Change Resolution on VMWare VirtualBox
Today, I have tried to used VirtualBox to use Linux Red Hat (RHEL5) as guest on my Windows XP as host. I have created fixed 30GB (quite small) space for the Linux RHEL5 installation. I don’t want to write about the installation process of RHEL5 into my VirtualBox but, I just want to share about the small resolution on my guest OS (RHEL5) in my VirtualBox.
Surprisingly, once completed RHEL5 installation on VirtualBox, found that the resolution is too small. There is only one resolution that I can use. That is 800 x 600. Even I click on the drop down menu, it only show 800×600 resolution. Its pain for me, it is too small on my WVGA screen.
As usual, Google is the first place I go to find the solution how to drag my VirtualBox screen resolution to 1280 x 800 or at least 1024 x 768. Again, there are crappy suggestion on this matter. They said to do this, and this, then this. But ended with nothing. My VirtualBox resolution still at 800 x 600.
The actual solution is very easy. Just install the “Install Guest Additions”. The way how to do it is, press Right Ctrl+F (if you are already in Full screen mode on your VirtualBox). There three menus on top of your VirtualBox menu i.e: Machine, Devices and Help. Click on Devices > Install Guest Additions as shown in picture below:
Then, the Install Guest Additions will automatically mounted into your VIrtualBox (RHEL5 guest) environment. Click OK as shown in picture below:
After that, open your terminal. Change directory to your mounted CD-ROM. Mine is:
#cd /media/VBOXADDITIONS_2.0.6_39755
Then execute as root the following:
sh ./VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.run (FOR 32-bit)
sh ./VBoxLinuxAdditions-amd64.run (FOR 64-bit)
After that, recompile the guest kernel modules by using the following command:
/etc/init.d/vboxadd setup
and reboot.
Now, you can choose 1024 x 768 as your resolution by using KDesktop – right click on your Desktop and choose Configure Desktop..
In case you are not satisfied with 1024 x 768 resolution and want to use even more larger screen resolution, type the following command:
vi /etc/X11/xorg.conf (or you can use your own favourite editor such as nano, but I prefer vi)
Scroll down until you see phrase something like this:
Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Virdeocard0"
Monitor "Generic Monitor"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
View port 0 0
Depth 24
Modes "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection
Notice that I have added the code as below, just after Depth 24 i.e
Modes "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
That means, when I open my KDesktop, I can see four type resolution:
1280×800, 1024×768, 800×600, and 640×480 as shown in the picture below:
You can also list all the resolution you needs if you want, something like this:
Modes "2048x800" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
Hope this solve the problem, enjoy with big screen resolution
VirtualBox is owned by Sun, not VMware
-FB
Wow nice info. I got new knowledge on Linux Here. Thanks buddy.
@Fat Bloke: Thanks for correcting me. My colleagues always refer virtualbox as Virtual Machine and called it as “VM”, then I thought it is the same thing between Virtualbox and VMware but it is not the same thing. thanks again.
OK from now, Virtualbox is not VMWare..hihi..(ashamed)
@chuckiesd: Let we share our knowledge..
Thanks for the post. I’ve looked around quite a lot in the last couple of weeks as to the answer to this question, and this is the first relatively comprehensive answer I’ve found.
Cheers!
co, I am happy to hear that..thanks..
This guide is a god-send. I’ve been looking for this solution on the web for a very long time.
Thank you!
Yeah, I also like u before..looking for crappy suggestion over the net. Now we have the solution huh…
Thank you for your posting. Was also very helpful for me.
Thanks a lot for the post.It helped me to solve my resolution issues with Linux on Virtual Box.
Welcome Benz..happy virtualling..
Useful information, many gives thanks to the author. This is incomprehensive to me now, but in general, the usefulness and significance is overwhelming. Thanks again and good luck!
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Thanks for info,was getting really frustrated with the small resolution.
Welcome and goodluck Tim
I used these instructions and it worked.
Very nice,
Thank you.
Good luck ceed & happy virtualising..:p
Newbie here. I’m trying to complete the changes for resolution however the file I have is VBoxLinuxAdditions.run (without the ‘-x86′). Is the file located somewhere else? Right click does not allow for renaming.
Thanks for the post.
Hi wizgi,
You can just run the command
sh ./VBoxLinuxAdditions.runYes, you can’t rename the file because it is read-only (consider as a CD/DVD). But, if you are intent to rename the file, you can always copy the file to elsewhere and rename it.
@Far East
Thanks for the assist. One more hurdle to get past. I have the resolution now up to 1024×768(it’s now my only option) but would like to take it a step further to 1280×1024 to match my desktop. I tried the tweak above to edit the xorg.conf file but no such file exists, likely because, and I should have mentioned, I am using RHEL6.
Thanks again
Dude, this is a real nice tutorial.
Worked for me like a charm.
Thanks a lot.
Thanks for sharing. What a pelsaure to read!
Yep Great its working Thnks much