Linux: The VirtualBox Linux kernel driver (vboxdrv) is either not loaded or there is a permission problem with /dev/vboxdrv
Tags: archlinux, linux, virtualbox
Published: 2019-03-05 13:10:56

---
title: Linux: The VirtualBox Linux kernel driver (vboxdrv) is either not loaded or there is a permission problem with /dev/vboxdrv
published: true
tags: Arch Linux,Linux,VirtualBox
canonical_url: https://rtfm.co.ua/en/linux-the-virtualbox-linux-kernel-driver-vboxdrv-is-either-not-loaded-or-there-is-a-permission-problem-with-dev-vboxdrv-2/
---

![](https://rtfm.co.ua/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/virtualbox.jpeg)After each new VirtualBox installation – I’m stepping on the same rake again and again and have to go to Google to ask:

> The VirtualBox Linux kernel driver (vboxdrv) is either not loaded or there is a permission problem with /dev/vboxdrv

[![](https://rtfm.co.ua/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Screenshot_20190305_081734.png)](https://rtfm.co.ua/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Screenshot_20190305_081734.png)

Attempt to load `vboxdrv` manually also provides the error:

```
$ sudo modprobe vboxdrv
modprobe: FATAL: Module vboxdrv not found in directory /lib/modules/4.20.13-arch1-1-ARCH
```

And looks like kernel version is correct, and PC was rebooted:

```
$ uname -r
4.20.13-arch1-1-ARCH
```

And `rcvboxdrv` didn’t help (expected, however):

```
$ sudo rcvboxdrv
Unloading modules:
Loading modules: modprobe: FATAL: Module vboxnetadp not found in directory /lib/modules/4.20.13-arch1-1-ARCH
modprobe: FATAL: Module vboxnetflt not found in directory /lib/modules/4.20.13-arch1-1-ARCH
modprobe: FATAL: Module vboxpci not found in directory /lib/modules/4.20.13-arch1-1-ARCH
modprobe: FATAL: Module vboxdrv not found in directory /lib/modules/4.20.13-arch1-1-ARCH
```

The solution is, suddenly – install the [`linux-headers`](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/core/x86_64/linux-headers/) – always forgetting about it:

```
$ sudo pacman -S linux-headers
```

Which includes all the necessary files:

```
$ pacman -Ql linux-headers | grep vbox
linux-headers /usr/lib/modules/4.20.13-arch1-1-ARCH/build/drivers/staging/vboxvideo/
linux-headers /usr/lib/modules/4.20.13-arch1-1-ARCH/build/drivers/staging/vboxvideo/Kconfig
linux-headers /usr/lib/modules/4.20.13-arch1-1-ARCH/build/drivers/virt/vboxguest/
linux-headers /usr/lib/modules/4.20.13-arch1-1-ARCH/build/drivers/virt/vboxguest/Kconfig
linux-headers /usr/lib/modules/4.20.13-arch1-1-ARCH/build/include/config/drm/vboxvideo.h
linux-headers /usr/lib/modules/4.20.13-arch1-1-ARCH/build/include/config/vboxguest.h
linux-headers /usr/lib/modules/4.20.13-arch1-1-ARCH/build/include/linux/vbox\_utils.h
linux-headers /usr/lib/modules/4.20.13-arch1-1-ARCH/build/include/uapi/linux/vbox\_err.h
linux-headers /usr/lib/modules/4.20.13-arch1-1-ARCH/build/include/uapi/linux/vbox\_vmmdev\_types.h
linux-headers /usr/lib/modules/4.20.13-arch1-1-ARCH/build/include/uapi/linux/vboxguest.h
```

Also, it’s set as an optional dependency for [`virtualbox-guest-dkms`](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/community/x86_64/virtualbox-guest-dkms/ "View package details for virtualbox-guest-dkms") and [`virtualbox-host-dkms`](https://www.archlinux.org/packages/community/x86_64/virtualbox-host-dkms/ "View package details for virtualbox-host-dkms") packages.

Load modules again:

```
$ sudo rcvboxdrv
Unloading modules:
Loading modules: vboxnetadp vboxnetflt vboxpci vboxdrv
```

And run your VirtualBox.

Done.

### Similar posts

- <small>02/15/2017</small> [Arch: Virtualbox – No kernel 4.8.10-1-ARCH headers](https://rtfm.co.ua/arch-virtualbox-no-kernel-4-8-10-1-arch-headers/)<small> (0)</small>   
- <small>12/28/2016</small> [Arch: установка VirtualBox, Vagrant и Docker](https://rtfm.co.ua/arch-ustanovka-virtualbox-vagrant-i-docker/)<small> (0)</small>  
- <small>08/09/2017</small> [Virtualbox: создание и запуск VM из консоли](https://rtfm.co.ua/virtualbox-sozdanie-i-zapusk-vm-iz-konsoli/)<small> (0)</small>