How to Create Ubuntu Virtual Machine Using Virtualbox

Attention all aspiring Linux users! Are you ready to learn how to create a Ubuntu virtual machine using VirtualBox?

Whether you’re a seasoned programmer, curious learner or just looking for an alternative operating system, this tutorial has got you covered.

In this post, we’ll take a deep dive into the world of virtualization and guide you step-by-step on creating your own Ubuntu VM using VirtualBox – no prior experience needed. So sit tight, grab some snacks and let’s get started!

Introducing Ubuntu

If you’ve been thinking about trying out Ubuntu, or if you’re looking for a low-cost way to run a second operating system on your computer, then creating a virtual machine using VirtualBox is a great option.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to create an Ubuntu virtual machine using VirtualBox.

We’ll also cover some of the basic steps for getting started with Ubuntu, such as how to install applications and customize your desktop environment.

Before we get started, please keep in mind that running Ubuntu in a virtual machine will not give you the same performance as if you were running it on a physical computer.

If you’re looking for the best possible performance, we recommend installing Ubuntu on a physical computer or dual-booting it alongside your existing operating system.

Benefits of a virtual machine

A virtual machine (VM) is an emulation of a physical computer system. It allows users to run multiple operating systems (OSes) on one computer.

A VM running Windows can run Linux inside it and vice versa. Each OS behaves as if it is running on its own dedicated hardware.

The main benefit of a VM is that it encapsulates an entire OS, which means that the user can install and run any software they want without affecting the host computer.

This is useful for test environments and isolating software from the rest of the system. VMs are also used for cloud computing, where multiple virtual machines run on a single physical server.

Another advantage of VMs is that they can be easily moved from one computer to another.

This is because all the files that make up a VM are stored in a single file, which can be copied to another machine and run there with no changes.

This makes VMs ideal for use in environment where machines are regularly replaced or upgraded, such as in data centers.

What is Virtualbox?

VirtualBox is a powerful x86 and AMD64/Intel64 virtualization product for enterprise as well as home use.

Not only is VirtualBox an extremely feature rich, high performance product for enterprise customers, it is also the only professional solution that is freely available as Open Source Software under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2.

VirtualBox provides a complete virtualization platform for all popular operating systems.

Currently, supported guest operating systems include various versions of Windows (NT 4.0, 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista), DOS/Windows 3.x, Linux (2.4 and 2.6), Solaris and OpenSolaris, OS/2 Warp 4/eComStation and FreeBSD.

Requirements and Installation

In order to create a Ubuntu virtual machine using VirtualBox, you will need to first download and install VirtualBox.

VirtualBox is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. Once you have installed VirtualBox, you will need to download an Ubuntu ISO image. You can find Ubuntu ISO images at the following link:

1. Once you have downloaded an Ubuntu ISO image, you will need to create a new virtual machine in VirtualBox.
2. To do this, open VirtualBox and click on the “New” button. In the “Name” field, enter a name for your virtual machine (e.g., “Ubuntu VM”).
3. In the “Type” drop-down menu, select “Linux”. In the “Version” drop-down menu, select “Ubuntu (64-bit)”. Click on the “Continue” button.
4. On the next screen, you will be asked to specify how much memory (RAM) you would like to allocate to your Ubuntu virtual machine.
5. It is recommended that you allocate at least 2048 MB (2 GB) of RAM to your VM. Click on the “Continue” button.
6. On the next screen, you will be asked to create a virtual hard disk for your VM. It is recommended that you choose the “Create a virtual hard disk now” option and click on the “Create” button.
7. On the next screen, select the “VDI (Virtual Box Disk Image)” option and click on the “Continue” button.
8. On the next screen, select the “Dynamically allocated” option and click on the “Continue” button.
9. Specify a filename and disk size (e.g., “UbuntuVM.vdi” with 40 GB). When you are done, click on the “Create” button to create your virtual hard disk.
10. Once your virtual hard disk has been created, you will need to mount your Ubuntu ISO image into your VM so that it can be used during installation.
11. To do this, open VirtualBox and select your newly created VM from the list of VMs on the left-hand side.
12. Click on the “Settings” button and then select the “Storage” section in the left-hand menu.
13. In the right-hand pane, you should see an empty CD/DVD Drive (labeled as IDE Secondary Master).
14. Click on this drive to select it and then click on the disc icon next to it to open up a window where you can specify an ISO file. Select your Ubuntu ISO file from here, then click on the “OK” button to save this setting for your VM.
15. Finally, start up your Virtual Machine by clicking on the “Start” button. After a few moments, you should see an Ubuntu installation screen appear.
16. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the Ubuntu installation in your Virtual Machine. Once your installation is complete, you can begin using your Ubuntu virtual machine.

Setting up virtual machine

Assuming that you have already installed VirtualBox on your host operating system, launch the program and click the New button to create a new virtual machine.

1. Name your VM whatever you like; I’ll call mine “Ubuntu Desktop.” Select the type of operating system you want to install as Ubuntu 64-bit, and then choose the version from the Version drop-down menu.
2. Now that you have chosen the operating system and version for your VM, it’s time to allocate resources.
3. How much memory do you want to give your VM? I recommend at least 2048 MB, but feel free to give it more if you have RAM to spare on your host machine.
4. As for processors, I recommend giving your VM one or two cores, depending on how many your host machine has.
5. The next step is to create a virtual hard drive for your VM. VirtualBox gives you two options: dynamically expanding storage or fixed-size storage.
6. Dynamically expanding storage starts small but grows as you add files to it, while fixed-size storage occupies a set amount of space on your physical hard drive immediately. For this tutorial, we will use dynamically expanding storage.
7. Click through the remaining prompts and settings until you reach the final screen titled “Summary.”
8. This is where you can review all of the choices you have made for your VM before creating it. Once you are satisfied with your selections click Create and wait a few moments for VirtualBox to create your new virtual machine.
9. Once the virtual machine has been created, you can go back to the main VirtualBox window and start it.
10. You will be prompted to select a boot medium. Select the installation file for Ubuntu Desktop that you have downloaded and click OK.
11. The VM will begin booting and you can follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup process.

Updating Virtual Machine

If you want to update your Ubuntu virtual machine, here are a few easy steps to follow.

1. First, open VirtualBox and select your VM from the left sidebar. Then, click on the “Update” icon at the top of the window.
2. A new window will pop up, asking you how you would like to update your VM.
3. You can either choose to “Update settings only” or “Update settings and contents”.
4. If you only want to update the settings, select the first option and click on “Next”.
5. However, if you want to update both the settings and contents of your VM, select the second option and click on “Next”.
6. A new window will appear, asking you which updates you would like to install. Select all of the options and click on “Apply”.
7. Your Ubuntu virtual machine will now be updated!

Tips and safety measures for creating a Virtual Machine

When you are creating a virtual machine, there are a few things to keep in mind in order to ensure safety and security. Here are some tips:

1) Keep your operating system and software up to date. This will help close any security vulnerabilities that could be exploited.

2) Use a strong password for your virtual machine. This will help protect it from unauthorized access.

3) Make sure to back up your virtual machine periodically. This way if anything happens to it, you can restore it from a backup.

4) If possible, use encryption for your virtual machine. This will help protect its contents from being accessed by anyone who should not have access.

Conclusion

Setting up a virtual machine using Ubuntu and VirtualBox is easy, and anyone can do it.

After selecting the parameters necessary to create the VM, you will be ready to install your version of Ubuntu on the new virtual environment.

With all the applications available within Ubuntu, you’ll have an entire operating system running in an isolated environment that won’t interfere with other VMs or programs running in your host operating system.

No matter what type of project you are working on, having a separate space for experimentation makes developing much easier!