[PLUG] Installing VirtualBox on Linux Mint 19

[Dick Steffens]

Is anyone using VirtualBox on Linux Mint 19?

I followed the instructions at:

https://www.itzgeek.com/how-tos/linux/linux-mint-how-tos/install-virtualbox-4-3-on-linux-mint-17.html

But when I got to sudo apt-get install virtualbox-5.2 I get this error
message.


***@Linux-Mint-X200-Tablet:~$ sudo apt-get install virtualbox-5.2
[sudo] password for dick:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Some packages could not be installed. This may mean that you have
requested an impossible situation or if you are using the unstable
distribution that some required packages have not yet been created
or been moved out of Incoming.
The following information may help to resolve the situation:

The following packages have unmet dependencies:
 virtualbox-5.2 : Depends: libcurl3 (>= 7.16.2) but it is not going to
be installed
                  Depends: libpng12-0 (>= 1.2.13-4) but it is not
installable
                  Depends: libvpx3 (>= 1.5.0) but it is not installable
E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.
***@Linux-Mint-X200-Tablet:~$


Of course the web page instructions assume all went well, so they don't
mention how to fix the broken packages. I tried running Fix Broken
Packages in Symantic. I says they're fixed, but the error continues.

Clue stick appreciated.

[John Jason Jordan]

On Sun, 28 Oct 2018 15:16:09 -0700

Post by Dick Steffens
Is anyone using VirtualBox on Linux Mint 19?

No, but I have long used it on Ubuntu.

I usually install things with the GUI, normally Synaptic, but sometimes
gDebi. And while I did not have any problems installing the version in
the repos (as you did), it turned out to lack some features that I
needed. To resolve the problem I installed the Oracle version. I might
suggest that you try it as well.

If you wish to continue with the version in the repos, I would suggest
you see if there is an older version. In my experience with VirtualBox
not much changes from one release to the next, so an older release will
probably suit your needs just as well as the latest.

[Dick Steffens]

Post by John Jason Jordan
On Sun, 28 Oct 2018 15:16:09 -0700

Post by Dick Steffens
Is anyone using VirtualBox on Linux Mint 19?

No, but I have long used it on Ubuntu.
I usually install things with the GUI, normally Synaptic, but sometimes
gDebi. And while I did not have any problems installing the version in
the repos (as you did), it turned out to lack some features that I
needed. To resolve the problem I installed the Oracle version. I might
suggest that you try it as well.
If you wish to continue with the version in the repos, I would suggest
you see if there is an older version. In my experience with VirtualBox
not much changes from one release to the next, so an older release will
probably suit your needs just as well as the latest.

On my desktop machine I need Virtual Box to support a USB footpedal, so
I have to use the version from Oracle. I don't need the USB footpedal on
my laptop. But trying to use the one from the repos was unsuccessful.
I'm new to Linux Mint 19, and of course, that's not mentioned on the
Oracle site. I'll try using the Ubuntu 18 version they have. I'm sure
that will work. Your comment about minimal changes from version to
version makes me comfortable that 18 should be fine.

Thanks.

[Tomas Kuchta]

That is 32bit CPU, correct?

If yes, you might try searching if the missing packages exist for 32bit CPU.

Post by Dick Steffens
Is anyone using VirtualBox on Linux Mint 19?
https://www.itzgeek.com/how-tos/linux/linux-mint-how-tos/install-virtualbox-4-3-on-linux-mint-17.html
But when I got to sudo apt-get install virtualbox-5.2 I get this error
message.
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Some packages could not be installed. This may mean that you have
requested an impossible situation or if you are using the unstable
distribution that some required packages have not yet been created
or been moved out of Incoming.
virtualbox-5.2 : Depends: libcurl3 (>= 7.16.2) but it is not going to
be installed
Depends: libpng12-0 (>= 1.2.13-4) but it is not
installable
Depends: libvpx3 (>= 1.5.0) but it is not installable
E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.
Of course the web page instructions assume all went well, so they don't
mention how to fix the broken packages. I tried running Fix Broken
Packages in Symantic. I says they're fixed, but the error continues.
Clue stick appreciated.
--
Regards,
Dick Steffens
_______________________________________________
PLUG mailing list
http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug

[Dick Steffens]

Post by Tomas Kuchta
That is 32bit CPU, correct?

The laptop is 64 bit, and that's the version of Linux Mint I installed.
I don't know about the version of VirtualBox in the repos.

When next I have time, which might not be until tomorrow, I'll try
getting the version made for Ubuntu 18 from Oracle and see if that
works. That's what I have on my desktop and it's working well.

[Roderick Anderson]

Dick,

I haven't followed this thread so I may be completely off base.

Depending on what you're trying to accomplish you might look at KVM or Wine.

Several HAMs and Linux users succeeded getting a Window only HAM radio
logging program running on Linux. I had tried several times before but
ran into too many problems. A little over a month ago using Linux Mint
19 we got the program running under Wine on both 64bit and 32bit processors.

The trick was installing Wind, Winetricks and wine32 on the 64bit Linux
Mint system. The Jet drivers were only 32bit. It could also be that
Wine had matured since my previous attempts a year or so ago.

I mention KVM because our Windows guru (well he makes his money working
on Windows machines) used KVM to install Linux Mint 19 32bit on his
Debian 64bit laptop. I think he said you can do the same with Windows.

73, \\||/
Rod - K7ZBE

[Dick Steffens]

Post by Roderick Anderson
Dick,
I haven't followed this thread so I may be completely off base.
Depending on what you're trying to accomplish you might look at KVM or Wine.
Several HAMs and Linux users succeeded getting a Window only HAM radio
logging program running on Linux.  I had tried several times before
but ran into too many problems.  A little over a month ago using Linux
Mint 19 we got the program running under Wine on both 64bit and 32bit
processors.
The trick was installing Wind, Winetricks and wine32 on the 64bit
Linux Mint system.  The Jet drivers were only 32bit.  It could also be
that Wine had matured since my previous attempts a year or so ago.
I mention KVM because our Windows guru (well he makes his money
working on Windows machines) used KVM to install Linux Mint 19 32bit
on his Debian 64bit laptop.  I think he said you can do the same with
Windows.

Thanks for your ideas.

My main reason to stay with VirtualBox is that I have a small handful of
older Windows programs that I infrequently use. Some have no open source
alternative. Others are ones that I learned years ago, and the learning
curve was steep. Open source alternatives would also require a steep
learning curve, and since I don't need them often, it's just easier to
use the old familiar ones. I have these in a VirtualBox .ova file. So
once I have VirtualBox installed, it's pretty easy to import the .ova.

[Rich Shepard]

When next I have time, which might not be until tomorrow, I'll try getting
the version made for Ubuntu 18 from Oracle and see if that works. That's
what I have on my desktop and it's working well.

Dick,

Don't write off KVM/qemu too quickly. See these threads:

<https://seravo.fi/2012/migrating-from-virtualbox-to-virt-manager>
<https://www.reddit.com/r/virtualization/comments/4x0s30/migrating_vm_disk_from_virtualbox_to_kvmqemu/>
<https://stackoverflow.com/questions/43704856/what-are-the-differences-between-qemu-and-virtualbox>

HTH,

Rich

[Dick Steffens]

Post by Dick Steffens
When next I have time, which might not be until tomorrow, I'll try
getting the version made for Ubuntu 18 from Oracle and see if that
works. That's what I have on my desktop and it's working well.

I finished today's work early, so I had time to download:

virualbox-5.2_5.2.20-125813-Ubuntu-bionic-amd64.deb

from the Oracle website. It installed without complaint once I fully
removed what was there with Synaptic. Then I successfully imported a
.ova and it works fine.

The only thing missing was an icon to launch VirtualBox, so I created
one by right-clicking on the desktop, clicking on Create Launcher ...,
and filling in the blanks. The command to start the VirtualBox GUI is
virtualbox.

With that done, I think I have everything I used to have on the laptop
before the SSD installation. Now to give it a few days of testing under
normal operating conditions.

Thanks to all who offered advice, whether I took it or not. :-)

[Ben Koenig]

Heads up, there have been a number of other people on this list that
installed virtualbox the way you just did. It results in dependency
problems down the road that can prevent security updates.

There are 2 methods listed on the VirtualBox website
1) Quick 'n Dirty
2) Correct and Clean

You went for option #1. Good luck ;-)

Post by Dick Steffens

Post by Dick Steffens
When next I have time, which might not be until tomorrow, I'll try
getting the version made for Ubuntu 18 from Oracle and see if that
works. That's what I have on my desktop and it's working well.

virualbox-5.2_5.2.20-125813-Ubuntu-bionic-amd64.deb
from the Oracle website. It installed without complaint once I fully
removed what was there with Synaptic. Then I successfully imported a
.ova and it works fine.
The only thing missing was an icon to launch VirtualBox, so I created
one by right-clicking on the desktop, clicking on Create Launcher ...,
and filling in the blanks. The command to start the VirtualBox GUI is
virtualbox.
With that done, I think I have everything I used to have on the laptop
before the SSD installation. Now to give it a few days of testing under
normal operating conditions.
Thanks to all who offered advice, whether I took it or not. :-)
--
Regards,
Dick Steffens
_______________________________________________
PLUG mailing list
http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug

[Dick Steffens]

Post by Ben Koenig
Heads up, there have been a number of other people on this list that
installed virtualbox the way you just did. It results in dependency
problems down the road that can prevent security updates.
There are 2 methods listed on the VirtualBox website
1) Quick 'n Dirty
2) Correct and Clean

Can you point to both of those? I only see one at
https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Linux_Downloads

[Ben Koenig]

Scroll down to where it says "Debian-based distributions"

Post by Dick Steffens

Post by Ben Koenig
Heads up, there have been a number of other people on this list that
installed virtualbox the way you just did. It results in dependency
problems down the road that can prevent security updates.
There are 2 methods listed on the VirtualBox website
1) Quick 'n Dirty
2) Correct and Clean

Can you point to both of those? I only see one at
https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Linux_Downloads
--
Regards,
Dick Steffens
_______________________________________________
PLUG mailing list
http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug

[Dick Steffens]

Post by Ben Koenig
Scroll down to where it says "Debian-based distributions"

Okay. I see that. But what tells me it's the better way than the one
above that says Ubuntu 18.04 / Debian 10  AMD64?

[Ben Koenig]

It's a different way of installing the same thing

The second option further down is adding it to your repository so that it
doesn't break apt.

Remember why I suggested this - You want to be able to maintain the ability
to install system updates.

If you install a third party deb package manually, you will probably end up
losing the ability to install other packages and updates from the repos.
Emphasis on probably, it depends on how far your distro has deviated from
the version Oracle supports.

Installing the repo makes apt aware of it, which means you will avoid lots
of stupid errors when checking for updates.

Post by Dick Steffens

Post by Ben Koenig
Scroll down to where it says "Debian-based distributions"

Okay. I see that. But what tells me it's the better way than the one
above that says Ubuntu 18.04 / Debian 10 AMD64?
--
Regards,
Dick Steffens
_______________________________________________
PLUG mailing list
http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug

[Dick Steffens]

Post by Ben Koenig
It's a different way of installing the same thing
The second option further down is adding it to your repository so that it
doesn't break apt.
Remember why I suggested this - You want to be able to maintain the ability
to install system updates.
If you install a third party deb package manually, you will probably end up
losing the ability to install other packages and updates from the repos.
Emphasis on probably, it depends on how far your distro has deviated from
the version Oracle supports.
Installing the repo makes apt aware of it, which means you will avoid lots
of stupid errors when checking for updates.

Okay. That makes sense.

[Tomas Kuchta]

If you are installing Oracle VirtualBox version. Do not forget to uninstall
the standard version before you start.

Post by Dick Steffens

Post by Tomas Kuchta
That is 32bit CPU, correct?

The laptop is 64 bit, and that's the version of Linux Mint I installed.
I don't know about the version of VirtualBox in the repos.
When next I have time, which might not be until tomorrow, I'll try
getting the version made for Ubuntu 18 from Oracle and see if that
works. That's what I have on my desktop and it's working well.
--
Regards,
Dick Steffens
_______________________________________________
PLUG mailing list
http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug

[Dick Steffens]

Post by Tomas Kuchta
If you are installing Oracle VirtualBox version. Do not forget to uninstall
the standard version before you start.

Yeah. I found that out when I forgot to uninstall before installing.