Your Own Virtual Playground

Doug McGeehan

Follow these steps on your personal laptop or home PC.

1. Open this URL in your browser: http://tiny.cc/dsl-vm2. Download and Install VirtualBox3. Download Xubuntu ISO file4. Create a Xubuntu Virtual Machine (steps to follow)5. Learn about snapshots and restores (steps to follow)

Overview

1. Download the VirtualBox installer2. Also download the Xubuntu .ISO file

Let me know when the VirtualBox installerhas completed its download. Then we’ll move on.

Preliminaries

> Default settings are fine> But we’ll walk through it anyway> Slides are assuming you’re on Windows

> Sorry, I don’t own a Mac

Installing VirtualBox

Installing VirtualBox

> Features to install– USB support– Internet connection

through your host– Etc.

> Okay to accept defaults

> Click “Next”

Installing VirtualBox

> Defaults are fine> I don’t like Desktop

or Quick Launch shortcuts

> Start Menu and File Associations are needed

Installing VirtualBox

> Read what it says> Proceeding will

interrupt your downloads

> If ISO is done downloading, you can proceed

> A pop-up window will appear asking for permission to write to the hard drive

> Accept the request

Installing VirtualBox

Installing VirtualBox

> We trust Oracle> Click “Install”> You can optionally de-select “Always trust”

Installation is complete!

Create a Xubuntu VM

> To create a new, blank VM, click the New button

Create a Xubuntu VM

> Give the VM a good name> Type should be Linux> Version: Ubuntu (64-bit)

> Note: if you only see 32-bit versions listed, move on to the next slide

Create a Xubuntu VM

Note: on some computers (e.g. HP and Lenovo laptops and some Microsoft Surfaces),you might only see 32-bit options in the Version drop-down menu

Create a Xubuntu VM

You’ll need to boot into BIOS and enable virtualization> Google how to enter BIOS for your

particular laptop> Navigate through the pages until you

find some option for Virtualzation that is disabled

> Enable it, save your changes to BIOS,and reboot

> Restart the VM setup process

Create a Xubuntu VM

> 1024 MB (1 GB) of RAM is sufficient for our needs

Create a Xubuntu VM

> We’ll give our VM a virtual hard disk

> This will simply be a file stored on your physical hard disk

Create a Xubuntu VM

> The virtual hard disk type should be VDI

Create a Xubuntu VM> Read the text> Fixed size hard disk files

are safer> Why not to use dynamic:

– You give the VM 10 GB– Your laptop has 11 GB free– You download a 2 GB file– Laptop now has 9 GB free– Your VM will crash

eventually

Create a Xubuntu VM

> A 10 GB virtual hard drive is sufficient for this VM

> If you have plenty of space, you may consider giving it more

All done with the new VM! Now we need to install an Operating System.

Power on the new VM

Create a Xubuntu VM

> Read the text> You’ll be asked for a

start-up disk> Equivalent to inserting an

OS installation CD/DVD into your computer’s CD/DVD drive and booting up

Create a Xubuntu VM

> Click the folder icon> Find the ISO that you

downloaded> Select that ISO

Has the Xubuntu .iso file finished it’s download?

Create a Xubuntu VM

> Once the ISO is selected, click Start

Create a Xubuntu VM

> It’s good to read things that pop up> Click on one of the boxes to expand it> If your mouse is locked in the VM window,

press the Right Ctrl key

Create a Xubuntu VM

> You should arrive to this screen

> The VM is booted into the ISO file

Create a Xubuntu VM

> Leave these blank

> You can update the software later

Create a Xubuntu VM

> Choose Erase disk (default)

> This will erase the virtual hard drive, not your physical hard drive

Create a Xubuntu VM

> Read the text> Asks if you really want to wipe your hard drive> Just a safety precaution in case you are

installing it to your physical drive (we’re not)

Create a Xubuntu VM

> Select your timezone

> Influences the clock on your VM

Create a Xubuntu VM

> What keyboard layout are you using?

> Defaults are fine, unless you’re using an international laptop

Create a Xubuntu VM

> Account information and login credentials

> Simple passwords are okay, but maybe choose a good one

Installation will take some time.Those with SSDs will be faster.

If you reach this page, then installation of an OS on your VM was successful!

● Select Restart Now● After this, once it asks you to press “Enter”,

press “Enter”

> Play around without fear of crippling your computer> “Test the waters” of a new OS> Run software created solely for one OS

Benefits of a Virtual Machine

> If you do something bad, just revert to a previous snapshot– Installed a virus– Deleted your favorite file– Did something else to cause VM failure

Snapshots and Restores

Snapshots and Restores

Snapshots and Restores

> “Take” a snapshot> It’ll preserve the

current state of the VM

> You can revert back to that state later

Snapshots and Restores

Snapshots and Restores

> “Restore” to a previous state

> Highlight the state you wish to restore

> Update the software on your Xubuntu VM(hint: search “xubuntu how to install updates”)

Tasks to complete at home (optional)

> Update the software on your Xubuntu VM(hint: search “xubuntu how to install updates”)

> Install new software (e.g. Google Chrome, VLC)> Use Google, read through forum posts and tutorials> Start exploring your Linux VM!

Tasks to complete at home (optional)