OS2 World Community Forum

OS/2, eCS & ArcaOS - Technical => Virtualization => Topic started by: Neil Waldhauer on September 21, 2024, 02:36:17 am

Title: VirtualBox: Can't copy files to a shared folder under ArcaOS guest
Post by: Neil Waldhauer on September 21, 2024, 02:36:17 am
Host system: Red Hat 9.4 (same behavior also under Windows 11)
I installed the extension pack, and my ArcaOS 5.1 guest system. I shared my home directory.

I can copy files from the shared folder. I can edit files with Lotus SmartSuite (I can save the changes.)

I cannot copy (control drag in WPS) files to the shared folder. When I try the system gives error Sys0266: The specified file was not copied. A file with the new name exists in the shared folder, but it has 0 bytes. (see attachment for error message)

I can move (drag in WPS) a file to the shared folder. If that file already exists in the shared folder, then I get Sys0266 error, otherwise the move succeeds.


Title: Re: VirtualBox: Can't copy files to a shared folder under ArcaOS guest
Post by: Ian B Manners on September 21, 2024, 09:45:19 am
Hi Neil,

I noticed the same thing under Ubuntu with ArcaOS installed in Virtual box after upgrading Virtualbox to v7.0.20. Figured it will get fixed sometime so simply use linux file manager or terminal to copy or move files on the host system.
Title: Re: VirtualBox: Can't copy files to a shared folder under ArcaOS guest
Post by: David McKenna on September 21, 2024, 02:45:40 pm
Neil,

  Same thing here with a Win11 host. It works from a command line, but not with the WPS. Must be a defect in the VirtualBox IFS. Very annoying...

Regards,
Title: Re: VirtualBox: Can't copy files to a shared folder under ArcaOS guest
Post by: Martin Iturbide on September 21, 2024, 05:14:49 pm
Hello

Here it is working, host Win 10, guest ArcaOS 5.1. Virtualbox 7.1.0 (Recently installed)

But I'm using Valery's Guest Addons 5.0.x (https://www.os2world.com/forum/index.php/topic,1905.msg24781.html#msg24781), since they provide me WPS support for shared folders with the guest. Is this integration already available on the official addons? I haven't checked those in a while.

Sorry, no Linux experience here.

Regards


Title: Re: VirtualBox: Can't copy files to a shared folder under ArcaOS guest
Post by: David McKenna on September 21, 2024, 10:19:46 pm
Martin,

  I tried the 5.0.x IFS with the 7.1 additions, but it didn't work (doesn't mount drives). So I guess I need to install the whole thing. Are you able to use multiple CPU's? with the 5.0.x additions? How about USB devices?

  The 7.1 additions for OS/2 allow shared folders, but you can't copy from the VirtualBox OS/2 guest to the host by using the WPS - only by command line. You can copy from the host to the guest by WPS though.

Regards,
Title: Re: VirtualBox: Can't copy files to a shared folder under ArcaOS guest
Post by: Martin Iturbide on September 22, 2024, 06:08:18 pm
Hello
Are you able to use multiple CPU's? with the 5.0.x additions? How about USB devices?
- I don't use Multiple CPUs with VirtualBox, just one. In the past it was unstable for me, but I haven't tried it lately.
- I think USB drivers used to work, but I have to check it out again. I have an USB mic that I used on the VM, but I don't remember if it is recognized as USB or SoundBlaster input in ArcaOS. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhqUc0VLqok)

I use all the 5.0.x Addons package, if I mix them I get problems with the VBoxService.exe executable. And also Valerius says on the instructions to put "RUN=c:\os2additions\VBoxService.exe" on the config.sys.

I hope that Valerius can try to update his Addons with the latest VirtualBox code someday.

Regards
Title: Re: VirtualBox: Can't copy files to a shared folder under ArcaOS guest
Post by: Martin Iturbide on September 22, 2024, 06:13:41 pm
- I think USB drivers used to work, but I have to check it out again.
I just Set my USB Mic and USB printer to the VM and it shows in ArcaOS lsusb
Quote
[C:\]lsusb
Bus 000 Device 001: ID 046d:0ab7 Logitech, Inc.
Bus 000 Device 002: ID 04b8:1135 Seiko Epson Corp.

I guess it is passing by.

Regards
Title: Re: VirtualBox: Can't copy files to a shared folder under ArcaOS guest
Post by: David McKenna on September 23, 2024, 11:57:49 am
Hi Martin,

  The 5.0.x additions seem to work well here with VirtualBox 7.1.0 - thanks for pointing them out!

  One thing I found out by accident - if you try to open a 0 byte file on a shared folder, the system will freeze, so avoid that...

Regards,
Title: Re: VirtualBox: Can't copy files to a shared folder under ArcaOS guest
Post by: Neil Waldhauer on October 05, 2024, 07:42:30 pm
Using VBoxAddtions-os2-x86-5.0.51.r217, I found the following

I can drag and drop files. If I do, it moves rather than copies files. If a file conflict, it behaves correctly.

Resulting file dates are garbage. Copying a file results in the file in the shared directory with a file date in 2099.

Creating a folder on a shared drive results in a Folder with unusable permissions. You must return to Linux and set the group permissions to read+write to use the folder from OS/2. Dates are screwed up as listed above for files.

Deleting files and folders works.

Lots of warning that extended attributes are not supported.

copying from command line works, even if overwriting, but file dates are still wrong. Both directions seem to work.
Title: Re: VirtualBox: Can't copy files to a shared folder under ArcaOS guest
Post by: Dave Yeo on October 06, 2024, 01:18:52 am
Is that the latest official additions? If so sounds like an issue should be raised
Title: Re: VirtualBox: Can't copy files to a shared folder under ArcaOS guest
Post by: Martin Iturbide on October 06, 2024, 02:52:57 am
Hello

We have two VirtualBox Addons, the official ones (7.1.0 ) from the VBox project and VBoxAddtions-os2-x86-5.0.51.r217 from Valery (Netlabs).

I like Valery's version because it has WPS integration (yes, with a lot of warning when you copy a file that seems to come from the WPS). Valery's version has the issues that David and Neil are pointing. Valery's created "vboxfs.ifs" (not to be confused with vboxsf.ifs"

I was hoping to create a ticket on the VirtualBox site requesting the WPS integration and try to take Valery's version for inspiration.
I'm not sure if Valery's the full source code is here: https://trac.netlabs.org/vbox/browser#tags/5.0.51/src

Regards

Title: Re: VirtualBox: Can't copy files to a shared folder under ArcaOS guest
Post by: Neil Waldhauer on October 07, 2024, 03:37:17 am
I have opened a thread on the VirtualBox forum, and have received some advice

https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?t=112408 (https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?t=112408)

They say it's much better to use file sharing. To me, that means using SAMBA server to share OS/2 virtual hard disk. That way, the native browser, word processor, etc can use the OS/2 storage and my OS/2 programs can get at the resulting files.

Shared folders would be easier to use, but making them work fully seems to be difficult. Both versions of the OS/2 Additions are open source. The one Valery created is on Netlabs, and the Oracle is presumably available from Oracle.
Title: Re: VirtualBox: Can't copy files to a shared folder under ArcaOS guest
Post by: David McKenna on August 16, 2025, 02:34:43 pm
 Just installed VirtualBox 7.2.0 and this problem has been fixed in the new additions. Thanks Martin for reporting in github and thanks Knut for fixing it!

Regards,
Title: Re: VirtualBox: Can't copy files to a shared folder under ArcaOS guest
Post by: Martin Iturbide on August 16, 2025, 05:27:26 pm
David, thanks for the heads up about this new release.

Knut is awesome: https://github.com/VirtualBox/virtualbox/issues/98#event-19124240227

I will try out the new host and the new guest addons today.

Regards
Title: Re: VirtualBox: Can't copy files to a shared folder under ArcaOS guest
Post by: Martin Iturbide on August 16, 2025, 06:16:26 pm
Hello

In my case the problem had been fixed. It no longer Drag+Ctrl creates a zero file on the host. But the WPS message warning about the EAs (that is not part of Vbox) now shows up. I can live with it but I hope that it can be turned off.

From the side of VirtualBox 7.2.0 on the Windows Host, I had to uninstall the older VirtualBox and install 7.2 because I was getting an "Make sure the Kernel Module was loaded..." error when running any VM. But now it seems to works fine.

Regards
Title: Re: VirtualBox: Can't copy files to a shared folder under ArcaOS guest
Post by: Neil Waldhauer on August 17, 2025, 12:14:58 am
I'm also confirming the shared folders are working here.

When I upgraded my Windows 11 host system to VirtualBox 7.20, no errors were found, but I could not start my ArcaOS 5.1.1 virtual machine. I restarted a few times, and eventually it ran, so I updated OS/2 Additions and tested shared folders.

I had the same EA issue as Martin, but that is acceptable for me.
Title: Re: VirtualBox: Can't copy files to a shared folder under ArcaOS guest
Post by: Dan Eicher on August 17, 2025, 12:17:44 am
I had a learning experience.

Logged in as admin user and install Virtualbox 7.2 (was on 7.1)

Started Virtualbox, no VM.

After a bit of back and forth, I had to user powershell to generate a new UUID, then change the UUID in the .vbox file.
Then re-register the VM.

Virtualbox, was apparently upset that the UUID of the VM was already registered, even though it was not showing in the inventory, upon starting after the upgrade. 

IDK, your mileage my vary.
Title: Re: VirtualBox: Can't copy files to a shared folder under ArcaOS guest
Post by: David McKenna on August 17, 2025, 12:36:38 am
Hi Martin,

  With a Windows 11 host, I have 2 shared folders - one on a FAT32 drive and one on an NTFS drive. I only get that message you show in ArcaOS on the folder on the NTFS drive. I have the /eas switch on my FAT32.IFS line in CONFIG.SYS so seems that takes care of it there? I don't know of any way to get rid of that message, but would also like to know how (if possible). Wonder if there are any switches for the VBoxSF.ifs driver that would do it....

Regards,
Title: Re: VirtualBox: Can't copy files to a shared folder under ArcaOS guest
Post by: Dave Yeo on August 17, 2025, 01:21:26 am
On NT, FAT32 won't support EA's, FAT actually does (might have to be formatted on OS/2). NTFS does have a stream dedicated to OS/2 EA's, even supports codepages unlike a normal stream or file on NTFS which use UTF. Unless MS has removed support.
I'd guess vbox itself fails to transfer the EA's.
On Linux, only some file systems support EA's, or as they call them, xttr's and it has to be turned as a mount command. Ext4 for example only supports 4kb xttr's, others such as JFS support 64kb or more. I notice on Mint, mounting an OS/2 JFS partition doesn't seem to enable xttr's, though it does mount them as case insensitive as it should.