Install Virtualbox on Windows

Virtualization is one of most important aspect of providing more flexible, reliable environment to run multiple guest operating systems. Virtualization effectively prevents the waste of Resources. Thre are only few number of virtualization applications available in the online web. Let's discuss some of them in this tutorial.

VMWare is one of the best and most trusted virtualiation software that comes as a premium software with many extra ordinary features compare to the Virtualbox which is freely available for download. However, as a desktop user, who like to run dual operating system without turning off their running operating system, then Virtualbox is best suitable for them.

VirtualBox is an open source cross-platform virtualization application program that installed on any existing operating system as an application and enables desktop users to run multiple guest operating systems simultaneously, each operating system knows as Guest OS. Currently VirtualBox application supports Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Mac OS X, Linux, Solaris, and OpenSolaris. In other words, Virtualbox enables users to run Linux on Windows OS or vice versa.

So Friends,
Here are the Installation of Oracle Virtual Box on Windows Step by Step 

Download Virtual Box from following link

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

VirtualBox platform packages. The binaries are released under the terms of the GPL version 2.

VirtualBox 4.1.16 for Windows hosts  x86/amd64   
VirtualBox 4.1.16 Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack 
Use Extension pack if it is older version.                  

 

Installing Virtualbox in Windows System

Open Downloaded Virtual box exe & double click on it .

Click Next

 

Right Click on Virtual Application 

Select Entire Feature will be installed on Local Hard drive.

It will install all features on hard disk.

Click Next

Click on Next 

This will add Network Interface

named VirtualBox Host-Only Network

in Network Connections after Local Area Connection.

Click on Next 

Ready to install Oracle VM Virtual Box on the system

Setup will install Oracle VM virtual box files in default path

C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox

Click on Continue Anyway 

to continue setup.

Its warning message about 

VirtualBox Host only Ethernet Adapter 

                                              

Click on Continue Anyway 

 Warning message for adding Virtual Box Bridged networking Driver Miniport

 

Installation Complete.Now Lets start Adding OS like Windows XP,Linux any flavor.

Its upto you.Depend Upon Hardware Sizing of your Pc.

I will recommend to have atleast 4 GB Ram.HDD Space more than 100 gb.

So You can add more Operating systems images

This is your Empty Virtual Box.

Its time add OS of your choice.

Click on New to add Virtual machines of your choice.

Virtual machines like Linux Ubuntu,Cent OS,Fedora,BT

Welcome to New Virtual Machine Wizard.

Assigning space & memory to Virtual Machine.

Installation process of new OS to Virtual Box.

Give Name to Virtual Machine & Select Operating System & Version type.

Allot Memory for your virtual machine.It will consume the allotted Memory of your actual system.

Click on Next after assigning memory.

Setting up Virtual Hard Disk for Virtual Machine.

Select Start-up Disk 

& Create New Hard Disk 

  

Virtual Disk Creation wizard

Select VDI (Virtual Disk Image) 

Click on Next

We will see other options later on.

Virtual Disk Storage details

Select Dynamically Allocated Option

If you are not sure about how much more space you can give than recommended space for Virtual machine.

Select Fixed Size Option if you plan to assign dedicated space for Virtual Machine. e.g 10 GB so virtual machine will consume total 10 GB dedicated space whether you use it or not.

Virtual Disk file Location & Size

Minimum recommended is 8 GB.

or else Increase as per your hdd space available.

Select the location of your Hard disk for virtual machine.

Click on Next 

Creating Fixed medium, Storage Unit of Virtual Machine

Summary of your Virtual machine.

File type 

Location

Size

Assembling of Virtual Machine is done.

Now its time to start the Virtual Machine.

Here we have already defined HDD Space,Memory for Virtual Machine.

Click on Start Button

First Run wizard of Virtual Machine.

You may say assembling of Virtual machine is done.Its time to install actual OS on Virtual Machine.This is first time activity.

Click Next

Choose a Virtual CD/DVD disk file.

Select already download ISO file of Operating System.

You Can Download ISO files from Download section of Linux Distributors Websites 

Backtrack - http://www.backtrack-linux.org/downloads/

Ubuntu - http://www.ubuntu.com/download

Cent OS - http://mirror.centos.org/centos/5/isos/

You may add ISO files from CD Drive or DVD also.

Summary 

Your Virtual Machine is started now.

It is as good as your additional Physical machine.

You can use it for Testing,Learning ,Practicing & Gaining more knowledge about operating systems of Linux. 

Many Open Source Linux Flavors like

Red Hat,Cent OS,Ubuntu,Fedora,Mint

 

Posted By - Santosh Dudhade

Post your comments in case any issues.