Install fails v5.1.10 - Linux 64 - Ubuntu

[Will]

I downloaded the full installer for VirtuabBox, debian distro Linux 64bit.

The package manager reports an "unsatisfiable Dependency" on QT Core:

Error: Dependency is not satisfiable: libqt5core5a (>=5.6.0-beta)

I have scanned the debian repositories. Sure enough there is No Stable package available to support this installer package.

I don't know what using the in-test version might be on my other stable system programs.

Package libqt5core5a

    wheezy-backports (libs): Qt 5 core module
    5.3.2+dfsg-4+deb8u1~bpo70+1: amd64
    jessie (stable) (libs): Qt 5 core module
    5.3.2+dfsg-4+deb8u1: amd64
    stretch (testing) (libs): Qt 5 core module
    5.7.1~20161021+dfsg-6: amd64
    sid (unstable) (libs): Qt 5 core module
    5.7.1~20161021+dfsg-6: amd64

I suggest it is infeasible to use this version of virtualbox on a stable system. It might be OK for a test system or development system. I had a mismatch of GTK versions one time and it caused all kinds of chaos with the GUI. I don't recommend the experience.

[Will]

Potentially related issues:

• https://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/16166
• https://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/15319

[Frank Mehnert]

Which version of Ubuntu or Debian are you using? The ticket summary mentions 'Ubuntu' while the ticket description mentions 'Debian'. And which VirtualBox package did you try to install? Please provide the exact package name.

[Will]

Hello,

I believe this question misses the critical (and perhaps ONLY) point. That the most up=to-date available STABLE version of Qt for these systems is:

• 5.3.2

The only available beta for these systems is:

• 5.7.x

I attempted to use latest stable Qt 5.7, the system's apt-get wasn't happy. Which is a good thing imho. A mismatch in GUI components can mess with my day.

In answer to the specific question ALL of the Debian releases mentioned will Not support those VirtuabBox releases, viz. All/any Ubuntu based on those Debian releases. Ubuntu is built on a base Debian distro.

The VirtualBox version is in the header: VirtualBox 5.1.10.

I also tried the VirtualBox 5.8 release, that has the same problem

Every Ubuntu release based on those Debian versions will not support the Qt version reported by the installer

Package libqt5core5a

    wheezy, jessie, stretch (forget the beta)

    wheezy-backports (libs): Qt 5 core module
    5.3.2+dfsg-4+deb8u1~bpo70+1: amd64

    jessie (stable) (libs): Qt 5 core module
    5.3.2+dfsg-4+deb8u1: amd64
    stretch (testing) (libs): Qt 5 core module
    5.7.1~20161021+dfsg-6: amd64
    sid (unstable) (libs): Qt 5 core module
    5.7.1~20161021+dfsg-6: amd64

Tonight I'm using a system with...

• Linux 4.4.0-47-generic #68-Ubuntu SMP Wed Oct 26 19:39:52 UTC 2016 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Earlier today I was using a recent Debian distro without the Ubuntu finery:

• Linux 3.16.0-4-amd64 #1 SMP Debian 3.16.36-1+deb8u2 (2016-10-19) x86_64 GNU/Linux

and

• Solaris 11 (I believe)

We didn't try too hard for Solaris since it is pointless without the accompanying Linux version installed anyway. One of the major reasons to use a cross-platform software like VirtualBox is that you can have the "same" package on all your machines, Linux, Windows, Solaris, what have you. When one platform will not/can not install then we are left with the lowest common denominator, which seems to be VirtualBox 5.0.24 at this point. Which does install.

The later versions appear to want a version of Qt that is not included in any official repository. You may verify that information by looking at the Qt site.

If there is some pure gold feature from Qt 5.6 that is needed, that needs to be bundled in with the VirtualBox installer and we (users) need to be warned before we install in case of any instabilities arising from Qt mismatches.

Either that or state in the release notes that the VirtualBox 5.1.10 target is the Future Version of distros that have Qt 5.7 (apparently Qt 5.6 is not going to be released <shrug>).

[Frank Mehnert]

You still didn't tell me

1. Which Ubuntu version you are using. When you mention "Linux 4.4.0-47" I guess that you are talking about Ubuntu 16.04. Is that correct?
2. You also did not answer my other question, in particular which exact package you are trying to install. Where did you download the package from and which exact file name is that?

[Michael Thayer]

And if you are trying to install to a distribution which is not fully supported by a distribution package you are probably better using the "all distributions" package, which bundles a copy of Qt. It is not quite as elegant, but it lowers the sort of stability risks you were talking about.