How To Fix VirtualBox’s vboxdrv Setup Failure with DKMS

VirtualBox is a popular open-source virtualization software that allows you to run multiple operating systems simultaneously. However, users often encounter a common issue: the vboxdrv setup failure with DKMS. This article will guide you through several solutions to resolve this problem.

Understanding the Issue

The vboxdrv setup failure typically occurs when you try to start a virtual machine (VM) in VirtualBox. The error message might read something like this:

WARNING: The vboxdrv kernel module is not loaded. Either there is no module
 available for the current kernel (4.4.0-36-generic) or it failed to
 load. Please recompile the kernel module and install it by

 sudo /sbin/vboxconfig

 You will not be able to start VMs until this problem is fixed.

This error is usually due to an issue with the Dynamic Kernel Module Support (DKMS), a framework that simplifies the process of installing kernel modules.

Solution 1: Install Required Elements and Run vboxdrv Setup

Step 1: Open Terminal

You can open a terminal window using the shortcut ctrl+alt+t.

Step 2: Install Required Elements

Run the following command to install the required elements to build programs:

sudo apt-get install build-essential libssl-dev linux-headers-`uname -r`

Here, build-essential is a package that includes informational files and the like described as documentation, which means it’s a good base for any programming. libssl-dev contains development libraries, header files, and manpages for libssl and libcrypto. linux-headers-uname -r“ ensures you’re getting the headers for your specific version of the kernel.

Step 3: Install DKMS

To avoid this problem after kernel updates, install the DKMS module:

sudo apt-get install dkms

DKMS is a service that will rebuild and reinstall any kernel modules when a new kernel is installed.

Step 4: Run vboxdrv Setup

Run the vboxdrv setup command as suggested by the error message:

sudo -i
/etc/init.d/vboxdrv setup
exit

This command will set up the vboxdrv kernel module.

Solution 2: Uninstall and Reinstall VirtualBox

Step 1: Uninstall VirtualBox

Uninstall or purge the VirtualBox program using the command:

sudo apt-get purge virtualbox virtualbox-dkms virtualbox-qt

Here, purge is used to remove packages and config files. virtualbox, virtualbox-dkms, and virtualbox-qt are the packages being removed.

Step 2: Reinstall VirtualBox

Reinstall VirtualBox by running the command:

sudo apt-get install virtualbox

This command will install VirtualBox again.

Solution 3: Download and Install VirtualBox from Oracle Website

If the above solutions do not work, you can try downloading and installing VirtualBox directly from the Oracle website.

Final Thoughts

If the vboxdrv setup failure persists after trying these solutions, check the /var/log/vbox-install.log file for any error messages and investigate further. Remember, it’s crucial to keep your operating system up-to-date to avoid such issues.

VirtualBox is a powerful tool, but like any software, it can encounter problems. Hopefully, this guide has helped you resolve the vboxdrv setup failure with DKMS, allowing you to continue running your virtual machines smoothly.