Installation error on macOS Mojave

[rsravi96]

All versions are throwing an error on macOS Mojave.

[rsravi96]

I am facing the same issues with the lower version as well.

[shein]

Same issue with Virtual box 5.2.20 after upgrade to MaOS Mojave 10.14 (18A391)

[Socratis]

This is a known issue due to the way Apple handles the installation of kernel extensions. See ​Installation fails on 10.13.x (rc=-1908) in the forums and take appropriate action in the Security Center.

Please continue this discussion in the forum thread, as this is not a VirtualBox bug.

[damiano++]

It would be nice if the installer contains a note telling the user to click the appropriate button in the system settings, because the error message the installer throws doesn't give you a useful hint as to what went wrong.

The installation instructions (https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch02.html#idm863) could mention this as well.

I do think the missing documentation on this install issue is a Virtualbox bug.

The "Unattended installation" (https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch02.html#idm879) also fails, for the same reason as the GUI installer.

[Socratis]

Replying to damiano++:

It would be nice if the installer contains a note telling the user to click the appropriate button in the system settings, because the error message the installer throws doesn't give you a useful hint as to what went wrong.

Can't do, that's the Apple installer at work. BTW most of the time it does display a note, as shown in the ​Apple Technical Note TN2459. For some setups however it doesn't. Unknown which ones fail, even to Apple it seems, because there are a lot of complaints in the web.

I do think the missing documentation on this install issue is a Virtualbox bug.

An enhancement, maybe. A bug? Definitely not.

The "Unattended installation" (https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch02.html#idm879) also fails, for the same reason as the GUI installer.

The fundamental failure doesn't change when the GUI or CLI installer is used.

[rsravi96]

@socratis

As a user we would be expecting the installer file does everything as per the OS. At least if it would be done by the installer in the upcoming version it would be appreciated or else please update the doc with how to install it on the latest Mac OS.

[Socratis]

Replying to rsravi96:

As a user we would be expecting the installer file does everything as per the OS.

So would VirtualBox, trust me... ;)

VirtualBox tries to install something with the official OSX installer (it needs those kernel extensions, there's no other way). When that installation fails (due to kexts not being allowed by the system policy), OSX is supposed to show an error message telling you that you can't install the kexts and that you need to go to the Security options. This is still the OSX installer we're talking about, VirtualBox has absolutely no control over it. Nor can VirtualBox use its own custom installer, it's not allowed.

Now, for some unknown reasons, in some OSX systems, that dialog never comes up. And mind you, this is not only a VirtualBox issue, a lot more programs that need to install kexts fail, because the OSX installer fails to properly warn the end user.

So, here's what *I* would write to the manual:

If you're one of the few unlucky users that fell victim to Apple's faulty security "enhancements" and you can't install VirtualBox as intended, please don't complain to Apple (or Oracle for that matter), but follow this workaround, as suggested by... Apple.

But, in reality, I can't change the manual like that, or in any other way... ;)

So, how does something like the following sound?

If the installation on OSX 10.13 (and higher) fails to install the kernel extensions, please follow Apple's Technical Note TN2459 (​https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/technotes/tn2459/_index.html), to allow Oracle as a trusted developer. Note that this affects only new OSX installations (not upgrades), or new VirtualBox installations.

[octv20]

I think I SOLVED.

1) First try to install and receive an error. Ok. 2) Before you try again, go to System Preferences, Security. There you will see something like Oracle is trying..., click in Allow. 3) Try to install again, and succeed.

[Socratis]

Yes @octv20, this is the exact same procedure as describe in the Apple TN2459, as well as in the forums sticky post...