Ubuntu server virtualbox guest additions

Installing virtualbox guest additions is not an optional step if the guest is an Ubuntu server that needs to interact with other networked machines. The primary reason for this is that NTP alone will not keep the system time on track. The guest system time will drift, especially if it or the host is suspended.

Installing the guest additions

On the host:

# add the guest additions disk image to drive using the media manager

On the guest:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get install dkms
sudo mkdir /media/cdrom0
sudo mount /dev/cdrom /media/cdrom0
cd /media/cdrom0
sudo sh ./VBoxLinuxAdditions.run

Setting up a shared folder (with the host)

On the host:

# create the folder on the host
# in the vm settings, add a shared folder with the auto mount option

On the guest:

gpasswd -a $USER vboxsf # in guest
# the shared guest folder is in /media/sf_[guest name]
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