Dead simple.

Which current up-to-date distro with kernel 2.6.2x or 2.6.3x (as supplied or from repo update) will allow VirtualBox access to usb and those devices already available on the host?

If it matters, the VirtualBox doesn't have to be current - no 3.x versions.

p.s. I shouldn't have to say this but, you know, a distro that when you want to start the vbox "settings" doesn't bring up a wee box with "usb_proxy not found" etc, etc.

There are two versions of VirtualBox: PUEL and OSE.

The PUEL version is required for USB access (OSE does not support it).

VirtualBox PUEL will run on any Linux distro and is available here: http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Linux_Downloads

Also, it is always a good idea to read the documentation: http://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch03.html#id2617879

oh dear, in the nicest way, please re-read.

It doesn't matter which distro you choose, just use the PUEL version of Virtualbox.

It most certainly does matter.

Let's see. Someone who has never used VirtualBox before sees it's available from his distro repo - VirtualBox OSE. It installs ok and he runs it and goes into the settings for his vm. There is no setting for usb therefore VBox does _not need_ access to usb. No messages, no problem, no matter the distro version.

He might then post a q somewhere asking _about VirtualBox_.

At the risk of repeating myself :-)

VBox up and running, engage the settings to have usb and devices available because it's there and expected, but no. A message box says no usb. Well it works ok on an older distro so why not on this current one?

Cue question in forum:
Which current up-to-date distro with kernel 2.6.2x or 2.6.3x (as supplied or from repo update) will allow VirtualBox access to usb

The OSE version does not do usb. Download and install the PUEL version.
Grab the version from the website. That is the only one with USB support, as well as other features like VRDP and RAW Disk Access.

Linux_Downloads - VirtualBox If you are running Debian or Ubuntu you can add the repository rather than downloading the .deb package.

VirtualBox/USB - Community Ubuntu Documentation VirtualBox - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

hmmm, a sincere appreciation of your willingness to help.

But why are you going on about VBox versions when I've made the point it's to do with the distro?

The thread Title structure is deliberate, placing the nouns differently would have another meaning.

If the VBox version that _uses_ usb, provides filters, and _expects_ cooperation from the distro subsystem does not get it and shows up an error box with, roughly, "no usb proxy, verr file not found" then it's down to the distro.

We all _know_, or it should be a big clue as I hinted in my last post when people get OSE from their repo and see that there is no usb entry in the vm settings, which version uses usb.

Unless people here are using an older distro/kernel with their _non-ose_ VBox, which I know from experience works admirably, then I'd really like to know.

Please indicate 1) which distro you are currently using; 2) which version of VirtualBox you have installed; 3) the exact text of the error message (copy & paste), if you would like further assistance troubleshooting this problem.

I am happy to help with your specific issue, but I have no interest in typing up a list of "all distros known to support VirtualBox" (the answer is in the dozens if not hundreds; Craigevil has already listed 18 for you).

hey, I'd like to say I'd spent last couple checking this out but other things intercepted!

VBox vers 1.6x 2.x are ok under Ubuntu 9.04, Suse 10.3 ,Fed12, anything more recent of these distros -no usb- even if the devices are usable by user.

I've seen a few threads in places about the content of fstab - whether needing usbfs /proc/usb - and uudev vboxdrv.rules having all the right parts. Re-jigging these and running so many reboots, trying terminals with udevadm restarts, mounts umounts just gets nowhere.

I understand you not wanting to make a list, in the same way I don't want to spend time downloading iso files, burning, installing, for every major distro.

I'm relatively happy poking about if required on other matters with my present distros on various pcs and keeping seperate apps up-to-date but if I can't have a fully current distro I can use online as well as have VBox running because some people forgot the -if it ain't broke... - tenet, then it's a sorry state of affairs for the Linux community.

I see there's a recent post someone using VBox for yonks with all his usb stuff and now he's screwed too.

How hard is it to download and use the PUEL version. It supports most of the big distros.

If you are using Debian use the svmi script, it will download either the OSE or the PUEL version then build the kernel modules. All it takes is picking which one you want to use.

You are making a mountain out of a mole hill. It would be different if neither version supported usb.

Still pushing that line?

Perhaps your browser/line managed to omit sentence 2 of my last post.

Maybe I should repeat it adding a little:

VBox vers 1.6x, 2.x are ok under Ubuntu 9.04, Suse 10.3 ,Fed12, with the usb devices showing up as available to the filters in these VBox (puel) versions being usable in the guest, and no jumping hoops needed.
Anything more recent of these _distros_ trying the previously working VBox versions as indicated - no usb.

Think I'll sign off this thread. No hard feelings.

So an ancient OSE version worked, things change. You don't seem to get that it isn't a problem. Anyone that isn't mental knows about the PUEL version.

feel free to run an old version that probably has all kinds of issues and security holes.

Might as well say "A game I have worked in windows 98 but doesn't work in windows 7".

I've only had experience with VirtualBox 3 and up running on Slackware, or Arch, but so far I've always had to amend permissions, groups, and fstab to enable usb support in the PUEL version.

hi there uxrs75,

Quite honestly, before your post I came across a permissions thing which may/may not come under the umbrella of points you raised. I tend to take stuff away on a laptop and have no internet access for a period so now I'm back home.

I found this by running the other virt app - Qemu. This like the other VBox versions ran with no probs on the older distro/kernels. I happened to try on one of my bete-noirs and its little dialog box came up with -no usb access permission denied' when I tried to add in a usb device.

Although I've done the permutations of the various entries in fstab, vboxdrv.rules, group files the Qemu msg made me look at the /proc/bus/usb/001 etc etc entries themselves. By manually assigning rwx to group/others the actual device-file under those numbers got me back to usability.

Absolutely bizarre! All my previous distro/VBox setups had no special requirements and their device-file entries showed standard rwx for owner.

I think I've been right about the cause being down to some quirk of those current distro/kernels.