How to Send Files between Your Host OS and VirtualBox Guest OS

When working with VirtualBox, you may need to transfer files between your host operating system (OS) and a guest OS. There are several ways to do this, including using SSH, shared folders, and drag-and-drop functionality.

Using SSH

One way to send files is by using the Secure Shell (SSH) protocol. To use SSH, you'll need to install an SSH server on your receiving machine (the guest OS). Many Linux/Ubuntu distributions come with SSH installed by default, so you can check if it's running by using the command `pgrep sshd` from a shell.

You also need to set up authorization on both machines. This can be done via password or, better, an automatic authentication method. Once authorized, you can use your client machine (the host OS) to connect to the SSH server and transfer files.

Shared Folders

Another way to send files is by using shared folders. You can create a shared folder on one of your virtual machines and access it from both machines. This allows you to exchange files directly without needing to use an external application. Keep in mind that if you have different clock settings on the different virtual machines, you may encounter issues with file dates and times.

Drag-and-Drop Functionality

VirtualBox also allows you to enable drag-and-drop functionality between your host OS and guest OS. To do this, go to Settings > General > Advanced and set the drag-and-drop option to 'bidirectional.' This will allow you to copy files from your host OS to your guest OS by simply dragging and dropping them.

Clipboard Sharing

If you need to transfer larger amounts of data or text, you can use clipboard sharing between your host OS and guest OS. To do this, you'll need to install Guest Addition on both virtual machines (probably setting bidirectional and restarting them). This will allow you to copy and paste text between the two operating systems.

As you can see, there are several ways to send files between your host OS and VirtualBox guest OS. Whether you choose to use SSH, shared folders, drag-and-drop functionality, or clipboard sharing, these methods make it easy to transfer data between your virtual machines. By following these steps, you'll be able to get the most out of your VirtualBox setup.

Send file to virtualbox