Introduction
In this article, we will learn how to install Linux Ubuntu on VirtualBox virtualization software.
Let’s say you are a Windows 10 user and have never used a Linux operating system before and want to try it without disturbing your Windows environment. Installing Ubuntu on a virtual machine is the best way to do so before installing it on a physical one.
Before installing Linux Ubuntu in a virtual machine, you must first create a VM. Let’s see how to create a virtual machine.
What is Virtual Machine
The virtual machine, also commonly known as VM, is a computer system created by using software on one physical computer to emulate the functionality of another separate physical computer.
If you want to know how to install VirtualBox on Windows 10, check out the below link.
https://easytechhub.com/how-to-install-virtualbox-on-windows-10/
Create a Virtual Machine in VirtualBox
Open the VirtualBox software and click “New.”
To create a virtual machine, enter a name, select the operating system type, and click “Next.”
We allocated 2GB for Linux Ubuntu 20.04.1 for demonstration purposes, but the recommended memory is 4GB, then click “Next.”
Choose to create a virtual hard disk now and click “Create“.
Select VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image) as the own container format of VirtualBox for the guest hard disk, then click “Next“.
Select “Dynamically allocated“, click “Next”.
For testing purposes, we selected D:\VM’s as the VM location and assigned 20GB of virtual hard disk space. For testing, it’s perfectly fine, but the recommended hard disk size should be a minimum of 25GB for Linux Ubuntu and then click “Create”.
As you can see in the below image, a virtual machine has been created.
Install Linux Ubuntu on VirtualBox
System Requirements
- Processor: 2 GHz dual core processor.
- Memory: 4GB RAM (You can install it on 1GB Ram also, but the virtual machine will slow down)
- Hard Disk: 25 GB recommended and 8.5GB minimum.
- Good internet connection to download the image file.
Visit the below website to download Linux Ubuntu’s latest 20.04.3 LTS image file for the desktop. We will use image file 20.04.01 which we downloaded a few months back.
https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop
Open VirtualBox, select the newly created virtual machine and then click “Settings.”
Click “Storage” and then select “Empty” under the optical drive. Click on the CD icon and select “Choose a disk file.” Select the downloaded Linux Ubuntu image file and then click “OK.”
Linux, Ubuntu 20.04. 1 image file is selected.
Click “Start” to start the virtual machine.
The Ubuntu Linux installation process has started.
On the welcome screen, select “English” as a language. You can try Ubuntu before installing by clicking on “Try Ubuntu”, otherwise click “Install Ubuntu“.
Select English(US) at the keyboard layout and click “Continue”.
Select “Normal installation” and under other options, select “Download updates while installing Ubuntu” and click “Continue“.
At installation type, we will let the operating system erase the disk and install Ubuntu, or else you can select something else and create a partition.
Click “Continue”.
Select where you are and click “Continue.”
Enter your name, the computer’s name, pick a username, provide a password and confirm the password, then click “Continue“. Wait for a few minutes while the installation process gets completed.
Type the password and press enter to login.
Linux Ubuntu Desktop
Conclusion
If you want to try Linux Ubuntu without installing it on your physical computer, you should install it inside VirtualBox and get acquainted with it. Follow the steps mentioned in this post to install Linux Ubuntu in VirtualBox.