VirtualBox Guest Additions driver is installed in ArcaOS and eCS guests to facilitate shared folders, mouse capture, USB 2+ devices and arbitrary screen resolutions. All RI issued Virtual Workstations have this application installed. Follow these instructions to UPGRADE to the latest version that comes with the current running version of VirtualBox running on the host.
NOTEL
NOTE: VBox 6+ and updated Guest Additions is required for Shared Folder access. Request an updated .ova from [email protected] for follow the steps below to enable.
To install the OS/2 Guest Additions in the Cassini Virtual Workstation with VirtualBox 7+:
- From the running Cassini Virtual Workstation, choose Devices > Insert Guest Additions CD image... to mount drive "F:\" CD drive. (Drive letter may be different depending on the generation of guest OS.)
- Open a command window and type "E:\os2\Os2AdditionsInstall.exe -i".
- Shut down the OS and restart from the VirtualBox Manager window (or desktop icon).
To install the OS/2 Guest Additions in the ArcaOS VM for VirtualBox 6 or earlier:
- From the VM’s devices menu, select Insert Guest Additions CD image…
IMPORTANT: DO NOT BLINDLY FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE README FOR THE ADDITIONS, AS THIS WILL RESULT IN UNNECESSARY DUPLICATION AND POSSIBLE BACK-LEVELING OF CERTAIN CRITICAL SYSTEM FILES. - In the VM, open an command window and on the boot volume (C:) create the OS2ADDITIONS directory:
- From the Guest additions CD (usually S:), copy all executable files from the \OS2 directory to C:\OS2ADDITIONS:
- From the Guest additions CD, copy the shared folders installable filesystem driver from the \OS2 directory to C:\OS2ADDITIONS:
- From the Guest additions CD, copy the mouse and guest device drivers from the \OS2 directory to C:\OS2ADDITIONS:
- Unlock the in-use C:\OS2\DLL\gengradd.dll and rename it to gengradd.org:
- From the Guest additions CD, copy the gengradd.dll from the \OS2 directory to C:\OS2\DLL:
- Open C:\CONFIG.SYS in a text editor and make the following changes:
- Append C:\OS2ADDITIONS; to the end of the PATH statement.
- Locate the DEVICE=C:\OS2\BOOT\MOUSE.SYS line and comment it:
- Insert the following two lines just after the commented MOUSE.SYS line:
- Save the file.
- Either create or edit C:\STARTUP.CMD in the text editor. Add the following to the file:
- [C:\]cd OS2ADDITIONS <Enter>
- [C:\]copy S:\OS2\*.exe C:\OS2ADDITIONS <Enter>
- [C:\]copy S:\OS2\*.ifs C:\OS2ADDITIONS <Enter>
- [C:\]copy S:\OS2\*.sys C:\OS2ADDITIONS <Enter>
- [C:\]unlock C:\OS2\DLL\gengradd.dll <Enter>
[C:\]ren C:\OS2\DLL\gengradd.dll *.org <Enter>
- [C:\]copy S:\OS2\gengradd.dll C:\OS2\DLL <Enter>
- REM DEVICE=C:\OS2\BOOT\MOUSE.SYS
- DEVICE=C:\OS2ADDITIONS\VBOXMOUSE.SYS
DEVICE=C:\OS2ADDITIONS\VBOXGUEST.SYS
- @echo off
C:\OS2ADDITIONS\VBOXSERVICE.EXE
exit
(If editing an existing STARTUP.CMD, the first and last lines above may already be present. Do not duplicate them.)
Save the file and restart the VM. Once the VM boots, check the Shared clipboard setting on the Devices menu and set this as desired.
N.B.: To enable shared folders, follow the directions in the OS/2 Guest Additions readme.txt. Alternatively, enable sharing in the host OS, and use the Samba client in ArcaOS to map to the host’s share(s).
These instructions were adapted from the "readme.txt" file in the VirtualBox CD Image OS2 directory.
Prerequisites:
- the generic VESA gradd driver is being used (gengradd) (Verify or change with eCS > Local System > Install/Remove > Video Driver Wizard)
Installation instructions: (from readme.txt)
VirtualBox Guest Additions Driver for OS/2
Prerequisites:
- the generic VESA gradd driver is being used (gengradd)
Updated installation instructions:
- boot to the OS/2 command prompt (alt-f1 while the white blob is displayed during early boot, then f2)
- copy all files into the directory C:\OS2Additions
- make a backup copy of C:\os2\dll\gengradd.dll
- copy our gengradd.dll to C:\os2\dll
- copy libc06*.dll to C:\os2\dll
- comment out the 'device=C:\os2\boot\mouse.sys' line in C:\config.sys (put 'rem' in front)
- append 'device=C:\OS2Additions\vboxguest.sys' to C:\config.sys
- append 'device=C:\OS2Additions\vboxmouse.sys' to C:\config.sys
- append 'ifs=C:\OS2Additions\vboxsf.ifs' to C:\config.sys
- append C:\OS2Additions to PATH if you want to use VBoxControl.exe and shared folders.
- add 'C:\OS2Additions\VBoxService.exe' to the start of C:\startup.cmd
- reboot
Shared folders
--------------
The shared folders are brand new in 6.0 and considered beta quality.
To attach a shared folder to a drive letter:
VBoxControl sharedfolder use <drive> <shared-folder-name>
To detach a shared folder from a drive:
VBoxControl sharedfolder unuse <drive>
To see available shared folders (any guest type):
VBoxControl sharedfolder list
The shared folders are accessible via UNC too:
dir \\vboxsf\folder\
or: dir \\vboxsvr\folder\
or: dir \\vboxsrv\folder\
The VBoxService can also attach and detach shared folders to/from drive
letters, if you check the 'Auto-Mount' flag in the config (host GUI).
See Guest Additions for OS/2