Virtual Machine

How to use the VM

Introduction to Using VirtualBox

The link to download the .ova file: Summer School VM.

The username is epics and password is the same.

VirtualBox is a powerful, open-source virtualization tool that allows you to run multiple operating systems simultaneously on your computer. This is particularly useful for testing, development, or running software that is only available on specific operating systems. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to install VirtualBox, and how to upload and run a virtual machine using an .ova file.

The .ova file used in this guide was built on VirtualBox version 6.1.50_Ubuntu r161033 on Ubuntu 22.04. The virtual machine requires at least 40GB of disk space and at least 4GB of RAM.

Installing VirtualBox

  1. Download VirtualBox:
    • Visit the VirtualBox official website.
    • Click on the “Download VirtualBox” button.
    • Select the appropriate version for your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux, or Solaris).
  2. Install VirtualBox:
    • Windows:
    • Double-click the downloaded .exe file.
    • Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
    • You may need to grant administrative privileges and confirm the installation of device software.
    • macOS:
    • Open the downloaded .dmg file.
    • Double-click the VirtualBox.pkg file to run the installer.
    • Follow the prompts to complete the installation. You may need to grant permission to install the software in your System Preferences.
    • Linux:
    • The installation process varies slightly depending on your Linux distribution. For Debian-based systems like Ubuntu, you can use the following commands: 
        sudo apt update
  sudo apt install virtualbox
    • For other distributions, refer to the VirtualBox Linux downloads page for specific instructions.

Running VirtualBox

Once VirtualBox is installed, you can start it from your applications menu.

Uploading and Running a Virtual Machine Using an .ova File

An .ova file is an Open Virtualization Format Archive, which is a package that contains a virtual machine. The .ova file in this guide was built on VirtualBox version 6.1.50_Ubuntu r161033 on Ubuntu 22.04.

  1. Launch VirtualBox:
    • Open VirtualBox from your applications menu or desktop shortcut.
  2. Import the .ova File:
    • In the VirtualBox Manager, go to File > Import Appliance.
    • Click on the Choose button and navigate to the location of your .ova file.
    • Select the .ova file and click Next.
  3. Review and Adjust Settings:
    • VirtualBox will display the configuration details of the virtual machine. Review these settings and make any necessary adjustments.
    • Ensure that the virtual machine is allocated at least 40GB of disk space and at least 4GB of RAM.
    • Click Import to start the process. This may take a few minutes depending on the size of the .ova file and the speed of your computer.
  4. Start the Virtual Machine:
    • Once the import process is complete, the virtual machine will appear in the list of available VMs in the VirtualBox Manager.
    • Select the virtual machine and click Start to launch it.

Basic Usage Tips

  • Snapshots: Use snapshots to save the state of your virtual machine at a particular point in time. This is useful for testing and development purposes.
  • Shared Folders: Configure shared folders to easily transfer files between your host machine and the virtual machine.
  • Network Settings: Adjust network settings based on your requirements, such as using NAT or bridged networking for different networking scenarios.