should I try the Terminal again?

vansmith · 10-31-2009, 08:16 PM

You have to execute the additions from the command line. So yes, you need to open up a terminal. Follow the instructions in post #6.

iPod Nano · 10-31-2009, 08:22 PM

When I enter my passoword, it then said "command not found".