====== VirtualBox ======

http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/User_HOWTOS

http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Linux_Downloads

http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/server-storage/virtualbox/downloads

===== Comments =====

:!: Virtualbox is an excellent workstation virtualization solution.

:!: If you need server virtualization, see:

**[[virtualization:xenserver:xenserver|XenServer]]**

**[[virtualization:proxmox|Proxmox Virtualization Environment]]**

  * Two versions
    * Open Source Edition
    * Personal Edition
  * Excellent cross-platform support - Linux, Windows, OS X, Solaris, etc.
  * Supports USB 2.0
  * No hardware virtualization support needed, similar to VMware Server
  * Can be run headless and accessed via VRDP protocol
  * Can use various virtual disk formats - VMware .vmdk, etc.
  * The default 'host key' to release keyboard is Right Ctrl

===== Documentation =====

Well organized manual/brochure/quick-start guide: http://www.virtualbox.org/manual/UserManual.html

===== Installation =====

==== SME Server ====

http://wiki.contribs.org/VirtualBox_4.0_on_SME_Server_v8_beta_6

==== Linux ====

=== Permissions ===

Add your user to the 'vboxusers' group:

<file>
sudo usermod -a -G vboxusers yourusername
</file>

Log out and back in to gain permissions.

=== USB Support ===

Download and install the VirtualBox Extension Pack.  You can just double-click the file after VirtualBox is installed.

https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

=== Fedora ===

<file>
su -
cd /etc/yum.repos.d/
wget http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/rpm/fedora/virtualbox.repo

yum install gcc kernel-headers kernel-devel dkms VirtualBox-4.2
</file>

=== Ubuntu ===

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/VirtualBox

== Open Source Edition ==

<file>
sudo apt-get install dkms build-essential linux-headers-`uname -r` virtualbox-ose
</file>


== Personal Edition ==

<file>
sudo apt-get install dkms build-essential linux-headers-`uname -r` virtualbox-4.2
</file>

===== Shared Folders (Guest-Host) =====

Install Guest Additions (tools), then view the "Entire Network", or browse or search to:

<file>
\\vboxsvr
</file>

===== Guest Virtual Machines =====

==== Windows XP Guest ====

  * You probably don't need more than 1 vCPU and 512MB RAM
  * You can get by with as ittle as 8GB of disk space

=== Guest Additions ===

Mount Windows Tools ISO and run:

<file>
d:\setup.exe /c
</file>

==== CentOS Guest ====

If it won't boot, edit the System setting to "Enable IO APIC".

=== Network Install ===

:!: Using network installation, you are assured of installing a Xen PV kernel.

[[computing:linux:minimal_centos_install#netinstall|CentOS Network Install]]

=== Guest Additions ===

http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=15679

<file>
sudo yum install binutils gcc make patch libgomp glibc-headers glibc-devel kernel-headers kernel-devel
</file>

Devices -> Install Guest Additions

In VM:

<file>
mount /media/cdrom

cd /media/cdrom
</file>

<file>
sudo sh ./VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.run
</file>

or

<file>
sh sudo sh ./VboxLinuxAdditions-amd64.run
</file>

==== Ubuntu Guest ====

=== Guest Additions ===

http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=15679

<file>
sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-`uname -r`
</file>

==== Debian Guest ====

=== Guest Additions ===

http://virtualboxes.org/doc/installing-guest-additions-on-debian/

As ''root'':

<file>
apt-get install build-essential module-assistant

m-a prepare

mount /media/cdrom

sh /media/cdrom/VBoxLinuxAdditions.run
</file>

===== Configuration =====

==== Network ====

Network configuration defaults to DHCP and NAT, which should give you Internet access and a 10.0.x.x IP address, but no access to the VM from the local network.  It's easy to set to bridged in Network settings and restart VM.

===== Maintenance =====

==== Host Kernel Upgrade ====

Rebuild the kernel module:

<file>
sudo /etc/init.d/vboxdrv setup
</file>

==== Compact a VM Disk ====

http://www.maketecheasier.com/shrink-your-virtualbox-vm/

http://download.sysinternals.com/Files/SDelete.zip

  - Defrag the disk within the VM
    * maybe more than once
  - Zero out the empty space within the VM
    * Windows: ''sdelete -z c:''
    * Linux: ''zerofree /dev/sda1''
  - Shut down the VM cleanly
  - ''VboxManage modifyvdi /path/to/your/VM.vdi compact''

==== VMware VM ====

:!: I'm not convinced moving VMs from one virtualization platform to another is a "good idea".  I have generally found it faster to reinstall a VM clean.  It's analogous to doing upgrades to host operationg systems...it can be done, but it's probably not going to work as well as you might hope.

http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Migrate_Windows

  * It's best to uninstall VMware Tools first before exporting the VM from VMware
  * Most VMware drivers will work under VirtualBox
  * You will have to reactivate Windows
  * You will probably have to Enable IO APIC to get the VM to boot
  * You may need to set the Network Adapter to Bridged mode
  * You will need to uninstall the VMware Tools
  * You will need to install the Virtualbox Guest Additions
  * You will need to get USB working in the VM
  * There is a VMware cleaner utility to help
    * http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1308
    * Use a USB memory key to transfer the utility
  * You may still have problems with the NIC

==== Convert VMDK to VDI Disk Image ====

If your VMware virtual disk is comprised of multiple .vmdk files, you have to reorganize it into a single file.  We use a tool from VMware Server and one from Qemu:

<file>
vmware-vdiskmanager -r vm-name.vmdk -t 0 temp.vmdk 
sudo apt-get install qemu
qemu-img convert temp.vmdk temp.bin
VBoxManage convertdd temp.bin new-hardive-name.vdi
</file>

==== NIC Driver (am79C973) ====

Device Manager -> Right-Click VMware NIC -> Update Driver -> Install From List -> Don't Search -> AMD PCNET Family PCI Ethernet Adapter

http://www.amd.com/us-en/ConnectivitySolutions/ProductInformation/0,,50_2330_6629_2403%5E2415%5E2454%5E2486,00.html

===== Virtual Disk Files =====

http://www.liucougar.net/blog/archives/118

File -> Import
File -> Export

===== Headless =====

http://www.clearfoundation.com/component/option,com_kunena/Itemid,232/catid,40/func,view/id,2834/