VirtualBox

Installation

First, you can download VirtualBox from here. Make sure to select your operating system host in the downloads section. The VirtualBox wizard works like many other wizards. Select an installation location and click next through the installation.

Ubuntu Image

Download the latest Ubuntu Desktop image here. Please note that this does not contain UNLV image, so you will need to install the necessary packages and software based on your needs.

If you would like to use Ubuntu that contains UNLV image, you can use any of the computers in TBE-B 361 Lab or any other location on campus listed here.

After downloading the Ubuntu image, you can load the image into VirtualBox by following the next set of instructions under 'Using The Image' section below.

Included Packages & Software (for UNLV image only)

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox

• build-essential
• ddd
• default-jdk
• emacs
• gfortran
• git
• golang
• nodejs
• python3-pandas
• python3-pandas-doc
• ruby
• spim
• yasm

• If you would like to check that you have the latest package lists, type: sudo apt update.

• To fully update your Ubuntu, type the following command: sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade.

• Then, you can begin installing applications using the sudo apt install appname command.
  • For example, here, I have installed the Ranger file manager: sudo apt install ranger

Using The Image

Installing an image with VirtualBox is realtively simple. After starting up VirtualBox, you should see a panel on the left that says "Tools". Click on "Tools". You should now see two buttons that say "Import" and "Export". To load an image, select import. Click on the folder icon, and then navigate to where you saved the image. After selecting the image, click next until VirtualBox begins to load the image. After it has loaded, you can use the image like any other OS you have installed.

Note: Older versions of VirtualBox lack the "Tools" section. The import option can also be accessed by File > Import

Usage

Installing a virtual OS

Here, we'll go over how to install an operating system.

After downloading a .iso image of the operating system you would like to install, open VirtualBox. You should see some buttons that say "New", "Settings", "Discard", and "Start". Click "New". You will be given several fields. Fill in the "name" with what you would like the OS to be displayed as. For the "Machine Folder", select "Other" via the dropdown. Navigate to the location you have the .iso stored in. Select the type of installation and the OS name, if it exists. Click "Next". Decide on how much memory you would like to give the VM. For optimal performance, you should probably give it at least 2048 MB (2 GB). Click "Next". When you start the VM, now, you will be taken to the installation for whatever OS you are installing.
For a specific example, check out the Linux Guide Page, which has a short tutorial on specifically installing Ubuntu 16.

Running An OS

Simply select the OS from the list of operating systems on the left side of the Virtual Box windows, and select "Start". You can use the dropdown next to the start button to select what type of startup you would like.

Miscellaneous

• When closing out of a Virtual Machine, VirtualBox will ask you what you would like to do. You can choose to either suspend the VM, send a shutdown signal, or power off.
  • Suspending the VM may take some time, however, the next time you start that VM it will pick up right from where you left off, with all programs, files, etc. still open. This can be useful if you need to open a lot of programs when you start up the VM.
  • Sending a shutdown signal is equivalent to pressing the power button on a physical machine.
  • Powering off is equivalent to holding down the power button on a physical machine.