• Share folders in Virtual Machine.cables 1 image by juanjo tugores from Fotolia.com
  
  VirtualBox uses software to install a virtual machine on top of a native operating system. The second machine operates independently of the native system, but utilizes the entire native machine's hardware as if it were its own. In order to share certain designated folders across platforms, VirtualBox includes a program called VBOXSF (VirtualBox Shared Folders) that provides a means to exchange data between the two machines. Certain protocols are in place to facilitate this data swapping process.
  
  

Loading Shared Folders

• The shared folders software feature must be loaded on the host machine, not the virtual machine. The shared folders files are accessed by opening a pseudo-network as with Windows or as a virtual file system when running the Solaris or Linux based operating systems, depending on the operating system of the guest system.
  
  

Naming the Paths

• To share a folder with the virtual machine, the host machine must specify a path to that folder and supply a new 'share name' in order for the virtual machine to view the folder. This can be set up by selecting the "Devices" menu in the VirtualBox folder and selecting "Shared Folder." Alternatively, the folder sharing feature can be created from the command line or configuring it in the virtual machine's "Settings" dialog box.
  
  

Folder Protocols

• Shared folders are of two types as defined by the "VBoxManage" protocols: permanently shared with designated users or 'transients," or accessible only while the operating system is open at the time of assignment. Once the system is shut down or rebooted the transient folders disappear.
  
  

Mounting Protocols

• Mounting the shared folders can be accomplished from inside the virtual machine by two methods, depending on the operating system. With Windows, the shared folders can be searched for in Explorer in the same manner as seeking out and mounting a network drive. The shared folder may be assigned a drive letter as any other network drive. With the Solaris and Linux operating systems, the command prompt is used to mount the drive and specify the degree of access allowed. In VirtualBox 4.0 and later, mounting shared folders can be accomplished automatically using the Guest Additions software protocols.