VirtualBox 3.1: Beginner's Guide
By Romero and Alfonso V.
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VirtualBox 3.1 - Romero
Table of Contents
VirtualBox 3.1: Beginner's Guide
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewer
Preface
What this book covers
What you need for this book
Who this book is for
Conventions
Reader feedback
Customer support
Errata
Piracy
Questions
1. Getting to Work with VirtualBox
Running multiple virtual machines
Installing VirtualBox on Windows
Time for action – downloading and installing VirtualBox on Windows
What just happened?
Have a go hero – experiment with VirtualBox on Windows
Installing VirtualBox on Linux
Time for action – downloading and Installing VirtualBox on Linux
What just happened?
Have a go hero – experimenting with VirtualBox on Linux
Testing VirtualBox
Time for action – creating and testing a Damn Small Linux virtual machine
What just happened?
Have a go hero – creating more virtual machines
Pop quiz – doing the thing
Summary
2. Creating Your First Virtual Machine: Ubuntu Linux
Getting started
Downloading the Ubuntu Linux Live CD
Time for action – downloading the Ubuntu Desktop Live CD
What just happened?
Have a go hero – doing more with the thing
Creating your Ubuntu Linux VM
Time for action – creating a virtual machine
What just happened?
Have a go hero – experimenting with memory and hard disk storage types
Pop quiz – creating virtual machines
Configuring basic settings for your Ubuntu Linux VM
Time for action – basic configuration for your VM
What just happened?
Pop quiz – configuring basic settings on your VMs
Installing Ubuntu Linux on your VM
Time for action – installing Ubuntu Desktop on your VM
What just happened?
Pop quiz – using the auto capture and host key features
Running your Ubuntu Linux VM
Time for action – running Ubuntu Linux
What just happened?
Web browsing with Mozilla Firefox
Time for action – web browsing in your Ubuntu VM
What just happened?
Using OpenOffice.org in your virtual machine
Time for action – using OpenOffice.org
What just happened?
Have a go hero – trying out Ubuntu One: your personal cloud
Have a go hero – sharing information between your VM and your host PC
Have a go hero – instant messaging from your virtual machine
Pop quiz – running your Ubuntu Linux VM
Shutting down your virtual machine
Time for action – shutting down your VM
What just happened?
Pop quiz – your first VM
Have a go hero – experimenting with a KUbuntu virtual machine
Summary
3. Creating Your Second Virtual Machine: Windows 7
Creating your Windows VM
Time for action – creating a virtual machine
What just happened?
Have a go hero – experimenting with memory and hard disk storage types
Pop quiz – creating virtual machines
Booting your Windows 7 installation disk
Time for action – booting your Windows 7 installation disk through the First Run Wizard
What just happened?
Have a go hero – using the First Run Wizard with other operating systems
Installing Windows 7 on your VM
Time for action – installing Windows XP on your VM
What just happened?
Pop quiz – using the auto capture and host key features
Making sound work on your Windows 7 VM
Time for action – enabling audio on your Windows 7 virtual machine
What just happened?
Have a go hero – verifying audio in Windows guests
Removing the installation media from your Windows 7 VM
Time for action – removing installation media from your VM
What just happened?
Web browsing with Internet Explorer
Time for action – web browsing in your Windows 7 VM
What just happened?
Have a go hero – using other web browsers
Have a go hero – instant messaging from your virtual machine
Using Microsoft Office in your virtual machine
Time for action – using OpenOffice.org
What just happened?
Have a go hero – trying out Microsoft Office Live
Have a go hero – sharing information between your VM and your host PC
Pop quiz – running your Windows 7 VM
Shutting down your virtual machine
Time for action – shutting down your VM
What just happened?
Pop quiz – your first VM
Have a go hero – experimenting with other Windows versions
Summary
4. Installing Guest Additions and Advanced Settings
Introducing Guest Additions
Installing Guest Additions for Windows
Time for action – installing Guest Additions on a Windows XP virtual machine
What just happened?
Installing Guest Additions for Linux
Time for action – installing Guest Additions on Linux Ubuntu
What just happened?
Installing Guest Additions for OpenSolaris
Time for action – installing Guest Additions on OpenSolaris
What just happened?
Pop quiz – Guest Additions
Using the fullscreen feature
Time for action – using the fullscreen and windowed modes
What just happened?
Have a go hero – adjusting the VirtualBox Mini Toolbar settings
Pop quiz – using the fullscreen feature
Sharing folders between your host and guest PCs
Time for action – sharing folders between a Windows XP host and a Ubuntu guest
What just happened?
Have a go hero – comparing file formatting characteristics between host and guest
Have a go hero – creating transient and permanent shared folders
Have a go hero – creating shared folders as a regular user in an Ubuntu guest
Have a go hero – sharing folders between a Windows XP host and an OpenSolaris guest
Have a go hero – sharing folders between an Ubuntu Linux host and a Windows XP guest
Pop quiz – using the folder sharing feature
Activating the Seamless Windows feature
Time for action – activating Seamless Windows with Windows and Linux
What just happened?
Have a go hero – trying the Seamless Windows feature with other VMs
Allowing 3D Hardware Acceleration in your virtual machines
Time for action – using Compiz on your Ubuntu VM
What just happened?
Have a go hero – using 2D and 3D Hardware Acceleration on a Windows VM
Summary
5. Storing Data in VirtualBox
Using Virtual Disks in VirtualBox
Pop quiz – using virtual disks in VirtualBox
Using an additional VDI hard drive
Time for action – adding a secondary virtual drive to your VM
What just happened?
Have a go hero – creating an additional VDI hard disk on a Windows VM
Pop quiz – creating additional virtual disk images
Using a VHD hard drive
Time for action – adding a VHD virtual drive to your VM
What just happened?
Have a go hero – using a virtual disk image on several virtual machines
Have a go hero – using a virtual disk image on two virtual machines at the same time
Creating multiple virtual machines by cloning
Time for action – cloning an Ubuntu Linux hard disk image
What just happened?
Have a go hero – cloning and registering your virtual disk images at the same time
Have a go hero – cloning and converting virtual disk images to other formats
Pop quiz – virtual storage
Expanding hard disk images on the fly
Time for action – creating a fixed-size hard drive image
What just happened?
Choosing your disk controller type: IDE, SATA, or SCSI
Time for action – using a SATA disk controller on a VM
What just happened?
Have a go hero – using different types of storage controllers on different guests
Pop quiz – using different storage controller types
Using IDE and SATA drives on a VM
Time for action – using IDE and SATA drives
What just happened?
Have a go hero – using SATA and IDE disks on your Ubuntu VM
Pop quiz – storing data in VirtualBox
Have a go hero – playing with your virtual machines
Summary
6. Networking with Virtual Machines
Connecting to the default NAT mode
Exploring default network adapter types
Time for action – viewing the default network adapter types in your virtual machines
What just happened?
Pop quiz – working with the default network adapter types
Testing the NAT mode
Time for action – accessing the NAT mode in your VM
What just happened?
Have a go hero – testing the NAT mode on Windows guests
Using port-forwarding with the NAT mode
Time for action – enabling port-forwarding in NAT mode
What just happened?
Have a go hero – using port forwarding with the NAT networking mode
Testing a server operating system in the bridged networking mode
Accessing your VM's web server from your host PC
Time for action – changing your virtual machine to bridged networking mode
What just happened?
Accessing your VM's web server from another VM
Time for action – accessing your VM's web sever from another VM
What just happened?
Have a go hero – testing the bridged mode on Windows guests
Pop quiz – using the bridged networking mode
Using the 'Not Attached' mode
Time for action – isolating a VM with the 'Not Attached' mode
What just happened?
Disconnecting your virtual machine from the network without shutting it down
Time for action – connecting/disconnecting your VM from the network
What just happened?
Have a go hero – don't forget to experiment with Windows guests
Using the Internal Networking mode
Time for action – communicating between VMs only
What just happened?
Have a go hero – testing the Internal Network mode on Windows guests
Pop quiz – using the internal networking mode
Using the Host-Only Networking mode
Time for action – communicating between VMs and your host PC only
What just happened?
Have a go hero – testing the Host-Only mode on Windows guests
Pop quiz – virtual networking
Have a go hero – combining networking modes in several VMs
Summary
7. Using Virtual Appliances
Setting up preconfigured virtual machines in a flash
Importing a virtual appliance
Time for action – using the TurnKey Wordpress virtual appliance
What just happened?
Pop quiz – importing virtual appliances
Exporting a virtual appliance
Time for action – exporting your customized Wordpress virtual appliance
What just happened?
Have a go hero – testing your new customized virtual appliance
Have a go hero – exporting your UbuntuVB virtual machine as a virtual appliance
Have a go hero – importing and exporting more virtual appliances
Pop quiz – exporting virtual appliances
Working with virtual appliances
Using virtual images from VirtualBox® Images
Time for action – using a PuppyLinux VM in VirtualBox
What just happened?
Have a go hero – installing Guest Additions on PuppyLinux
Using virtual appliances from BitNami
Time for action – using the BitNami Drupal virtual appliance
What just happened?
Have a go hero – trying out other virtual appliances from Bitnami.org
Pop quiz – working with virtual appliances
Using the Turnkey Linux File Server appliance
Time for action – using the Turnkey Linux File Server appliance
What just happened?
Have a go hero – exploring your virtual file server appliance
Have a go hero – exploring the other Turnkey Linux virtual appliances
Pop quiz – virtual appliances
Summary
8. Managing your Virtual Machines from a Remote Computer
Managing virtual machines from alternative front-ends
Using the VBoxManage frontend
Time for action – using VBoxManage to start a virtual machine
What just happened?
Controlling your virtual machines through VBoxManage
Time for action – pausing, resuming, and saving your virtual machine's state
Have a go hero – using VBoxManage with your UbuntuVB virtual machine
Pop quiz – using the VBoxManage interface
Using the VBoxSDL simplified interface
Time for action – using VBoxSDL to start a virtual machine
What just happened?
Have a go hero – experiment with the VBoxSDL interface
Setting up your very own VirtualBox headless server
Setting up Ubuntu Server 8.04 LTS
Time for action – downloading and installing Ubuntu Server 8.04 LTS
What just happened?
Pop quiz – setting up your own VirtualBox headless server
Accessing your headless server from a remote PC
Time for action – using PuTTY to access your Ubuntu server remotely
What just happened?
Have a go hero – using SSH from an Ubuntu PC to connect to your VB headless server
Installing VirtualBox on your Ubuntu server through apt-get
Time for action – installing VirtualBox through apt-get on your Ubuntu server
What just happened?
Creating, managing, and running your first remote virtual machine on the Ubuntu headless server
Enabling FTP to upload guest images to your headless server
Time for action – enabling proftp on your Ubuntu headless server
What just happened?
Uploading an ISO guest image to your Ubuntu server
Time for action – uploading a guest ISO image to your headless server
What just happened?
Have a go hero – uploading ISO images to your headless server
Have a go hero – using other FTP clients
Pop quiz – enabling FTP and uploading ISO images on your headless server
Creating a virtual machine in your Ubuntu headless server
Time for action – creating a virtual machine with VBoxManage
What just happened?
Have a go hero – creating more remote virtual machines
Have a go hero – creating remote virtual appliances
Using a Remote Desktop client and running your remote VM
Time for action – using an RDP viewer and starting your VM
What just happened?
Have a go hero – installing Guest Additions on your other remote virtual machine
Have a go hero – running two remote virtual machines at the same time
Enabling sound on your remote virtual machines
Time for action – enabling audio on your remote virtual machine
What just happened?
Have a go hero – selecting the audio controller for your remote VM
Have a go hero – choosing audio controllers in other hosts
Using shared folders on your remote virtual machine
Time for action – creating and accessing a shared folder on your Ubuntu headless server
What just happened?
Have a go hero – sharing other types of files
Setting up your own remote virtual LAMP server
Time for action – running your very own remote virtual LAMP server
What just happened?
Have a go hero – exploring your new Turnkey LAMP remote virtual server
Have a go hero – using port-forwarding instead of the bridged mode
Have a go hero – using two remote virtual servers at the same time
Pop quiz – remote virtual machines and alternative frontends
Summary
A. Using Snapshots
Reverting changes to your virtual machine
Time for action – saving the state of your Ubuntu virtual machine by taking a snapshot
What just happened?
Have a go hero – using several Snapshots in your virtual machines
Pop quiz – using the folder sharing feature
Creating alternate realities in your virtual machines
Time for action – using branching snapshots in your VMs
What just happened?
Have a go hero – creating more alternate realities for your VMs
Pop quiz – creating alternate realities for your VMs
Summary
B. Pop Quiz Answers
Chapter 1
Doing the thing
Chapter 2
Creating virtual machines
Configuring basic settings on your VMs
Using the auto capture and host key features
Running your Ubuntu Linux VM
Your first VM
Chapter 3
Creating virtual machines
Using the auto capture and host key features
Running your Windows 7 VM
Your first VM
Chapter 4
Guest Additions
Using the fullscreen feature
Using the folder sharing feature
Chapter 5
Using virtual disks in VirtualBox
Creating additional virtual disk images
Virtual storage
Using different storage controller types
Storing data in VirtualBox
Chapter 6
Working with the default network adapter types
Using the bridged networking mode
Using the internal networking mode
Virtual networking
Chapter 7
Importing virtual appliances
Exporting virtual appliances
Working with virtual appliances
Virtual appliances
Chapter 8
Using the VBoxManage interface
Setting up your own VirtualBox headless server
Enabling FTP and uploading ISO images on your headless server
Remote virtual machines and alternative front-ends
Appendix A
Using the folder sharing feature
Creating alternate realities for your VMs
Index
VirtualBox 3.1: Beginner's Guide
Alfonso V. Romero
VirtualBox 3.1: Beginner's Guide
Copyright © 2010 Packt Publishing
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews.
Every effort has been made in the preparation of this book to ensure the accuracy of the information presented. However, the information contained in this book is sold without warranty, either express or implied. Neither the author, Packt Publishing, nor its dealers or distributors will be held liable for any damages caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by this book.
Packt Publishing has endeavored to provide trademark information about all the companies and products mentioned in this book by the appropriate use of capitals. However, Packt Publishing cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.
First published: April 2010
Production Reference: 1090410
Published by Packt Publishing Ltd.
32 Lincoln Road
Olton
Birmingham, B27 6PA, UK.
ISBN 978-1-847199-14-0
www.packtpub.com
Cover Image by Faiz Fattohi (<faizfattohi@gmail.com>)
Credits
Author
Alfonso V. Romero
Reviewer
James Selvakumar Samraj Eliyezar
Acquisition Editor
Sarah Cullington
Development Editor
Reshma Sundaresan
Technical Editor
Akash Johari
Indexer
Rekha Nair
Editorial Team Leader
Akshara Aware
Project Team Leader
Lata Basantani
Project Coordinator
Shubhanjan Chatterjee
Proofreader
Joel T. Johnson
Production Coordinator
Adline Swetha Jesuthas
Cover Work
Adline Swetha Jesuthas
About the Author
Alfonso V. Romero has been working with Linux and open source software since 1999, when he started operating his first web server (Apache) from a PC at home. Since then he's been working for several clients in Mexico as a Java, C++, and web applications developer. He also works for Pearson Education in Mexico as a Computer Books Freelance Translator and Consultant. When he's not experimenting with new trends in open source and .NET applications, he enjoys spending some quality time with his beautiful wife, three kids, and three dogs, or playing his old electric Ibanez guitar.
He's also a big fan of Stephen King, and one of his maximum aspirations is to write a fiction novel, but his passion for computers and information technology keeps him busy as a technical writer.
To God, without whom I'd never be where I am now…
To Adelina my wife, the love of my life. I cannot thank you enough for your patience, love, encouragement, and support that kept me going no matter what happened along the way... I love you very, very much! My heart will always be yours!
To my two daughters Adelina and Arlae, and to my son Alfonso Jr., because every time I got writer's block they always managed to cheer me up with a smile, a kiss, or a hug… I love you infinitely, guys! Finally I'm going to be able to spend quality time with you in the park!
To my mother Estela, my father Alfonso, my brother Richard, and my sister Lucy, for their unconditional support, and for showing me that patience, perseverance, and stubbornness will always help you achieve whatever you're up to.
To Sarah, Pallabi, Shubhanjan, Reshma, and all the staff at Packt Publishing for being such a great support team.
To the VirtualBox team, for developing such a great product!
About the Reviewer
James Selvakumar Samraj Eliyezar is a Software Engineer who graduated from National Engineering College, Kovilpatti, India. He has more than five years of experience in developing applications for banking and financial industry. He develops primarily in Java but loves dynamic languages such as Groovy and Python. Ubuntu Linux is his favorite operating system. In his free time, he likes to blog, tweet, and read.
I would love to thank my mother Elizabeth, wife Serene, and my little son Nithil Jeremiah who are the constant source of motivation and encouragement. I would also like to thank my boss Davethu Jacob for giving me the freedom to explore and innovate.
Preface
The furore around virtualization is taking the technology world by storm and is a must for efficient utilization of network server capacity, storage administration, energy, and capital. VirtualBox is free which brings down your upfront costs for an agile data center. VirtualBox will transform your IT infrastructure into a lean data center on a Windows XP/Vista/7, Windows 2003/2008 Server, Linux, Macintosh, or OpenSolaris platform. Although VirtualBox has grown by leaps and bounds, there is not enough documentation to guide you through its features and implementation.
This hands-on guide gives you a thorough introduction to this award-winning virtualization product. It will help you implement the right virtual environment for you. Additionally, this book will help you set up an environment that will work for your system. You will learn to architect and deploy your first virtual machine without being overwhelmed by technical details.
This practical book unveils the robust capabilities and easy-to-use graphical interface of VirtualBox to help you effectively administer and use virtual machines in a home or office environment. You begin by creating your first virtual machine on a Windows/Linux guest operating system and installing Guest Additions. The book then goes on to discuss the various formats that VirtualBox supports and how it interacts with other formats. The comprehensive instructions will help you to work with all the networking modes offered by VirtualBox. Virtual appliances will be explained in detail—how they help to reduce installation time for virtual machines and run them from VirtualBox.
By the end of this book, you will be able to run your own headless VirtualBox server to create, manage, and run virtual machines in that server from a remote PC.
What this book covers
Chapter 1, Getting to Work with VirtualBox, gives you a practical introduction to VirtualBox, and how you can use this excellent software to run several virtual machines inside a Windows/Linux host.
Chapter 2, Creating Your First Virtual Machine: Ubuntu Linux, teaches you about the basic settings needed to create and run a virtual machine using the Ubuntu operating system. You’ll also learn to test some basic functions like web browsing and using the OpenOffice suite of applications.
Chapter 3, Creating Your Second Virtual Machine: Windows 7, teaches you how to install Windows 7 on a virtual machine, along with the basic settings needed. You’ll also learn to test some basic functions like web browsing and using the Microsoft Office 2007 trial edition.
Chapter 4, Installing Guest Additions and Advanced Settings, teaches you how to install the Guest Additions to take real advantage of your virtual machines. You’ll also learn how to share folders between your host PC and your guest virtual machines, how to use seamless windows to integrate your host and guest desktops, and how to activate hardware 3D acceleration on your virtual machines.
Chapter 5, Storing Data in VirtualBox, teaches you everything about using virtual hard disks, and how you can use different disk formats such as VDI, VMDK, and VHD seamlessly in your virtual machines. You’ll also learn the differences between ‘cloning’ and ‘copying’ virtual hard disks, between fixed and dynamically expanding