Why there are some Virtualbox guest packages installed by default?

[Member anilkagi]

Hello there,

I have installed Antix-19.2.1-x64-Base, on the Hard disk.

I find that there are some virtualbox packages installed by default during OS installation. They are as below;

virtualbox-guest-dkms
virtualbox-guest-utils
virtualbox-guest-utils-modified-init
virtualbox-guest-x11

Why so?

Are they necessary for the working of the OS installed, even on a hard disk?

Can I delete them completely and safely? Or would they be necessary to me if in future I am going to install the Virtualbox and some guest OS like windows or android or anything else, with Antix as host. I do have adequate hard disk space, memory and cpu, as my laptop is mid range.

Thanks and Regards

• This topic was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by anilkagi.

[Moderator Brian Masinick]

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anilkagi wrote:

Hello there,

I have installed Antix-19.2.1-x64-Base, on the Hard disk.

I find that there are some virtualbox packages installed by default during OS installation. They are as below;

virtualbox-guest-dkms
virtualbox-guest-utils
virtualbox-guest-utils-modified-init
virtualbox-guest-x11

Why so?

Are they necessary for the working of the OS installed, even on a hard disk?

Can I delete them completely and safely? Or would they be necessary to me if in future I am going to install the Virtualbox and some guest OS like windows or android or anything else, with Antix as host. I do have adequate hard disk space, memory and cpu, as my laptop is mid range.

Thanks and Regards

I’m slightly surprised that Virtualbox packages are included in the Base version. They are convenient for people who often use virtual machine images with Virtualbox, but they are not mandatory packages, so feel free to remove them, especially if you are familiar with their purpose and you know how to install or reinstall them if you ever need them for any reason.

On the other hand, they do not cause any problems, except they use space on systems that may lack sufficient disk space. An argument could be made for including them only in the Full distribution, and using the Package Installer or Debian installation mechanisms to install them as needed for other variations of the distribution. I personally have no issue or preference one way or the other.

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Brian Masinick

[Member anilkagi]

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Hello Brian,

Thanks for coming.

I may be able to install them in future if I need them.

However, I suppose those virtualbox guest packages would be essential only if and if, my system is a guest on some host. Right?

Since I have installed this Antix OS, on a Hard disk, I would never require those VB guest packages in this system, which would be the host, even if ever I wish to install some VB VMs on this system. Those VB guest packages would be necessary to be installed only on any guest VM I create on this host antix OS. Right? So I suppose those packages are totally unnecessary and useless if one is installing antix-base on hard disk. Am I right in thinking so?

Thanks

[Moderator Brian Masinick]

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anilkagi wrote:

Hello Brian,

Thanks for coming.

I may be able to install them in future if I need them.

However, I suppose those virtualbox guest packages would be essential only if and if, my system is a guest on some host. Right?

Since I have installed this Ant ix OS, on a Hard disk, I would never require those VB guest packages in this system, which would be the host, even if ever I wish to install some VB VMs on this system. Those VB guest packages would be necessary to be installed only on any guest VM I create on this host antix OS. Right? So I suppose those packages are totally unnecessary and useless if one is installing antix-base on hard disk. Am I right in thinking so?

Thanks

Virtualbox packages, particularly Virtualbox guest packages, are definitely not required. The only reason you have to install any of the packages is if – and only if – you actually want to use Virtualbox. Even then, the Guest Additions are not mandatory, but they are helpful to use all of the capabilities of Virtualbox; depending on what you install, it affects the appearance and functionality of the Virtualbox experience.

The simple answer is that if you are not using Virtualbox, you can safely remove any or all of them.
You can definitely ignore the Guest packages, whether you install Virtualbox or not; the impact of NOT installing them – ONLY if you USE Virtualbox, is a visual impact on the visual size and features of the guest virtual machine. I hope that is clear. Don’t even worry about it at all if you don’t need Virtualbox. If you do decide to use Virtualbox, I suggest that you install all of the packages, but if you are short on space, just install the main package.

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Brian Masinick

[Member anilkagi]

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Ah! now that’s clear.

Thanks Brian.

[Member ile]

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hello anilkagi and masinick
Live usb creation tools is a central focus of the antiX systems. live and install. Pass it along. When we hand out, umm daily, those usb we are passing along the virtualbox guest stuff on each antiX usb; is that right? a good choice for armimg the tool that spreads antiX. does that fit?
Having vb on an install can use resources to maintain; like downloading upgrades and waiting for vb to install. Like you said, not much consequence to that these days for all but a few of machines. and those few are another focus of antiX to work on marginal machines. it is a catch. vb is present as a capability. expected, probably. The antiX featureset is comprehensive; cannot take away vb, like cutting the legs from under the workhorse that base is, or any version of antiX. There is an installer in there too, on my installations, upgraded to the latest version. pass it along.
(?)

[Member anilkagi]

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Yep, that’s right. So it comes ready with that capability, to go with a VM.

[Member ile]

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Hello anilkagi
Thank you for bringing your linux enthusiasm to antiX.

[Member ile]

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frankly ,, the vb upgrades take a minute, so i notice them. i don’t know how many machines together it would take before i would eliminate it from the maintenance; a pile. pinning preferable to purging(?)
You didn’t come here for a lecture. i list opinion. Does one say, use antiX because you can make it into this. ? or Does one say, use antiX because it starts with this. ? make sure it starts; give full base. You know your target audience. We are still hoping it unexpectedly jumps outside that and be prepared. Will millions come because of you? You might keep it installed so that you could help troubleshoot theirs later?
Not so long ago the start in any pc meant carry the 32bit with. Knowing the target audience meant knowing when to bring the 64bit iso. now besides encountering generally 64 bit machines we must have vb and different bioses and different kernels and… wow. All the live essentials tools integrate with backup and remastering practice, migrate, deploy, share. What kind of network and machines do you have? millions? touchscreens?

[Member qwee]

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all of these
virtualbox-guest-dkms
virtualbox-guest-utils
virtualbox-guest-utils-modified-init
virtualbox-guest-x11

open source ??

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