VirtualBox: Kernel driver not installed

Support Virtualization
1

I just installed VirtualBox

$ pamac install virtualbox linux612-virtualbox-host-modules

; it’s starting, but running a virtual macine installed on my system I’m getting this;

Kernel driver not installed (rc=-1908)
The VirtualBox Linux kernel driver is either not loaded or not set up correctly. Please try setting it up again by executing
'/sbin/vboxconfig'
as root.
If your system has EFI Secure Boot enabled 
[details="Summary"]
you may also need to sign the kernel modules (vboxdrv, vboxnetflt, vboxnetadp, vboxpci) before you can load them. Please see your Linux system's documentation for more information.
[/details]
where: suplibOsInit what: 3 VERR_VM_DRIVER_NOT_INSTALLED (-1908) - The support driver is not installed. On linux, open returned ENOENT.

Secure Boot is DISabled on the machine!
I studied the tip from @linux-aarhus and run

$ sudo vboxreload
Unloading modules: 
Loading modules: modprobe: FATAL: Module vboxnetadp not found in directory /lib/modules/6.12.41-1-MANJARO
modprobe: FATAL: Module vboxnetflt not found in directory /lib/modules/6.12.41-1-MANJARO
modprobe: FATAL: Module vboxdrv not found in directory /lib/modules/6.12.41-1-MANJARO

I checked:

$ sudo pamac search virtualbox
linux612-virtualbox-host-modules  7.2.0-8 [Installiert]                    extra
    Virtualbox host kernel modules for Manjaro Kernel
virtualbox-guest-iso  7.2.0-1 [Installiert]                                extra
    The official VirtualBox Guest Additions ISO image
virtualbox-ext-vnc  7.2.0-1 [Installiert]                                  extra
    VirtualBox VNC extension pack
virtualbox  7.2.0-1 [Installiert]                                          extra
    Powerful x86 virtualization for enterprise as well as home use

$ mhwd-kernel -li
Currently running: 6.12.41-1-MANJARO (linux612)

What is wrong here?

2

Reboot - or load the module:

sudo modprobe vboxdrv

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/VirtualBox#Load_the_VirtualBox_kernel_modules

Make sure you have installed the correct host modules, matching your kernel version.

3

Thank you:

After Reboot same issue,

$ sudo modprobe vboxdrv

modprobe: FATAL: Module vboxdrv not found in directory /lib/modules/6.12.41-1-MANJARO

Isn’t this

the part I’ve shown here:

I checked:

$ sudo pamac search virtualbox
linux612-virtualbox-host-modules  7.2.0-8 [Installiert]                    extra
    Virtualbox host kernel modules for Manjaro Kernel
virtualbox-guest-iso  7.2.0-1 [Installiert]                                extra
    The official VirtualBox Guest Additions ISO image
virtualbox-ext-vnc  7.2.0-1 [Installiert]                                  extra
    VirtualBox VNC extension pack
virtualbox  7.2.0-1 [Installiert]                                          extra
    Powerful x86 virtualization for enterprise as well as home use

$ mhwd-kernel -li
Currently running: 6.12.41-1-MANJARO (linux612)

But there is a difference 6.12.41 ./. 6.12.43 shown in Manjaro-Settings-Manager:

Bildschirmfoto_20250829_141847
Bildschirmfoto_20250829_141847949×444 38.8 KB

What can I do?

4

Your currently running kernel is:

6.12.41-1-MANJARO

The picture shows 6.12.43-1 however
and that is what is expected to actually be there by the host modules package.

At the moment I have no idea where that discrepancy comes from.

The pre-compiled host modules will not work if the running kernel does not match.

I’d always opt to use the DKMS version …

5

What do you mean?

6 
extra/virtualbox-host-dkms 7.2.0-1
    VirtualBox Host kernel modules sources

But that is me - I’d do it like that.

You, on the other hand, should probably resolve the discrepancy instead,
so you can keep using the pre-compiled modules.

… install the kernel again, perhaps - I have no idea how such discrepancy can come about

7

I guess, it’s caused by the actual UPdate: I installed virtualbox (having version 7.2) and shortly after that, my computer announced today’s update.

$ pamac checkupdates | grep 43
linux612                    6.12.41-1                   -> 6.12.43-1                   core

What do you think?

8

I just ran an update - among it was linux6.12.43-1

Did you actually reboot after that update?

Do the update and reboot - then the versions will match.

and:

install a second kernel as a backup option - just a recommendation

The kernel GUI will show the new version as installed and running -
even though it is just installed, but not yet running.

Blame pamac or whatever … :wink:

reboot and then it will actually tell the truth :grimacing:

9

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