Sharing folders that allow you to transfer files between the host and guest machine is easy with VirtualBox. Here’s how to set one up! If you’ve used VirtualBox you’ll be familiar with the frustration of moving files between host and guest machine.
To allow the VM to gain access to host files, and vice versa you’ll need to configure VirtualBox and create an shared folder. This folder allows both guest and host machines access to all files that are stored in this shared folder. The process of setting up the VirtualBox shared folder shouldn’t be too complicated, and we’ve put together the steps to guide you through the procedure.
How to Set Up a Shared VirtualBox Folder on a Windows VM
To set up a shared folder with VirtualBox the first step is to create an account on both the guest and host machines. You’ll then need to set up VirtualBox Guest Additions VirtualBox guest Additions application on the guest machine, and then configure the folders you’ve created to serve as your shared folder on this particular machine.
- Create a folder first. After you have created it, right-click the folder, and go there to the properties menu and select Sharing.
- Then click the Share button, then select Everyone after which click “Add”.
- After you’ve added everyone to the network, set your permissions level from read/write, then click Share.
- It’s now time to set up to configure the Windows guest computer. Navigate to Your Windows VM, hover over Devices, and select the Insert the Guest Additions DVD image. You can also press the CTRL + Home to display the menu. A prompt will appear. Choose the first option to launch this VirtualBox Windows Additions software. The installation process will take a amount of time. Allow it to finish and then restart by pressing Finish.
- After it is confirmed that Windows VM has restarted, click on the Devices tab, then Shared Folders and then click Shared Folders Options. You will be presented with an Shared Folders menu. This is where you’ll choose the folder that you would like to share as a shared folder to your host computer.
- For adding the folder simply click the add icon for the folder on the right-hand side. Then, select the folder you’d like to label as a Shared Folder by using the folder Path. After that, you can add the name of the folder and click auto-mount and Create permanent.
- Now, let’s set up the network of the virtual machine. Open File Explorer and go to Networks. In Networks you will be greeted with an error message that states that your “Network discovery is disabled.” Select the prompt, then click to turn on network discovery and file sharing..
- Choose “Yes” to enable the network discovery feature and file sharing.
- After you have tuned the network discovery feature as well as file sharing open Networks to refresh. It should be apparent that your shared file is accessible!
How to Set Up a Shared VirtualBox Folder on a Linux VM
To set up a shared folder within VirtualBox on the Linux guest computer, you’ll have to create a folder on the host machine, and then configure it to allow access within your network.
- We’ll start by using the host machine to create a folder called Shared Folder. To check if the file are accessible from hosts and guest machines, we’ve created a second folder called Books within the folder we made.
- Start the Linux VM and create a folder to serve for your mounting point. You can make use of the GUI to create one or run this commandsudo mkdir (Current/Directory/Folder_Name)
- In this instance the folder is named Shared_Folder, and put it on our Desktop to make it easy to access.
- After the folder is created on both computers, open the console on the Linux machine and verify that your system is running the most current Linux software as well as dependencies installed, so that you avoid problems during the installation of VirtualBox Guest Additions. VirtualBox guest Additions software.
- After the update is complete you can visit your guest machine and click on the device and select the Insert guest additions image. If the toolbar doesn’t appear then press Ctrl + Home to display the toolbar options. After that, you’ll be asked to run Virtual Box Guest Additions. Virtual Box Guest Additions software. Select Run and enter your password.
- After installing the program After that, visit VirtualBox and set up the guest machine. You can do this by selecting Settings > Shared Folders . Then, click the Add Folder icon on the right hand side of the screen. You then input into the Folder Path, Folder Name as well as the Mount Point after which you click OK.
- It is important to note that the Folder Path should be the one you would like to choose to be the shared folder. In our instance we’ve chosen the folder we created earlier with the name Shared Folder.
- The Folder Name is that of the folder that you will find on the guest machine.
- Its Mount Point should lead to the directory you intend to share as a shared folder on the guest machine. Since we made our folder in the Desktop directory, the mount point should be /home/linuxmint/Desktop/Shared_Folder.
- If you’re not certain of the exact directory in which you made that folder in Linux, then open your one you created within Linux and then open the terminal and type the “pwd” option to display the directory you’re working in.
- If you want to make the shared folder permanent for your guest computer make sure you tick on the auto-mount as well as Create Permanent options. After you’ve completed the setup, if you return to the configuration menu for your system you’ll see there’s a shared folder set up.
- If you now access your VM You’ll notice that there’s an unmounted shared folder within the home directory. If you attempt to open the shared folder mounted in the VM and you’ll see that it’s locked. This is due to the fact that you haven’t registered the user yet in the Vboxsf group This is the administrator of shared folders. To join the group, you need to open an terminal and then use:sudo adduser (username) vboxsf
- After you have added the user to the group, restart your system by using:sudo reboot
- After rebooting after rebooting, you should be in a position to access and open the entire shared folder. If you’d like to, you may also remove the icon for the shared folder mounted and continue to access the shared folder that you created previously.
Create a VirtualBox Shared Folder on Any Hardware
With the help of VirtualBox Guest Additions making an open folder that guests and hosts can share files has been extremely practical. It’s only a couple of steps to set up the VirtualBox share folder.
