Cannot run VM VirtualBox on Ubuntu 16.04

Question

I am having issues trying to run Virtual Box; which are the "appropiate headers"??

WARNING: The character device /dev/vboxdrv does not exist.
     Please install the virtualbox-dkms package and the appropriate
     headers, most likely linux-headers-generic.

     You will not be able to start VMs until this problem is fixed.

I have installed virtualbox-dkms package, but I have no idea about the headers.

Also when trying to run a VM

Kernel driver not installed (rc=-1908)

The VirtualBox Linux kernel driver (vboxdrv) is either not loaded or there is a permission problem with /dev/vboxdrv. Please install virtualbox-dkms package and load the kernel module by executing
'modprobe vboxdrv'
as root. If it is available in your distribution, you should install the DKMS package first. This package keeps track of Linux kernel changes and recompiles the vboxdrv kernel module if necessary.

where: suplibOsInit what: 3 VERR_VM_DRIVER_NOT_INSTALLED (-1908) - The support driver is not installed. On Linux, open returned ENOENT.

I cannot run modprobe vboxdrv (yes, I run it with sudo)

modprobe: ERROR: could not insert 'vboxdrv': Operation not permitted

I think this is a common question but cannot find answers for Ubuntu 16.04, just outdated ones.

UPDATE

linux-headers-generic is installed but it still doesn't work.

Perhaps also try this solution here – Baa Mar 12 '18 at 20:13 — Baa, Mar 12 '18 at 20:13
I've just posted the solution (for me) of this issue here – Adriana Hernández Dec 30 '19 at 16:54 — Adriana Hernández, Dec 30 '19 at 16:54

score 4 · Answer 1 · edited Mar 23 '18 at 17:27

4

Did you try:

sudo apt-get update 
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get install --reinstall virtualbox-dkms

Hope this will help.

edited Mar 23 '18 at 17:27

Zanna

70,465

answered Mar 12 '18 at 20:12

boggy

382

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 12 '18 at 20:03

1

To install the headers do

sudo apt install linux-headers-generic

answered Mar 12 '18 at 20:03

Baa

3,452

Thanks, it looks like they are already installed so must be some other thing missing – lapinkoira Mar 12 '18 at 20:04
Please also try sudo apt install build-essential gcc make perl – Baa Mar 12 '18 at 20:08

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 12 '18 at 20:18

How did you install it in the first place? I usuall just install it with

sudo apt-get install virtualbox

which installs all required packages and builds the modules for the current kernel. You will have to run

sudo dpkg-reconfigure virtualbox-dkms

if you upgrade your kernel.

Hope it gives you a clue, otherwise post back.

Cheers.

score 0 · Answer 4 · edited Jun 12 '20 at 14:37

Install/Check Virtualbox Driver

The installation of the Virtualbox drivers can fail for several reasons. First check if the kernel modules have been create:

$ ls -la /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/misc
total 696
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root   4096 Mar  7 16:02 .
drwxr-xr-x 6 root root   4096 Mar  7 16:02 ..
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 600232 Mar  7 16:02 vboxdrv.ko
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  16204 Mar  7 16:02 vboxnetadp.ko
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  43134 Mar  7 16:02 vboxnetflt.ko
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  39959 Mar  7 16:02 vboxpci.ko

If the modules are missing run vboxconfig manual:

$ sudo vboxconfig 
## ... some output ###
vboxdrv.sh: Stopping VirtualBox services.
vboxdrv.sh: Building VirtualBox kernel modules.
vboxdrv.sh: Starting VirtualBox services.
vboxdrv.sh: Starting VirtualBox services.

vboxconfig will produce some useful output, if there are errors.

After that check if virtualbox is working properly with the module.

$ sudo vboxmanage --version
5.2.8r121009

sudo vboxfonfig - command not found)). i think that's my problem, but I don't know how to fix it. — nick, Apr 17 '20 at 19:14

Cannot run VM VirtualBox on Ubuntu 16.04

4 Answers4

Install/Check Virtualbox Driver