VirtualBox - Geek Rewind

How to Install VirtualBox on Ubuntu Linux

This post shows students and new users steps to install and configure Oracle VirtualBox on Ubuntu Linux. VirtualBox is an open source, cross-platform virtualization software that allows you to run multiple guest machines (virtual machines) simultaneously on a single host computer.

VirtualBox is generally used in test environments. In some development environments, a VirtualBox host is used to run multiple operating systems, and these machines are used to test different test scenarios.

With VirtualBox and similar virtualization software, you can use a single machine as a host computer. Then within the virtualization software, you can create multiple independent guest computers, each running its own operating system.

Applications running one in one OS may not run efficiently on other operating systems, and VirtualBox can be very helpful in this situation to make sure an application is tested to run anywhere on any operating system.

For more about VirtualBox, check its homepage.

How to Install VirtualBox on Windows 11

This post show students and new users how to install VirtualBox on Windows 11 to install guest virtual machines.

VirtualBox is a x64 virtualization software or hosted hypervisor that allows power users or advanced system administrators to set up independent virtual machines on a single physical computer simultaneously.

When you install VirtualBox software in Windows, you can create multiple independent guest computers, each running its own operating system without the need for additional physical hardware or support. This is a great software for sys admins and power users who want to run multiple guest OS without the need for adding new devices.

For example, when you install VirtualBox virtualization in Windows 11, power users can create additional virtual computers inside VirtualBox to run Mac OS, Linux and Windows 11 without needing three separate computers.

With Windows 11 slated for release later this year, VirtualBox will be ready to install it and use seamlessly. Windows 11 will come many new features and enhancements such as redesigned user desktop, centered Start menu and taskbar, rounded corners windows, themes and colors and many more, which will allow users to integrate VirtualBox software and utilize these new features.

Share Host Folders with VirtualBox Ubuntu Guests

This brief tutorial shows students and new users how to share folders from VirtualBox host computer to Ubuntu 20.04 | 18.04 guest machines.

When using VirtualBox you can share folders from the host computer to guest machines. Guest machines can be Windows, Linux or MacOS.

This is made possible by VirtualBox host folder sharing feature. Folder sharing exposes the host computer files and folders to the virtual machines.

In order for this to work, you must by running the latest version of VirtualBox virtualization software with the current version of guest additions tools. You’ll have to enable bidirectional sharing from the host software, and the steps below show you how to do that.

How to Access External USB Flash Drives from VirtualBox on Windows / Ubuntu Linux

Over few months, we’ve shown students and new users how to install, configure and use VirtualBox virtualization software on Windows and Ubuntu Linux systems.

By this time, if you were following our previous posts, you should know how to install, configure and use VirtualBox on Windows and Linux systems (Ubuntu).

This brief tutorial shows students and new users how to mount or insert external USB flash / thumb drive into VirtualBox guest machine running Windows or Ubuntu Linux VMs. It will allow you to access physical USB content from the guest machine.

You won’t be able to access external USB devices from your VirtualBox guest machines without first installing its guest additions tool. We’ve also discussed how to install that after installing the host software.To get started with using external USB devices from VirtualBox guest machines, follow the steps below:

How to install VirtualBox Guest Additions Software on Ubuntu Linux

This post shows students and new users steps to install VirtualBox Guest Additions software on Ubuntu Linux.

If you’re running VirtualBox virtualization software with Ubuntu as a guest machine, the first thing they’ll want to do after installing Ubuntu guest operating system (OS) is to install VirtualBox guest addition software.

VirtualBox Guest Addition Software enhances the virtual guest machine and improves the management of the machine. When you install a new operating system on a VirtualBox virtual machine, your first task should be to install the Guest Addition Software.

When operating the guest machine without the guest addition software, the guest machine will perform poorly and your experience with it will be limited.

The tool provides tight integration between the host and virtual machine operating systems, improvement to the VM graphics performance, shared folder between the host and guest machines, copying and pasting of text, images and files between the host and guest machine as well as mouse improvement.

Install / Upgrade VirtualBox to 6.0 on Windows 10

VirtualBox 6.0 has been released with boat load of changes for Windows, Linux and OS X systems. Some of these changes include support for exporting a virtual machine to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, a new file manager enabling user to control the guest file system and copy files between host and guest and more…

This brief tutorial shows you how to install / upgrade to VirtualBox 6.0 on Windows systems….

This release also brings lots of bug fixes as well, and some major improvements… Windows systems now have support for surround speaker setups used in Windows 10 Build 1809, support for Hyper-V as the fallback execution core on Windows host, and more…

For more about this released, please check its changelog page…

VirtualBox software gets new updates very frequently on Windows and Linux systems… You may have already gotten notifications of the latest release…

If you’re using Windows, simply click the link to the latest version and download. then do an in-place upgrade of the existing installation.

Here’s a list of some of the major features included with this version:

Enable VirtualBox VM to VM Communications on Windows / Ubuntu 16.04 | 18.04

This brief tutorial shows students and new users how to enable virtual machines created on VirtualBox to communicate with each other. Since VirtualBox 5.2 was released, I have discovered some default settings that may be frustrating to students and new users.

For example, right out of the box, VirtualBox’s virtual machines can not communicate with each other while attached to the default NAT network. VMs configured with the default NAT network configurations can only get to the Internet. with no VM to VM or host IP communication.

In order to allow virtual machines to communicate with each other, you must change the VM network settings to use NAT Network. but you can’t use that network setting if you haven’t already created it. This brief tutorial is going to take the pain out of the process for students and new users.

How to Install Ubuntu 16.04 | 17.10 | 18.04 Guest Machines on VirtualBox

This brief tutorial is going to show students and new users how to install Ubuntu 16.04 / 17.10 and 18.04 LTS desktops on a VirtualBox guest machines. If you own a Windows or Linux computer and would like to experience Ubuntu, then installing it on a VirtualBox software as guest machine is the fastest and cost effective way to go.

When you’re ready to run VirtualBox guest machine with Ubuntu, the below steps should be a great place to start.

This should also be a great way to test the upcoming Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, as it might be the best Ubuntu distribution yet. Ubuntu 18.04 LTS returns to GNOME Desktop environment, defaults to Xorg as graphics server, brings new themes and many more enhanced features.

Ubuntu 18.04 appears to be a giant step forward. You will probably want to upgrade or install it the moment it’s available.

Step 1: Create Ubuntu Desktop Guest Machine

How to Install Windows 10 Pro Guest Machine on VirtualBox Software

This brief tutorial shows students and new users how to install Windows 10 Pro on VirtualBox virtualization software. If you’re new to VirtualBox and wish to get Windows 10 installed, the steps below should be a great place to start.

Windows 10 is the latest and probably the best operating systems from Microsoft. It unveils new innovations & is better than the previous versions of Windows. more security, better hardware support and ease of use.

So, to get started with installing Windows 10 on VirtualBox, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Create Windows 10 Guest Machine

How to Fix VboxClient Fail to Start Error on Ubuntu VirtalBox Guest Machines

If you upgrade to VirtualBox 5.2 virtualization software, you may likely see an error that reads “VboxClient: VboxClient (seamless) fail to start. Stage: Setting guest IRQ” when you logon to a new Ubuntu 16.04 | 17.10 | 18.04 virtual guest machine.

If you run into that issue, the steps below should be a great place to start to help you resolve that problem.

This brief tutorial shows students and new users how to resolve VirtualBox guest machine error where the guest machine is unable to integrate properly with the host machine.

When you’re ready, continue below

Step 1: Prepare Ubuntu Guest Machine

Create VirtualBox Guest Machines on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS Server (Headless)

Power users can run VirtualBox host software on headless Ubuntu 16.04 LTS servers and create virtual guest machines easily from remote locations. this allows you to run VirtualBox from anywhere without connecting directly to the host servers.

Few days ago we showed students and new users how to install and use VirtualBox virtualization software on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS server. This can also known as headless installation.

Headless installation is when you installed and run VirtualBox on a server without direct monitor or desktop environment via remote terminal. The GUI-less installation of VirtualBox is typical in server environments.

This brief tutorial is going to show you how to install and guest operating systems on the headless installation of VirtualBox. This should be quick and easy new students should love it.

Access VirtualBox Host Folders from Ubuntu 17.10 Guest Machines

From VirtualBox’s guest machines you can directly access the host computer shared folders. This is made possible by VirtualBox host folder sharing feature. With shared folders, you can easily share files among virtual machines and the host computer. Folder sharing exposes the host computer files and folders to the virtual machines.

To use shared folders, you must have the current version of VirtualBox Guest Additions. installed on the guest operating system and you must configure your guest machines settings to specify which directories are to be shared.

This brief tutorial shows students and new users how to enable VirtualBox host folder sharing so guest machines can directly access folders shared on the host computer. Without this folder sharing feature, it would be very difficult getting huge files or folders to the guest machine.

With it, all you have to do is share the folder to the guest machine and from the virtual machine access the folder content easily.

Tag Archives: VirtualBox