[Jaunty] virtualbox-ose-source does not find kernel source due to depends on "-generic" as alternative

[Rolf Leggewie]

Binary package hint: virtualbox-ose

$ sudo aptitude reinstall virtualbox-ose-source
[...]
Unpacking replacement virtualbox-ose-source ...
Setting up virtualbox-ose-source (2.1.0-dfsg-2ubuntu1) ...
 * Reloading kernel event manager... [ OK ]
Adding modules to DKMS build system
Doing initial module builds

Error! Your kernel source for kernel 2.6.28-2-386 cannot be found at
/lib/modules/2.6.28-2-386/build or /lib/modules/2.6.28-2-386/source.

Error! Your kernel source for kernel 2.6.28-2-386 cannot be found at
/lib/modules/2.6.28-2-386/build or /lib/modules/2.6.28-2-386/source.
Installing initial modules

Error! Could not locate vboxdrv.ko for module vboxdrv in the DKMS tree.
You must run a dkms build for kernel 2.6.28-2-386 (i686) first.

Error! Could not locate vboxnetflt.ko for module vboxnetflt in the DKMS tree.
You must run a dkms build for kernel 2.6.28-2-386 (i686) first.
Done.
 * Stopping VirtualBox kernel module... [ OK ]
 * Starting VirtualBox kernel module... [fail]

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Reading extended state information
Initializing package states... Done
$ ll /lib/modules/2.6.28-2-386/
total 2,1M
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 1,0K 2009-02-23 18:13 initrd
drwxr-xr-x 10 root root 1,0K 2009-02-23 18:13 kernel
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 456K 2009-02-23 18:14 modules.alias
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 69 2009-02-23 18:14 modules.ccwmap
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 418K 2009-02-23 18:14 modules.dep
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 813 2009-02-23 18:14 modules.ieee1394map
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 218 2009-02-23 18:14 modules.inputmap
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 23K 2009-02-23 18:14 modules.isapnpmap
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 74 2009-02-23 18:14 modules.ofmap
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 302K 2009-02-23 18:14 modules.pcimap
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1,6K 2009-02-23 18:14 modules.seriomap
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 195K 2009-02-23 18:14 modules.symbols
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 653K 2009-02-23 18:14 modules.usbmap

[Daniel Hahler (blueyed)]

The problem is that virtualbox-ose-source depends on "linux-headers-generic | linux-headers".
"linux-headers" is a virtual package, and as far as I know, this needs an alternative in the "Depends". Since linux-headers-generic is used there, you get this installed, although you appear to need linux-headers-386.

Is there a particular reason why you are using the -386 kernel?
Either switch to the -generic kernel, or install linux-headers-386 to make virtualbox-ose-source/DKMS working.

[Rolf Leggewie (r0lf)]

Daniel, thank you for your analysis. It is indeed correct, things work now after installing the -386 headers.

I've been switching back and forth between the -generic and the -386 kernel. There was always something that worked on one but not the other. It's been too long that I would remember any details, though. Maybe I'll switch again one of these days.

[Rolf Leggewie (r0lf)]

It may be that I installed the -386 kernel instead of the -generic one because it is 25% smaller. But I have no clear recollection of it anymore.