How to get Ubuntu guest VM to recognize second VirtualBox monitor?

Question

Now that VirtualBox supports multiple monitors for guests, I decided to try it out with Ubuntu 11.04 Alpha3 (i386) as a guest.

Unfortunately, the second screen stays black and I can't even get xrandr to see the other display.

Is there some way of getting this feature to work?

score 7 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 06 '11 at 00:27

7

I finally figured out how to get it working - I had to install:

sudo apt-get install virtualbox-ose-guest-x11

...and restart. The VM didn't boot the first time, but a hard reset seemed to sort things out.

Note: at first, Natty assumed I wanted to clone the displays... but a quick trip to System->Preferences->Monitors was able to fix that.

answered Mar 06 '11 at 00:27

Nathan Osman

32,155

This package doesn't seem to be there in 13.04 – Tracker1 Aug 21 '13 at 22:37

score 2 · Answer 2 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:23

2

Multiple monitor setup of Virtual Box requires the installation of Guest Additions in the guest OS.

Mostly depending on the graphic card there may still be some issues with Virtual Box and Compiz/Unity in 11.04. Make sure you download and run the most recent version of Virtual Box.

If Unity/Compiz still won't run you can try to run Ubuntu 11.04 in a multiple monitor setting by choosing Ubuntu Classic Desktop (no effects) on login.

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:23

Community

1

answered Mar 05 '11 at 23:15

Takkat

142,284

What if I have the machine set to auto-login? – Nathan Osman Mar 05 '11 at 23:17
You can always turn off auto-login in Find More Apps -> Installed -> see xx more results -> Users and Groups at the password section. – Takkat Mar 05 '11 at 23:45
1

Still doesn't work. – Nathan Osman Mar 05 '11 at 23:55
My fault: I was assuming you aready had installed Guest Additions (you need them for 3D/Unity anyway). It is best advice to use the most recent version of VBox and GA downloaded from Virtual Box. – Takkat Mar 06 '11 at 07:18

How to get Ubuntu guest VM to recognize second VirtualBox monitor?

2 Answers2