VirtualBox USB problem under Ubuntu

User_FAQ - VirtualBox

* USB on Ubuntu/Gutsy: Ubuntu removed support for /proc/bus/usb/*. We will address this issue in the future. Until this, edit the script `/etc/init.d/mountdevsubfs.sh and activate the four lines around line 40 (Magic to make /proc/bus/usb work). Then execute

/etc/init.d/mountdevsubfs.sh start

From now on, there should be a directory /proc/bus/usb/ and the device entries below should be accessible by any user.

* USB on Ubuntu/Intrepid: Finally, the Ubuntu guys completely removed these lines. So you have to manually add them again:

mkdir -p /dev/bus/usb/.usbfs
domount usbfs "" /dev/bus/usb/.usbfs usbfs -obusmode=0700,devmode=0600,listmode=0644
ln -s .usbfs/devices /dev/bus/usb/devices
mount --rbind /dev/bus/usb /proc/bus/usb

Add these lines to at the end of the start() function of /etc/init.d/mountdevsubfs.sh.
Note that the udev permissions for the USB devices are still used. For instance, to access a USB disk you have to be member of the group disk. Execute

/bin/ls -l /proc/bus/usb/*/*

and check if you have write access to all desired USB devices.

VirtualBox - Community Ubuntu Documentation

To get USB support, you need the PUEL version. Via the GUI, there is an option to enable USB.

Furthermore, your user must be able to access /proc/bus/usb/*

Since Gutsy, /proc/bus/usb is not mounted by default. You need to edit /etc/init.d/mountdevsubfs.sh and uncomment the following lines:

#
# Magic to make /proc/bus/usb work
#
mkdir -p /dev/bus/usb/.usbfs
domount usbfs "" /dev/bus/usb/.usbfs -obusmode=0700,devmode=0600,listmode=0644
ln -s .usbfs/devices /dev/bus/usb/devices
mount --rbind /dev/bus/usb /proc/bus/usb

In order to give users in the vboxusers group write permissions to the devices in /proc/bus/usb, you'll need to edit some rules in /etc/udev/rules.d.

Under gutsy, edit /etc/udev/rules.d/40-permissions.rules to say the following:

# USB devices (usbfs replacement)
SUBSYSTEM=="usb_device", MODE="0664", GROUP="vboxusers"

Under hardy, edit /etc/udev/rules.d/40-basic-permissions.rules to say the following:

# USB devices (usbfs replacement)
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ENV{DEVTYPE}=="usb_device", MODE="0664", GROUP="vboxusers"
SUBSYSTEM=="usb_device", MODE="0664", GROUP="vboxusers"

Then, restart the udev service:

sudo /etc/init.d/udev restart

Now, if you haven't done it already, make sure your user is part of the group vboxusers using the following command:

sudo adduser $USER vboxusers

http://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/747

Ubuntu Unleashed: Howto: Install VirtualBox in Ubuntu Hardy Heron with USB Support in 5 easy Steps!

If the above doesnt work try rebooting, if that doesnt enable usb you can try this:
Grab the vboxusers group id:
grep vbox /etc/group
vboxusers:x:124:ionstorm
Edit the fstab with the group id # in bold:
sudo gedit /etc/fstab
Append this to the fstab then save/exit:
## usbfs is the USB group in fstab file:
none /proc/bus/usb usbfs devgid=124,devmode=664 0 0
Now lets edit the mountkernfs.sh file with the gid in bold:
sudo gedit /etc/init.d/mountkernfs.sh
Paste the 2 lines below above the line: "# Mount spufs, if Cell Broadband processor is detected"
## Mount the usbfs for use with Virtual Box
domount usbfs usbdevfs /proc/bus/usb -onoexec,nosuid,nodev,devgid=124,devmode=664

You may not need to reboot, try doing:
sudo /etc/init.d/mountkernfs.sh