lab #5 guide: installing ubuntu as a virtual...

Lab #5 Guide:

Installing Ubuntu as a

Virtual Machine

CTEC1863/2019F

Operating SystemsMike Boldin

Tools, Materials and Equipment

• Oracle VirtualBox software– official site:

https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

• Ubuntu 18.04.3 LTS .iso file – official site:

https://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop

• Minimum 25 GB of hard disk space

• USB 3.0 flash drive (32 GB or larger) or hard disk or SSD

CTEC1863 Lab 5 Guide 2019F 2

https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

https://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop

Tools, Materials and Equipment

• If you want to use the Dell machines in L17, you require a 32 GB or larger USB 3.x storage device (a hard disk is recommended; formatted as NTFSor exFAT) to back up your VM files at the end of each lab (for your own protection!)

• On the Dells in L17, you can install your VM onto the SSD (E: drive; create your own folder) –choose the No Hyper-V windows installation at boot.


Ubuntu

• Summary of recommended minimum requirements:

– 2 GB RAM

– 1024 x 768 graphics resolution

• https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/SystemRequirements


https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/SystemRequirements

VIRTUAL MACHINE (VM) SETUPCTEC1863


New Virtual Machine Example

• The following are actual screen shots from the installation on a PC in L17, which has an 8-core Intel i7 processor and 32 GB RAM.

• My VirtualBox version is 6.0.10.

• Follow these slides to set up your own VM.


New


Name and operating system


Type in“Ubuntu” intothe Name box –Add yourinitials, to keep thename unique.

VirtualBox will correctlyset the Typeand Version.

Click on Next.

Basic Settings: RAM


Choose an appropriate amount of RAM (min. 1 GB; I chose 2 GB; in L17, 4 GB or even 8 GB will work.)

Basic Settings: Hard drive


NOTE:10 GB is the bare

minimum size –

12 GB or more is recom-

mended



We are using only VirtualBox; the default file type is .vdi.



Dynamically allocated is good enough; Fixed size will take slightly longer to create



The drive will be created on the SSD (it will be faster.)

I chose 12 GB so that both my Ubuntu and CentOS VMs can be backed up to a 32 GB flash drive.

VM Created


Next, click on “Settings” to fine tune the VM and complete the setup.

VM Settings: General


Categories are on the left; some setting categories have additional tabs.

Additional Settings: General


The Bidirectional Clipboard will allow you to copy-and-paste to and from Windows, Ubuntu, and even other VMs

Additional Settings: Motherboard


The Ubuntu .isofile will be set up as an Opticaldrive; we need the VM to be able to boot from it.

Additional Settings: VRAM


Additional Settings: Network


(Skipping "Storage" for now…)

By choosing “Bridged Adapter”, your VM will connect to the LAN directly (i.e., in L17, to the CIT network.)

Additional Settings: Storage


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Next, you are going to locate the Ubuntu .iso file and set it as your Primary Master Optical Drive. Step 3 is a "browse" button, that will pop up a window so that you can find the file.



Here, I copied the .iso file into E:\MB .before I started creating my VM…

It can go anywhere, VirtualBox will remove it from the VM settings after Ubuntu is installed.



Optical Drive is set up.

Additional Settings: Shared Folders

• This feature allows the virtual machine (Guest) to access the native (Host) file system

• It allows you to easily exchange files between the VM and your computer

• For example, in L17, I choose my ”personal” directory on the SSD: E:\MB

• It will be accessible in Ubuntu as /host


Additional Settings: Shared Folders

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VM Created


UBUNTU INSTALLATIONCTEC1863



After clicking “OK” to save the Settings, click on “Start” in the VirtualBox VM Manager to start the VM.

It should boot from the installation media.

VirtualBox will display two messages, which can be dismissed…

Vbox (Annoying) Messages


If you click on the “X”, the messages will go away once, and re-appear during the next boot.

If you click on the other button (message “bubble” with a slash through it), these messages will not be displayed again.*

* Unfortunately, the DeepFreeze software on the L17 Applications/No Hyper-V Windows 10 installations prevents this from day-to-day. If it really annoys you, download and install the same VirtualBox software in L17 Open.

You can resize the installer window…


Automatic disk partitioning

• Let the Ubuntu installer decide how much of the disk to use for swap space; the remainder will be used for the root directory


Select Time Zone


Click on the map to find Toronto(the closest city that represents the “EST5EDT” time zone in Eastern Canada.)

Create User and Set Hostname


Use your BB username; add your initials to the computer name; a strong password will prevent others from getting into your files…


There is an eight-slide presentation while Ubuntu installs (progress bar at the bottom of the window)…

Installation Complete

• The installation may take around 15 minutes

• VirtualBox will boot from the virtual hard drive

• You can edit the VM Settings to remove the Ubuntu installation CD



VirtualBox will now boot from the hard disk…

First Boot

Windows is the "Host"; Ubuntu is the "Guest"


Press the right Ctrl key to give control of the keyboard and mouse back to Windows…

Ubuntu Login


Click on your user (or press Enter to log in)

Ubuntu Login


Type in your password (it will not be shown) and press Enter

Ubuntu Login


If you get your password wrong, Ubuntu will tell you. If you forget your password, there is a way to "break in"… (only because I have "physical" access!)

Ubuntu First Login


Ubuntu First Login


The ”Livepatch” feature is optional; you need to create an Ubuntu account to enable it.

The system updates itself and you will be shutting down at the end of lab periods anyway…

Ubuntu First Login


Seems that everybody is doing this now! (Apple, Microsoft, Google, …)

Ubuntu First Login


Ubuntu Desktop


Applications


Software Updater

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• From time to time, Ubuntu will automatically ask you to download updates

• You can also check manually

Software Updater


The update process usually takes a couple of minutes (depending on your Internet speed); sometimes you will be asked to reboot when it is complete.

Authenticate for System Administration Tasks


The “Authenitication Required” pop-up is similar to Microsoft’s ”User Account Control” (UAC) … to do system administration tasks, you need to enter your password.

Software Updater


The update process usually takes a couple of minutes (depending on your Internet speed); sometimes you will be asked to reboot when it is complete. You can click on "Details" to watch what is being updated…

Software Updater - Details


Various software packagesare listed…

(Ubuntu uses the Debian package manager system.)

Software Updater – Kernel


From time to time, the Linux kernelis updated, too. (It is usually installed last and then the boot loader configurationis updated.)

This usually requires a restart…

Software Updater - Restart


You can also select "Restart Later" and continue working (the system will remain stable and, unlike some other operating systems, not "nag" you to restart – the updates will simply take effect next time Ubuntu starts…)

Terminal

• Ctrl-Alt-T (from the desktop)


Becoming "root"• a.k.a., the System Administrator


The "prompt character" changes from $ to #. To exit, press [Ctrl]+[D], enter the exit command, or simply close the Terminal window.

Custom Terminal

• Edit -> Preferences


I prefer black text on a white background, with a larger font, and a large amount of scrollback lines.

(Eventually, I will customize the shell prompt to correct the contrast issue of light green text on a white background.)

Software Management from the Terminal -- apt


Preparing for Guest Additions

• The VirtualBox Guest Additions enable features like the shared clipboard, shared folders, USB, video modes, etc.

• The software builds itself, based on the current kernel version.

• On some versions of Ubuntu, development tools need to be installed. From the terminal, run the following commands, as root:

apt install linux-headers-$(uname -r)apt install build-essentialapt install dkms


Preparing for Guest Additions

• Article for installing Guest Additions:

https://www.tecmint.com/install-virtualbox-guest-additions-in-ubuntu/


https://www.tecmint.com/install-virtualbox-guest-additions-in-ubuntu/

Installing Guest Additions


You should reinstall Guest Additions whenever the VirtualBox software is updated.

Inserting Guest Additions


This will launch a new Terminal window…

Installing Guest Additions - FAIL


This error appears if you forget to install the prerequisites (see slide 73 “Preparing for Guest Additions”)


Installing Guest Additions – from the Terminal

When I run the apt command(s) to install the pre-requisites, itshows all thepackages, andthen waits for meto confirm…



To find out whereLinux installed theVBGA CD-ROM, Irun the mountcommand. Then Ilook for “VBox_GAs…”


• Change to the VBoxAdditions.iso virtual CD-ROM device. Use the Tab key to help complete the filename. For example:

sudo ./VBoxLinuxAdditions.run

• Then, run the Linux installer:

cd /media/mboldin/VBox_GAs_6.0.10/

• Finally, restart Ubuntu.CTEC1863 Lab 5 Guide 2019F 80



Here are both the cd and GA installer commands… SUCCESS!!!

Installing Guest Additions


. . .

Installing Guest Additions from the Desktop (alternative method)


Restarting


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This procedure is also used to properly shutdown (i.e., Power Off) the VM.

Changing System Settings


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Changing System Settings: Display Resolution


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When you click on Apply, it will ask for a confirmation.(If you don’t see the “Apply” button, you can manually widen the window.)

Changing System Settings: Display Resolution


There will be a confirmation pop-up… and then the Desktop will look much better! (For example, I used 1152x864 on the Viewsonic monitor in L17.)

Custom Launcher


Unlock apps you don’t use – right click and choose “Remove from Favorites”.

Similarly, for new apps that you start and plan to use frequently (i.e., Terminal), you can right click and add them to the Launcher.

SHARED FOLDER BETWEEN HOST AND GUEST

CTEC1863


Accessing Your Shared Folder

• You need to add your username to the vboxsfgroup to access the shared host folder. To do this, edit the /etc/group file:

vboxsf:x:999:mboldin

• Add your username to the end of the line containing vboxsf. For example:

sudo nano /etc/group

• Ctrl-O will save; Ctrl-X exits the nano editor.CTEC1863 Lab 5 Guide 2019F 90


1: use the down and right arrow keys to move the cursor

2: add your username to the end of the line

3: Ctrl-O to save4



• Logout and login again to activate the change. (You may need to reboot.) The shared folder is found in /media.

• The screenshot shows the contents of my Mac home directory. Directories (folders) are coloured blue, files green, and links (shortcuts) turquoise.




My shared folder is shown on the Desktop.

Clicking on it will open the File Manager app.

This slide also shows my customized Launcher.

VM BACKUPCTEC1863


Backing Up The VM

• Shut down Ubuntu. The VirtualBox manager will show it to be Powered Off.

• A USB 3.x hard drive is recommended; USB flash drives tend to have very poor write performance!


Backing Up The VM

• This method simply copies the VM folder to an external drive.

• This method is very useful for transporting the VM to another computer.

• Once you stabilize the Settings for the VM on each computer, only the virtual hard disk file(.vdi) needs to be backed up.


Backing Up The VM


From a Command Prompt , I can view the VM folder. Here I am using the No Hyper-V Windows 10 installation in L17, so the SSD is mapped to drive E:

VM settings(current)

VM settings(backed up by VirtualBox)

Virtual hard disk

Backing Up The VM


My USB hard drive is mapped to drive J: -- I will use robocopy to backup the entire VM folder.

Backing Up The VM


I only need the /E switch, the others are robocopy defaults.

Backing Up The VM


The whole process took less than two minutes (it will get longeras the VM hard disk file grows…)

Adding the Backed Up VM VirtualBox


• This procedure applies to:

1. Using No Hyper-V in L17 (due to DeepFreeze);

2. Using another PC with VirtualBox.

• Simply copy the backed up folder from your USB drive to the computer’s hard drive (or back to the L17 PC’s SSD) into the VirtualBoxVMs folder.

Adding an Existing VM to VirtualBox


After restoring your backed-up VM folder, start VirtualBox and from the Machine menu, click Add…



A dialog box opens. Browse to your VM folder and select the .vbox file (the type is “VirtualBox Machine Definition”)…



When you click Open, VirtualBoxwill add your VM (in a PoweredOff state).

NOTE: You may need to “tweak” some settings (RAM, CPUs, and Network card) to get it to work… but generally, this is done only once per PC or Mac.

lab #5 guide: installing ubuntu as a virtual...

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