Wednesday, 10 December 2008

Install Ubuntu as VirtualBox Guest on a Mac

This note assumes you have already installed the latest version of VirtualBox from http://virtualbox.org/.

Either use an Ubuntu installation CD, or download the latest Ubuntu iso image from http://www.ubuntu.com/.

The steps are as follows:

Create a Virtual Hard-Drive for Ubuntu



  • start VirtualBox

  • Select New from the toolbar

  • Enter a name for your session in the Name field - e.g. Ubuntu

  • select Ubuntu from the drop-down list as the OS Type

  • set the Base Memory Size to a realistic figure - I set it to just 1GB (1000 MB) and that works fine

  • For the Virtual Hard Disk, click on New

  • Select Fixed-size image

  • Select the folder you want to store your disk image in by clicking on the yellow folder

  • select a name for the Virtual Disk - e.g. UbuntuDisk

  • set the image size to something realistic - e.g. 12.00GB

  • click Finish to create the fixed-size hard disk



Boot the Virtual Hard-Drive


Once the drive has been created, install Ubuntu

  • Ensure that your new drive image is selected at he Primary Master and click Next

  • Click finish



Install Ubuntu


Ubuntu will now appear as a powered-off image in the main VirtualBox console.

  • Click on the Ubuntu (powered off) image

  • Click on CD/DVD-ROM in the right panel


A new window will open allowing you to Mount a CD/DVD Drive.

  • Check the Mount CD/DVD Drive check-box

  • If you are installing from a CD/DVD click the Host CD/DVD Drive radio button and select you drive from the drop-down list

  • If you are installing from an ISO image, click the ISO Image File radio button and navigate to your downloaded ISO Image File

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