I will remember to do that. I do have build -essentials
installed, so hopefully that would be all the compilation tools I
need. But do you think it would be better to build from source, or to
install with aptitude after adding the virtualbox repositories as
described on the vbox site for debian-based installations?
(<http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Linux_Downloads>) I am thinking to
go with the apt-get method, as I figured that would be less likely to
leave me in a pickle...even though compiling hasn't failed me yet
<knocking on wood>. I'm Using Ubuntu 9.1. (I didn't even realize
this was an option at the time of writing the original question.)