I have created linux (Centos) on my virtual box. When I ssh to it and I try to create symbolic link (on my shared folder with full access):
ln -s path/folder/example myFolder
I get error:
ln: creating symbolic link `myFolder': Protocol error
Is there any reason or solution to this?
It's a problem with the host filesystem. Check the permissions on the host folder are adequate and the the host filesystem supports symlinks.
Right click on your command prompt and "Run as Administrator" (or whatever program you're using to make those symlinks needs to be run as adminstrator).
Here is the solution in a ticket on virtualbox.org :
https://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/10085#comment:32
(Note: Execute "whoami /priv" in console with Administrative privileges)
I have done some Windows research on this bug.
If your user is of the Administrator type (rather than a Standard
account), there's no way to run VB with symlinks working without the
UAC prompt.
If you have a Standard user account (or if you are willing to switch
your account to Standard and create a separate Admin account), the
solution exists. You will, however, need admin privileges to
accomplish several of the steps (not necesarrily for your user
account).
- Run the Local Security Policy (Win+R, type "secpol.msc", confirm UAC). Then navigate to "Local Policies->User Rights Assignment".
Find the permission called "Create symbolic links" and double-click it. Add your user to the list of objects having this
permission. Or you can add the "Users" group. Log off and log on. You
can check the success by running in console:
whoami /priv
If you see the privilege SeCreateSymbolicLinkPrivilege enabled, you've
done well.
Make sure your user has proper access to the shared folder on host system.
As mentioned here earlier, execute
VBoxManage setextradata VM_NAME VBoxInternal2/SharedFoldersEnableSymlinksCreate/SHARE_NAME 1
in a console from the C:\Program Files\VirtualBox folder. Don't forget
to substitute VM_NAME with the name of your VM and SHARE_NAME with the
name of the shared folder (as it appears in the VM settings).
You're done.
If you happen to own one of the "lesser" version of windows (e.g. 7
Home), you don't have the "secpol.msc" utility. See
How do I grant SeCreateSymbolicLink on Windows Vista Home edition
for help.
As I understand, Windows VirtualBox hosts doesn't support links (from https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch04.html#sharedfolders)
Starting with version 4.0, VirtualBox shared folders also support
symbolic links (symlinks), under the following conditions:
The host operating system must support symlinks (i.e. a Mac, Linux or
Solaris host is required).
Currently only Linux and Solaris Guest Additions support symlinks.
For security reasons the guest OS is not allowed to create symlinks by
default. If you trust the guest OS to not abuse the functionality, you
can enable creation of symlinks for "sharename" with:
VBoxManage setextradata "VM name"
VBoxInternal2/SharedFoldersEnableSymlinksCreate/sharename 1
find the cmd.exe file.
Right click on the cmd.exe .
Select "Run as Administrator" menu option.
It should work perfectly.