Setup Ubuntu 9.04 using VirtualBox on Mac OSX Leopard

Virtualization is becoming essential for any software developer. Operating Systems compatibility has been improved over the years, but there are still some tests that must be done by developers over different platforms and operating systems.

Web developers that use Mac OSX need to test their sites on different browsers like Internet Explorer 6, 7 and 8. If you don't want to waste your hardware installing Windows, you can use any of the existing virtualization tools.

On Mac OSX there are mainly 3 wonderful options: Parallels Desktop, VMware Fusion and VirtualBox. In my case, the are two reasons that made me decide wich one to use: free and open source. That is VirtualBox.

As an example of operation using VirtualBox, in this article I explain how to install de latest version of Ubuntu GNU/Linux on a virtual machine.

Creating the virtual machine

• First, create a virtual machine for Linux -> Ubuntu.

  

• Assign RAM memory. In my Macbook Pro I have 2Gb and let the virtual machine use up to 1Gb.

  

• In the next step we create a new virtual disc, that will be used as the main disc for the installation. The system will boot on this disc. 8Gb is enough for my needs, It is possible to add more virtual discs later i case you need more space.

  

• I choose the option of getting all the disc space from the phisical disc. It seems that it gets better access time, than getting the space as it is needed.

  

• The amount space in my case is 8Gb, enough for my needs.

  

• The I set a CD/DVD unit as an ISO image that points to the Ubuntu ISO downloded previously. We save a blank CD.

  

• At this point the virtual machine is ready to proceed with the installation of Ubuntu.

  

Install Ubuntu

• Choose the option "Install Ubuntu".

  

• Choose the language you want to have Ubuntu installed.

  

• Select your time zone.

  

• Find your keyword distribution.

  

• Choose the partition an disc where you want to install Ubuntu. In my case the whole disc.

  

• Define a user to access the system once installed. Remember that all operations, including those that need super-user privilleges, will requiere with this user using the "sudo" commant. So it's very important to remember the password you write at this point.

  

• Click on "Install" to proceed with the installation.

  

• Finally the system is fully installed and you can proceed with the first boot.

  

Install "Guest Addition Tools"

These tools gives the virtual machin better integration with the host operating system. Shared folders, full screen, and much more.

• Choose the menu "Devices->Install Guest Additions. It mounts a virtual CD/DVD and after click on "Run" button the process begins.

  

• It asks for password, the one we defined in the user configuration screen, a few steps before.

  

• The process opens a console window showing how it is going. Once finished we must reboot the system.

  

That's all folks. Hope you find it useful. Your comments will be wellcome. And finally, I want to tell you that VirtualBox works almost perfect on my Macbook. Try it.