Share Windows files and Folders in Oracle VirtualBox 5.1 VM

This post is about sharing Windows files and folders with Linux Guest Operating System in Oracle VirtualBox VM.

Prerequisites:

1.      Installed Oracle VirtualBox VM 5.1

2.      Guest Operating System Oracle Enterprise Linux 7.X installed in virtual machine.

1.      Insert Guest Additions CD Image

In VirtualBox VM windows select “Devices -> Insert Guest Additions CD image” menu option.

Image:01-Insert Guest Additions CD

2. Run Guest Additions

Click on Run button to install Guest Additions module.

Image:02-Run Virtual Box Guest Additions

3. Press Return

Press “Enter” key in the keyboard to exit from the installation terminal.

Image:03-Press Return

    4. Create Shared Folder

In Oracle VM VirtualBox Manager window click on “Shared folders” to open wizard to create Shared Folders.

Image:04-Create Shared Folder

5. Add Folder

In “Add Share” window click on “Folder Path:” drop down button and then "Other" option to browse folder to share. Then browse folder you want to share.

Image:05-Add Folder Path

In this case, I am sharing folder “F:\VM\SharedFolder\” . Select “Auto-mount” and “Make Permanent” check box. Restart Linux guest operating system, the shared folder will be automatically mounted in “/media/sf_SharedFolder/”. Permanent option will make the mount option persistent across VM operating system reboots.

6. Provide Folder Name

Enter a name for shared folder. This folder appears as sf_{folder name} in Linux guest operating system. Click on “Ok” button to continue.

Image:06-Add Folder To Share

7. Shared folder created

Click on “Ok” button to continue.

Image:07-Shared Folder

8. Check the shared folder

Login to guest operating system and check if the folder is mounted.

Image:08-Check Shared Folder

9. Add user to vboxsf group

The ownership of files and folders accessed this way is root:vboxsf, so the user through which these files are accessed should belong to vboxsf group. The command below is used to assign grid and oracle user to vboxsf group.

[root@db12c-01 ~]#usermod -a -G vboxsf grid

[root@db12c-01 ~]#usermod -a -G vboxsf oracle

Hope this helps.