Here’s how to install VirtualBox on OpenSUSE 11.1:

1. First, you’ll have to download the package from Sun’s website.
2. Get the right package for your OS platform (32-bit or 64-bit). I had the mistake of installing the wrong package. You can check your platform by running ‘uname’ command with ‘-a’ (print all information) argument:

   ryan@rawswift:~/Desktop> uname -a
   Linux rawswift 2.6.27.7-9-default #1 SMP 2008-12-04 18:10:04 +0100 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
   ryan@rawswift:~/Desktop>

   A 64-bit kernel will give you ‘x86_64 x86_64 x86_64′ and a 32-bit would show ‘i686 i686 i386′.

3. After you’ve download the package, it time to install it:

   ryan@rawswift:~/Desktop> sudo rpm -i VirtualBox-2.1.2_41885_openSUSE111-1.x86_64.rpm
   Creating group 'vboxusers'. VM users must be member of that group!
   ryan@rawswift:~/Desktop>

That’s it! Now run ‘Sun xVM VirtualBox’ on your application menu or ‘VirtualBox’ on your shell. Enjoy!

Problems and fixes (especially on a 32-bit and OSE package)

• VirtualBox’s library requirements. Install the following:

  pam-devel
  libqt2-32bit
  libqt4-x11-32bit
  SDL-32bit
  libxslt-32bit

• After running VirtualBox, it doesn’t show up on screen. Run VirtualBox on shell:

  ryan@rawswift:~/Desktop> VirtualBox
  WARNING: The vboxdrv kernel module is not loaded. Either there is no module
           available for the current kernel (2.6.27.7-9-default) or it failed to
           load. Please recompile the kernel module and install it by
  
             sudo /etc/init.d/vboxdrv setup
  
           You will not be able to start VMs until this problem is fixed.
  /usr/bin/VirtualBox: line 72: /usr/lib/virtualbox/VirtualBox: Permission denied
  /usr/bin/VirtualBox: line 72: exec: /usr/lib/virtualbox/VirtualBox: cannot execute: Success
  ryan@rawswift:~/Desktop>

  If the above error appears, you should run ‘vboxdrv’ script to create the VirtualBox kernel module:

  ryan@rawswift:~/Desktop> sudo /etc/init.d/vboxdrv setup
  Stopping VirtualBox kernel module                                    done
  Removing old VirtualBox netflt kernel module                         done
  Removing old VirtualBox kernel module                                done
  Recompiling VirtualBox kernel module                                 failed
    (Look at /var/log/vbox-install.log to find out what went wrong)
  ryan@rawswift:~/Desktop>

  If it fails to compile, install ‘kernel-source‘ through YaST. Then run ‘/etc/init.d/vboxdrv setup’ again.

  ryan@rawswift:~/Desktop> sudo /etc/init.d/vboxdrv setup
  Stopping VirtualBox kernel module                                    done
  Removing old VirtualBox netflt kernel module                         done
  Removing old VirtualBox kernel module                                done
  Recompiling VirtualBox kernel module                                 done
  Starting VirtualBox kernel module                                    done
  ryan@rawswift:~/Desktop>

• Permission denied:

  ryan@rawswift:~/Desktop> VirtualBox
  /usr/bin/VirtualBox: line 72: /usr/lib/virtualbox/VirtualBox: Permission denied
  /usr/bin/VirtualBox: line 72: exec: /usr/lib/virtualbox/VirtualBox: cannot execute: Success
  ryan@rawswift:~/Desktop>

  Run ‘chmod’ on ‘VirtualBox’. This will set the execute bit:

  sudo chmod +x /usr/lib/virtualbox/VirtualBox

• Driver mismatch. If an error box appear when you ‘Start’ a virtual machine:

  The VirtualBox support driver which is running is from a different version of VirtualBox.
  You can correct this by stopping all running instances of VirtualBox and reinstalling the software.
  (VERR_VM_DRIVER_VERSION_MISMATCH).
  
  Result Code:	NS_ERROR_FAILURE (0x80004005)
  Component:	Console
  Interface:	IConsole {e3c6d4a1-a935-47ca-b16d-f9e9c496e53e}

  Check your VirtualBox package platform (64-bit or 32-bit, see the tutorial above).