Setting Up A Linux Environment in Virtual Box

Introduction

Today I’m going to running through the steps I took to set up a Virtual Linux Environment running Linux Ubuntu. If you haven’t already installed Oracle Virtual Box you can read my guide here.

I downloaded the latest Long-term release of Ubuntu desktop from https://ubuntu.com. I did this as the long-term release remains in support for a longer period of time than the standard release. At the time of writing the latest long term release for Ubuntu is 20.04.

Setting Up The Virtual Environment For Linux

1. Open Virtual Box application and select the New Icon to create an enviroment

2. Select the name, location, and type of Operating System to be installed. I changed the location of the virtual machine to a specific folder in my D: drive as that is my largest disk, but the default setting will be fine in most cases. As Ubuntu is a Linux distribution select Linux and then Ubuntu from the listed Linux distribution.

3. Select the amount of physical memory on your computer to assign to the virtual machine. I went with the recommended size. Click Next to Continue

4. Create the Virtual Hard Dive for the Virtual Machine. Which is a file on your computer which simulates a physical hard drive on the virtual machine. Again I will go with the default setting. Select Create to continue

5. Defining the Virtual File as I’m only currently using Oracle Virtual Box I have gone with the default setting

6. Dynamic or Fixed Size. I used the Dynamically allocated file size which is the default setting as performance isn’t my biggest consideration. Dynamic files only take up space as required.

7. Click on create to create the Virtual Hard Drive

Installing Ubuntu On To The Virtual Machine

1. Select the Ubuntu Virtual Machine and click on Start

2. Click on Storage and select Optical Drive

3. Click on the Add Icon and slect the ISO you downloaded and then click on choose

4. Select OK to close the storage settings window

5. Click Start to run the virtual machine

6. The Virtual Machine starts running in the new Window and the Linux installer will run. Select Install Ubuntu to install Ubuntu on the Virtual Machine

7. Select the appopiate keyboard for your country before selecting continue

8. Updates and other software I have gone with the default settings and then clicked continue

9. As I’m installing Ubuntu on a virtual machine I’ve selected Erase disk and install Ubuntu and click Install Now

10. Ubuntu advices you of the changes that will be made. Click continue

11. Select your location and click Continue

12. Set up your user account and click continue

13. Click on restart to restart the virtual machine to complete the installation

Conclusion

During the Linux setup process, I encountered errors due to hardware virtualisation being turned off in the Bios. So I had to restart the computer to access my Bios to turn on the virtualisation

Now that I have Linux installed on my Virtual Box I need to think about what areas of Linux I want to explore. Please feel free to add any suggestions on what I should explore in the comments below.