virtualbox: how to create a linux virtual machine

VirtualBox: How to create a Linux Virtual Machine.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 1

Open VirtualBox. Click the new button on the top left toolbar button to create a new virtual machine image.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 2

Create a new Virtual Machine (VM), with “Linux” as type and “Other Linux” as version. I selected Other Linux (32 bit), because I’m installing from a 32 bit DVD ISO image.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 3

Assign as much memory as you realistically can to the VM. 1024 MB is sufficient.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 4

Create a virtual hard drive.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 5

Select VDI (Virtual Disk Image) as drive type.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 6

Select Fixed size as storage type. This prevents many issues and problems if installing to a VM using a Linux ISO file.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 7

I chose 24 GB for the size of this drive, however Slackware will install successfully on a 16 GB VM drive.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 8

VirtualBox then creates the storage unit.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 9

Right-click the new VM image and select Settings.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 10

Check Hardware clock settings. Some Linux/*nix installs prefer the Hardware clock in UTC time option enabled.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 11

Many installations of Linux will fail unless the Enable PAE/NX option is clicked on. This is found inside the Processor tab under System.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 12

Don’t forget to add the Linux ISO file as a secondary master drive.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 13

Network settings. Ensure Enable Network Adapter is checked if you need networking or Internet capability working in the Linux VM.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 14

USB controller settings.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 15

Click the Run button on the toolbar to begin installation.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 16

VirtualBox dialog instructing the user to strike the right Ctrl key to toggle VM capture of keyboard and mouse input.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 17

Press Enter key to begin installation...

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 18

Login as root, then run cfdisk to create a new Linux partition.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 19

Create a New partition...

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 20

Ensure the FS type is Linux, then toggle the partition Bootable.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 21

In cfdisk, Write the partition and Exit when finished. Type setup at the prompt, then Select source installation media.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 22

Install from a Slackware DVD.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 23

Scan for the DVD drive...

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 24

...then select the Linux partition as target.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 25

Quick format is recommended for Linux VM’s.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 26

I chose to format my partition as a ext4 filesystem.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 27

Formatting is complete and mount point added to /etc/fstab.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 28

Begin the install, I chose to install the full distro.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 29

Innumerable package names flash on the screen during installation.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 30

Skip creation of a USB boot stick as they are useless for VirtualBox Linux VM’s.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 31

Install LILO automatically.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 32

Chose frame buffer console.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 33

Hit Enter when prompted for optional LILO parameters.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 34

To be safe, select No UTF-8 console. This does not effect X or window managers such as KDE.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 35

Install LILO to Master Boot Record. This enables your Linux VM to boot after it is “turned on.”

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 36

Mouse settings. You will most likely need to change this from the default PS/2 Intellimouse to “USB connected mouse.”

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 37

Select Yes to enable gpm (general purpose mouse).

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 38

Configure network.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 39

Enter hostname.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 40

Enter domain name.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 41

I chose DHCP for network configuration type.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 42

Hit Enter for DHCP hostname.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 43

Confirm setup.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 44

Chose startup services, I hit OK to run the default services. These can always be changed later if needed.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 45

No custom screen fonts.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 46

Choose the appropriate hardware clock setting.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 47

Chose your favorite window manager.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 48

Installation is finished, and you may now run the Slackware Linux VM inside VirtualBox.

http://www.itworld.com/blog/readme-file/ 49