Compiling a new kernel module for VirtualBox
I had installed VirtualBox a while ago on my laptop running my Slackware64 test environment, so I could experiment with the program a bit. Then I forgot all about it.
Today, I upgraded to the latest set of slackware64-current packages, including the new 2.6.32.7 kernel and when I rebooted to that new kernel, I saw an error message scrolling by stating that “the vboxdrv kernel modules failed to load”. Of course… a new kernel needs all external modules to be recompiled.
When installing VirtualBox, I had already noticed that the installer is Slackware friendly; it installed a nice “/etc/rc.d/rc.vboxdrv” boot script and updated the “rc.local” script so that it runs “rc.vboxdrv” on boot. Well done!
It is easy to rebuild the missing VirtualBox kernel modules using that rc script: you just need to run it once with the “setup” parameter.
root@alienteepee:~# /etc/rc.d/rc.vboxdrv setup
Stopping VirtualBox kernel module ...done.
Recompiling VirtualBox kernel module ...done.
Starting VirtualBox kernel module ...done.
root@alienteepee:~#
That’s all there is to it!
Cheers, Eric
Posted: January 31st, 2010 under Slackware, Software.
Tags: kernel, vbox, virtualbox
Comments
Comment from simkazell
Time January 31, 2010 at 17:11
Oh, this is in any case would be broken.
I thought that everything worked. Maybe someone did it while I was sleeping
Comment from gargamel
Time February 2, 2010 at 03:25
Yeah, VirtualBox is not only an excellent piece of software, the developers also provide superb support. A while ago the scripts were written for System V and derivatives. As I didn’t manage to get VBox running smoothly, I posted some question in the newsgroup. Not only did the developers offer a helping hand to get the whole package installed on my computer — they also added support for Slackware to their scripts almost immediately!
Great product, friendly people, impressive support — that’s about what I think about Innotek. I hope It’s not getting worse now, due to the Oracel#
gargamel
Comment from escaflown
Time February 2, 2010 at 06:31
Good info to have. Lat time, I recompiled it from sources 
Comment from Willy Sudiarto Raharjo
Time February 5, 2010 at 01:01
I wish VMware would be that easy. I tried to run VMWare workstation 6 on 2.6.32 and it failed. My student tried VMWare 7 on 2.6.32 and it failed too on virtual networking.
Comment from Frank
Time February 18, 2010 at 11:04
The current SlackBuild on SBo disables the setup feature of the rc.vboxdrv init script. (the actual virtualbox-ose SlackBuild) The comment in the script says “We don’t want a init script building kernel modules”. Since you posted this I am assuming it’s safe to enable this feature, or is there a reason it is disabled by default that we should be aware of?
Comment from alienbob
Time February 18, 2010 at 13:08
Hi Frank,
This is the SlackBuilds.org policy for scripts that are hosted there – they should be foolproof.
But there is nothing against changing the scripts (like rc.vboxdrv) if you are an experienced Slacker. After all, the command “rc.vboxdrv setup” is never going to be executed on boot. You, the admin, are expected to run it. To me it is only beneficial that the script has this ability.
Eric
Comment from Theo
Time June 11, 2010 at 02:41
Doesn’t work with VB 3.2.4 on my Slack13.1 box :[
it tells me to look at dmesg. which tells me
warning: VirtualBox’ uses 32-bit capabilities (legacy support in use)
Comment from simkazell
Time January 31, 2010 at 16:40
Thank =) I not yet update