How to Set up Ubuntu Virtual Machine on External Hard Drive

Due to internal storage space issues or the risk of causing issues with existing system build, users often prefer to try something new on a virtual machine or use an external hard disk to install and play around.

Whatever the reason, installing Ubuntu on an external hard drive is a great way to go! In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to set up Ubuntu virtual machine on external hard drive.

How to Set up Ubuntu Virtual Machine on External Hard Drive

Introduction

It can store a Ubuntu virtual machine (VM) on an external hard drive. It can be helpful if you want to take your VM with you or run it on a computer with limited internal storage.

This guide will show you how to create and set up a virtual machine on an external hard drive.

What you’ll need

  • An external hard drive with at least 20 GB of free space
  • A USB flash drive with at least 2 GB of free space
  • A blank CD or DVD (optional)
  • A computer running Windows, macOS, or Linux

Preparing your external hard drive

Your external hard drive must be in a format that both your computer and Ubuntu can read. The easiest way to do this is to format the drive as NTFS.

This can be done using the Disk Management tool if you have a Windows computer. If you have a Mac, you can use the Disk Utility application.

Once your external hard drive is formatted, you must create a partition for Ubuntu. This can be done using the Disk Management tool on Windows or the Disk Utility application on Mac. Create a new section that is at least 8 GB in size.

Creating a bootable Ubuntu USB drive

If you want to install Ubuntu on an external hard drive, you’ll need to create a bootable USB drive. This will allow you to boot from the USB drive and install Ubuntu on your external hard drive.

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Download the Ubuntu ISO file from the Ubuntu website.
  2. Create a bootable USB drive using the ISO file.
  3. Boot from the USB drive and install Ubuntu on your external hard drive.

Booting up your Ubuntu VM

Now that you have your Ubuntu VM on your external hard drive, you need to boot it up.

To do this, open the VirtualBox application and click on the “Start” button next to your Ubuntu VM. This will launch the VM and bring you to the login screen.

Setting up your Ubuntu VM

This tutorial will guide you through setting up your Ubuntu VM on an external hard drive. You will need a spare hard drive with at least 20GB of space. Once you have prepared your hard drive, follow these steps to set up your VM:

  • Choose your installation method: If you are using Windows, we recommend using Oracle VM VirtualBox. If you are using macOS, we recommend using Parallels Desktop. If you are using Linux, you can use either Oracle VM VirtualBox or Parallels Desktop.
  • Download Ubuntu: Download the latest release of Ubuntu from the official website.
  • Create a new virtual machine: Follow the instructions for your chosen virtualization software to create a new virtual machine. When prompted, select the downloaded Ubuntu ISO as the installation source.
  • Proceed with the installation: The Ubuntu installer will guide you through the rest of the process. Be sure to select “Install Ubuntu alongside [your current operating system]” when prompted to choose your installation type.

Customizing your Ubuntu VM

This section will guide you through the process of customizing your Ubuntu VM. You will learn to change the VM settings, install new software, and create custom scripts.

  • To change the settings of your Ubuntu VM, open the VM window and click on the rules icon in the toolbar.
  • In the settings window, you can change your VM’s name, location, and size.
  • To install new software, open the Ubuntu Software Center and search for the software you want to install.
  • To create custom scripts, open a text editor and type your script. Save your script in the /bin directory.

Conclusion

Ubuntu is open source OS; it offers users enormous features and benefits. Do try to explore the OS and share your experience with us below.  

How to Set up Ubuntu Virtual Machine on External Hard Drive

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