VirtualBox notes

Install Guest Additions

This is the equivalent of VMware or Parallels Tools. Under VirtualBox application menu go to: "Devices | Install Guest Additions...". This will cause a virtual CD-ROM ISO to be mounted on your guest Linux system. From inside the guest you just run a simple installer script:

$ sudo su -
# cd /media/cdrom0
# ./VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.run 
Verifying archive integrity... All good.
Uncompressing VirtualBox 2.0.2 Guest Additions for Linux installation.........................................................................................................................................................................................
VirtualBox 2.0.2 Guest Additions installation
Attempt to remove old DKMS modules...
Done.
Building the VirtualBox Guest Additions kernel module...
Building the shared folder support kernel module...
Installing the VirtualBox Guest Additions...

Successfully installed the VirtualBox Guest Additions.
You must restart your guest system in order to complete the installation.
# shutdown -r now

Restart the guest and then you should have seamless mouse interaction. Cut and paste between Host and Guest works, but I've found it can be confusing. Next you just need to update your /etc/xorg.conf to get full screen support.

Guest video resolution

Edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf and replace the file with the following. You can try other resolutions besides 1024x768. Mode "1440x900" is for a MacBook Pro and mode "1680x1050" is for a Dell E228WFP display.

Section "Device"
   Identifier   "Configured Video Device"
   Driver    "vboxvideo"
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"Configured Monitor"
EndSection
Section "Screen"
   Identifier    "Default Screen"
   Device    "VirtualBox graphics card"
   Monitor    "Generic Monitor"
   DefaultDepth    24
   SubSection "Display"
     Depth    24
     Modes      "1024x768" "1440x900" "1680x1050"
   EndSubSection
EndSection

Restart the guest.

For reference, the default xorg.conf file looks like this:

Section "Device"
    Identifier  "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier  "Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier  "Default Screen"
    Monitor     "Configured Monitor"
    Device      "Configured Video Device"
EndSection