Installing VirtualBox on Ubuntu Linux!!Installing and using Guest Additions!!

VirtualBox is a powerful virtualization software from Oracle Corporation. VirtualBox is an extremely feature rich, high performance virtualisation software. 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 is installed on an existing host operating system as a host application. It allows operating systems, each known as a Guest OS, to be loaded and run, each with its own virtual environment. The supported host and guest operating systems include Linux, Mac OS X, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Solaris, OpenSolaris and others.

"Snapshots" feature of VirtualBox allows you to save and then revert back to the exact state of in future, you can restore virtual machine back to its exact status with all files, folders, settings put back to the exact way that they were before.

Installing VirtualBox on Ubuntu Linux:

sudo apt-get install virtualbox

OR

better go to https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Linux_Downloads and download the latest version and simply double click to install.

Creating Virtual Machine (Guest Machine):


If you've got CD or DVD of the desired Guest OS (Mac OS X, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Solaris), set the CD/DVD to Start. You can use boot image (the .iso) boot of virtual machine. As illustrated in below picture:



Start the virtual machine and do the usual installation:
Some useful Tips:
1. Set promiscuous mode on in Network Adapter setting: for better analysis:


2. Tips on networking modes:

Network Address Translation (NAT): If all you want is to browse the Web, download files and view e-mail inside the guest, then this default mode should be sufficient for you, and you can safely skip the rest of this section.

1. DHCP assigns IP address to the Guest Virtual Machine automatically. Later on, the IP address can be set STATIC.

2. Guest Virtual Machine is on different LAN. Host machine can't ping Guest. Guest can ping host and other Computers/Networking devices on Host Machine's LAN.

Bridged networking: This is for more advanced networking needs such as network simulations and running servers in a guest. When enabled, VirtualBox connects to one of your installed network cards and exchanges network packets directly, circumventing your host operating system's network stack.

1. set IP address manually, in the same LAN.

2. Guest is on same LAN.

3. Host can ping Guest. Guest can ping Host and other Computers/Networking devices on Host Machine's LAN.

4. If Host is unable to ping Guest, then, you may need to check Firewall settings of Guest.

3.

Installing and Maintaining Guest Additions (on Guest= Windows VM)

The Guest Additions are designed to be installed inside a virtual machine after the guest operating system has been installed. They consist of device drivers and system applications that optimize the guest operating system for better performance and usability. Please see the section called “Supported guest operating systems” for details on what guest operating systems are fully supported with Guest Additions by VirtualBox.

Besides performance and speed, the Guest Additions tools also allow to share mouse and clipboard with the host, to use the Shared folders, etc.

Select "Install Guest Additions" from the "Devices" menu in the virtual machine's menu bar and then:

It will bind and ISO image “VboxGuestAdditions.iso” to CD Drive of Guest VM:

To Install : Simply double click the Drive

4.Shared folders

It is very similar to network shares of Windows networks. Advantage is, shared folders do not need require networking, but need installing Guest Additions.

Open the virtual machine Settings and go to Shared Folders. on the Add button and browse for a folder you want to share.

Add a Share for example: “myshare” with following properties:

Now to access the Shared Folder, Open Network in your Guest Machine, for example for Windows and explore the network as shown below:

Note: To write something to Shared Folder from Host (ubuntu linux) you may need root permission, if Shared Folder is located in protected Diretory.

==>simply Browse The Nautilus File Manager As Root (sudo nautilus)

3. Tips on pausing/resuming: If you r looking for hibernate (save current states) like thing then Don't pause, instead click the X icon /close the VM window:a dialogue will pop-up:select the Save VM State option