Virtualbox: Shared directory- “unknown filesystem type vboxsf”

Virtualbox: Shared directory- “unknown filesystem type vboxsf”

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Posted in Linux, Tutorial, Windows, computer, technology by tanjir
January 5, 2009
Tags: Linux, shared directory, vboxsf, virtualbox, Windows

I got the error message “unknown filesystem type vboxsf”  while I was trying to share a directory from my Windows XP host to Ubuntu Interpid Ibex (8.10). In almost every where it said to install Guest additions. After spending few hours I found the solution.  So decided to share with you for reference.

Step 1: Install host additions (usually you install them when you install virualbox).

Step 2: If you have created a new machine, then create a shared directory/folder. (From the machine’s Devices menu)

 

Step 3: From machine’s Devices menu, select “Install guest additions”

Step 4: Now in the guest (Ubuntu Ibex Interpid for my case), fire up a console and type the following:

1	sudo /media /cdrom /VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.run

It should install the additions.

Step 5: Now create a directory where you want to mount your shared drive. For example I have created shared directory under mount using following:

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#cd /media #sudo mkdir shared

Step 6: Mount using following command:

1	sudo mount -t vboxsf shared /media /shared

Note that shared was the name of the directory I shared from virtual box and /media/shared is the directory where I wanted to mount my shared directory.

Now you should be able to see the files under shared directory in both system.

Enjoy!