Symptoms

When I try to install Parallels Tools in my virtual machine running Ubuntu, I get an error message that Parallels Tools needs the kernel source.

Cause

The following packages are necessary in order to install Parallels Tools in a VM running Ubuntu: linux-headers and build-essential.

You need to install those packages before attemptin the Parallels Tools installation.

Resolution

Install the packages linux-headers and build-essential by typing the following command in Ubuntu Terminal:

# sudo apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r) build-essential

After the packages are installed, try to install Parallels Tools again following the steps below:

1. Start the virtual machine.

2. Make sure your virtual machine's CD/DVD drive is pointed to a Default empty drive

   

3. When the operating system boots up, click Actions (Virtual Machine in Parallels Desktop 9 and earlier) and choose Install Parallels Tools.

   The prl-tools-lin.iso image file will be mounted to the virtual machine's CD/DVD drive. You can connect and mount the Parallels Tools ISO image file manually. Right click the CD/DVD drive icon in the virtual machine's window status bar and choose Connect Image. In the Finder window, go to the hard disk folder (normally named "Macintosh HD"), select /Library/Parallels/Tools/ folder (for Parallels Desktop 7) or /Applications/Parallels Desktop.app/Contents/Resources/Tools/ (for Parallels Desktop 8 and later), select the prl-tools-lin.iso file, and click Open to connect it to the virtual machine.

4. Start a terminal in your Ubuntu virtual machine.

   Change the directory to the CD/DVD drive directory:

   for Ubuntu 12.04:

   cd /media/Parallels\ Tools/
   

   for Ubuntu 13.04 and above:

   cd /media/$USER/Parallels\ Tools/
   

   Once you get into the CD/DVD drive directory, enter the following command to launch the Parallels Tools installation:

   sudo ./install
   

5. Follow the Parallels Tools Installer instructions to complete the installation.
6. When the installation of Parallels Tools is complete, restart your virtual machine.