How to install Guest Additions with Folder Sharing on VirtualBox – The Debian Way

I always forget where to download the proper version of the Virtualbox GuestAdditions, so here is a short tutorial about how to do it quickly and easily in the Debian way. I always need folder sharing between the guest and host OS, so you will see how this is done also. I will be using the current stable distribution Debian Wheezy as host system (without a running display manager, just the console), and  as the guest system also Debian Wheezy. It turns out that Debian has even packaged the Guest Additions for virtualbox.

First, install Virtualbox and the Guest Additions:

apt-get install virtualbox virtualbox-guest-additions

Then install Debian Wheezy as a guest system. Next, mount the Guest Additions ISO file by navigating through the menu system of Virtualbox:

• Devices -> CD/DVD Drives -> Coose a virtual CD/DVD disk file …

Choose the ISO from this path:

/usr/share/virtuabox/VBoxGuestAdditions.iso

Next, in your guest OS, mount the virtual CD, and run the installer:

mount /dev/cdrom /mnt
cd /mnt
./VBoxLinuxAdditions.run

Next shut down your guest OS (don’t to this in your host OS 😉 ):

halt

Now set up the shared folder in the menu system of Virtualbox:

• Settings -> Shared Folders -> +
• Select Folder
• Check “Auto-mount”

Re-start your guest OS, and you will have the shared folder auto-mounted in /media/sf_Public . Voila!