virtualbox shared folder mount in ubuntu

Mounting a VirtualBox Shared Folder in Ubuntu: A Step-by-Step Guide

Virtualization technology has revolutionized the way we use computers, allowing us to run multiple operating systems on a single machine. One of the most popular virtualization software is VirtualBox, which enables you to create a virtual machine (VM) that can run an isolated guest operating system. However, sharing files between the host and guest computers can be inconvenient, especially if you need to access files frequently.

By default, the guest operating system in VirtualBox does not have direct access to your computer's file system. This is a deliberate design choice, as it prevents potential risks such as viruses or OS corruption from affecting your physical computer. Instead, you can use shared folders to exchange files between the host and guest operating systems.

In this article, we will show you how to mount a VirtualBox shared folder in Ubuntu and share files between the host and guest OS.

Why Do We Need Shared Folders?

VirtualBox allows you to run multiple virtual machines on a single physical computer. Each VM has its own isolated file system, which means you cannot access the files of one VM from another VM or the host computer directly. This isolation is beneficial, as it prevents potential risks from affecting your physical computer.

However, sharing files between the host and guest operating systems can be essential in certain situations. For example, if you are developing software on a Windows-based VM and need to access files on your Linux host machine, shared folders come in handy.

How to Mount a VirtualBox Shared Folder in Ubuntu

Mounting a VirtualBox shared folder is a straightforward process that requires some basic configuration steps. Here's how to do it:

1. Launch the VirtualBox application and select the VM you want to share files with.

2. Click on 'Settings' (or press Ctrl+S) and navigate to 'Shared Folders.'

3. Click on the '+' button to add a new shared folder.

4. Select the folder you want to share from your host machine's file system.

5. Assign a name to the shared folder (optional).

6. Click 'OK' to save the changes.

Once you have configured the shared folder, you can access it from within the guest operating system by navigating to the mounted directory. In Ubuntu, you can mount the shared folder by following these steps:

1. Open a terminal window in your VM.

2. Type `cd /media` and press Enter to navigate to the media directory.

3. List the available file systems using the `lsblk` command.

4. Identify the device name of the shared folder (e.g., 'sdb1').

5. Mount the shared folder using the following command: `sudo mount /dev/ /mnt`

6. Replace `` with the actual device name of your shared folder.

Now you can access the shared folder from within the guest operating system by navigating to the `/mnt` directory.

Tips and Variations

* You can share multiple folders between the host and guest operating systems.

* You can also specify a specific directory on the guest OS as the mount point instead of the default `/mnt`.

* Be cautious when sharing files, as it may compromise the security of your system.

In this article, we have shown you how to mount a VirtualBox shared folder in Ubuntu and share files between the host and guest operating systems. By following these steps, you can access files from your physical computer within your virtual machine, making it easier to collaborate or transfer files between different environments.

Virtualbox shared folder mount in ubuntu