Corpus Christi, Texas Linux User Group

How to install Linux on VirtualBox

Please Install Virtualbox , and the Extension Pack before you continue.

Now that you have VirtualBox up and running, you are ready to install Linux. Have you downloaded an installation dvd of Linux yet? You can find many different distributions at Distrowatch. For the sake of brevity we will install the GNOME desktop version of Debian from a live CD. This will be a minimal install. You can use any of the following direct links to obtain an ISO file of Debian.

→    KDE   ←   →    GNOME   ←   →     XFCE   ←


Follow these steps for any virtual machine you setup.

  1. Open Virtualbox and click on the icon for a new machine


  2. Name the new VM and select the operating system


  3. Give the new VM 2 GB (2048 MB) RAM


  4. Create a new virtual drive


  5. Configure the new virtual machine
  6. With the new VM selected, Click on the settings button
    Leave these alone to help isolate the virtual machine
    Move "CD/DVD" below "Hard Drive" and give the system 2048 MB of memory
    Enable PAE/NX
    Enable These
    Enable 3D Acceleration
    Do Not Enable
    Do Not Enable
    Select the virtual CD you will install
    Leave this alone
    Click this button 6 times to create blank USB interfaces
    Leave this alone to completely isolate the VM from the host
  7. First Boot - Install Linux
  8. With the new VM selected, Click Start
    Click in the VM window and arrow down to select "Graphical Install" then press Enter
    Press Enter
    Press Enter
    Press Enter
    Type the host name
    Press Enter
    Type the root (administrator) password
    Type the user name
    Type the user's password
    Select the time zone and click continue
    Click continue
    Click continue
    Click continue
    Click continue
    Files begin writing to the virtual drive
    Select "Yes" and continue
    Click continue
    Click continue
    Click continue
    Files begin writing to the virtual drive
    Select "No" and continue
    Select only these components and continue
    Files begin writing to the virtual drive
    Click continue
    Login
    Open the web browser

This virtual machine is completely isolated from the host computer.