Updated VirtualBox image for Rockbox development on Windows

[saratoga]

Overview:  http://www.rockbox.org/wiki/DevelopmentGuide

Direct link:  http://web.mit.edu/mgg6/www/rockbox_virtualbox.7z

I've updated this image to include git and Ubuntu 11.10.  I've also added a text file with the command line needed to checkout the rockbox source onto a folder called "rockbox" on the desktop.  In addition, the image still contains x86 and arm compilers, as well as SDL.  This will allow you to compile rockbox for most devices, and the UI simulator without installing or configuring anything at all.  Just checkout the source from git, make a build folder, and run configure. 

By default the image is configured for 4 processors and to use 2GB of RAM.  You can easily adjust these though the Virtualbox windows GUI (its dead simple).  There is no limit.  I've used it on a 16 processor machine and it is quite fast.  Its also setup to automatically pass through audio from the virtual machine, so you can test playback in the sim if you like.  Additionally, the image also supports USB pass through (although you must install the corresponding guest additions included with your version of virtualbox to use these), so if you plug in your rockbox'ed player, you can go to the Device menu in Virtualbox and pass through the USB device to the linux image.  This lets you drag and drop directly to your player. 

By default the image uses an internal NAT for internet access.  This means you can access the internet without any configuration at all, but it does block SSH access to the vm.  If you want to remotely access the VM through your network over SSH or SMB for file sharing, you'll have to go into the VB GUI, choose networking, and then configure a port forwarding rule. 

If you have trouble, please let me know.  I'm interested in trying to make this easier for people to use.

[robertdundee]

I downloaded virtualbox for windows and the rockbox image and want to install it into usb drive. How can I accomplish that procedure?  Virtualbox requests for an iso file. Do i have to convert the .vdi file before copying it to the usb?

[saratoga]

I'm not even sure what that means, but I don't think its possible.  What are you hoping to do exactly?

[robertdundee]

When I try to setup a virtualmachine with virtualbox, requests for an iso file. I choose the .vdi file but it cannot open it.

[saratoga]

At least in my version of virtualbox, double clicking the .vbox image is enough to open it.  If thats not working, you can manually launch virtualbox, go to file -> Virtual Media Manager and drag+drop the disk image.

[robertdundee]

Thank you. Problem solved. Reinstalled Virtualbox and drag+drop the disk image

[nerdrunner]

"Direct link:  http://web.mit.edu/mgg6/www/rockbox_virtualbox.7z"

This is an old, and more importantly, _unsupported_ version of Ubuntu.

I was able to get it to work as advertised, but only after _upgrading_ this guest image to Ubuntu 12.04.

Ubuntu would like to further upgrade me to 14.04.1, which I may try, although 12.04 is working fine right now.

Can someone please post a more recent virtualbox guest image at the URL above, so that everyone doesn't have to do the same Ubuntu upgrade (which takes a number of hours) ?

I'd post it myself, but I don't have 2GB online to do it with.

[saratoga]

I wouldn't upgrade the image. If you want to run a modern image you can easily download one for a fraction of the effort and then just install the compilers.  The point of this image was to help people who wanted to compile easily.

[[Saint]]

It does what it says on the tin. It literally does not matter in the slightest how old or unsupported it is. You're not meant to be using it as a full OS. Its a VM snapshot specifically for compiling Rockbox, which it does.

...if it ain't broke, etc.


[Saint]

[nerdrunner]

"It does what it says on the tin. It literally does not matter in the slightest how old or unsupported it is. You're not meant to be using it as a full OS. Its a VM snapshot specifically for compiling Rockbox, which it does."

Well, actually, it no longer works anymore, because there's no way to get data in/out of the virtual image w/o going over the Ethernet.

I had to upgrade the Linux just to be able to get data in/out.

This image no longer works with recent versions of VirtualBox & guest additions unless it is upgraded.

[saratoga]

Well, actually, it no longer works anymore, because there's no way to get data in/out of the virtual image w/o going over the Ethernet.

USB also works. 

This image no longer works with recent versions of VirtualBox & guest additions unless it is upgraded.

Guest additions are working fine for me in Virtualbox 4.3, so I don't think this is correct.  But if you want to make an updated image, you are welcome to. 

[nerdrunner]

"Guest additions are working fine for me in Virtualbox 4.3, so I don't think this is correct."

I wasn't able to get USB working prior to upgrading.  Now that I can transfer files directly with guest additions, I haven't needed USB.

But I might try it again just out of curiosity.

[saratoga]

"Guest additions are working fine for me in Virtualbox 4.3, so I don't think this is correct."

I wasn't able to get USB working prior to upgrading.  Now that I can transfer files directly with guest additions, I haven't needed USB.

IIUC you couldn't use USB because you didn't have the guest additions installed.  Then you updated to a newer version of Ubuntu, and either that came packaged with the guest additions or you installed them.  I'll make a note recommending that people install the guest additions. 

[maz-1]

Maybe you should stick to Ubuntu LTS release so that you don't have to upgrade. As you can see,Ubuntu 10.04 is still maintained while ubuntu 11.04 is abandoned.