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(Internal)VirtualBox Setup Instructions

Anonym

VirtualBox is an open source Virtual Machine application that will let the user run any operating system of their choice on a given host computer. It was agreed that a document be created to assist users in setting up the various components available when using VirtualBox to run a given operating system. Updates will be made periodically to account for new technology or more efficeint methods for setting up given components.
Most of the information in this support article was taken from the VirtualBox User Manual.  The information has been tested using VirtualBox 3.1.16, 3.1.18, and 3.2.2.  Please refer to the appropriate user manual for the VirtualBox release that you are using if the provided instructions do not seem to work.  Also, refer to the Further Reading section at the end of this document for links to other sources used in developing this document.

A.  Install VirtualBox
B.  Install a Guest Operating System
C.  Install Guest Additions
D.  Setup Shared Folders

Install VirtualBox
- navigate to http://www.virtualbox.org/ and select Downloads from the left pane
- choose appropriate VirtualBox binary
- follow the installation wizard

Install Guest Operating System
- choose a Operating System to install
- select New button from the VirtualBox GUI
- follow the wizard and make sure to choose the appropriate settings for the Operating System being installed
- make sure the name and OS type represent the OS being installed
* Example for installing Ubuntu 10.04 64-bit
* Name: Ubuntu 10.04 (64-bit)
* Operating System: Linux
* Version: Ubuntu (64-bit)
* Memory: 512 MB
* Virtual Hard Disk: accept defaults
* Storage Type: accept the default
* Location: accept default
* Size: 16 GB
* Complete the wizard

Install Guest Additions
- Launch the selected Operating System
- Install 'dkms' on the chosen system
* Debian/Ubuntu: sudo apt-get install dkms
* Fedora/Red Hat: yum install dkms
- Select 'Devices -> Install Guest Additions' from the Virtual Box GUI
- select from the OS menu: Places -> VBOXADDITIONS...
- open a terminal window
- navigate to the location of the media: cd /media/VBOXADDITIONS_3.2.2_62321
* (64-bit) run as root: sh ./VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86_64.run
* (32-bit) run as root: sh ./VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.run
- reboot the OS

Setup Shared Folders
Shared Folders That Are Not Setup At Boot Time
* Example of steps to share a folder in Ubuntu 10.04
-> select from the VirtualBox GUI: Devices -> Shared Folders
-> select folder with + sign
-> navigate to the directory you wish to share (make sure it is set to share)
-> select 'Make Permanent' and then click 'OK'
-> Open a terminal
-> enter at the command line: sudo mkdir /mnt/win
-> enter at the command line: mount -t vboxsf
-> Example for root owned share: mount -t vboxsf Support_Incidents /mnt/win
-> Example for user owned share: mount -t vboxsf -o uid=1000,gid=1000 Support_Incidents /mnt/win
-> To check for available files: cd /mnt/win

Shared Folders That Are Setup At Boot Time
* Example of steps to set up a shared folder in Ubuntu 10.04
-> select from the VirtualBox GUI: Devices -> Shared Folders
-> select folder with + sign
-> navigate to the directory you wish to share (make sure it is set to share)
-> select 'Make Permanent' and then click 'OK'
-> Open a terminal
-> enter at the command line: mkdir /home//
-> Example: mkdir /home/blemire/BML_CodeLibrary
-> Open in a text editor (vi, gedit, emacs): /etc/fstab
-> Example: sudo vi /etc/fstab
-> Add to the bottom of the file: sharename mountpoint vboxsf defaults 0 0
-> Example: BML_CodeLibrary /home/blemire/BML_CodeLibrary  vboxsf  defaults  0  0
-> Reboot the OS
-> Open a terminal and navigate to the created directory
NOTE:
FURTHER READING
VirtualBox User Manual - http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/End-user_documentation
VirtualBox Wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VirtualBox