How Do You Troubleshoot The Linux Error “/sbin/mount.vboxsf: mounting failed with the error: Protocol error”?

Problem scenario:  You are trying to share files between your Windows desktop host of Oracle VirtualBox and a Linux guest virtual server.  You run this command:

mount -t vboxsf contint /mnt/windows-share

but you get this error:

"/sbin/mount.vboxsf: mounting failed with the error: Protocol error"

Solution
For the example command above that reproduces the error, the "contint" needs to match the "Name" value in what was configured in the Oracle VirtualBox Devices -> Shared Folders -> Shared Folder Settings window.

Here is where you look to properly construct the mount command:

there is an option in the "Name" column for the argument that is "contint" as an example in this command:

mount -t vboxsf contint /mnt/windows-share

Once the spelling for the argument in the mount command is correct (as seen in the above example), the command should work with no "Protocol error."  To create an option in the folders list, follow step #1b in these directions (closely or loosely depending on your preference).

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