How to Set Up a Virtual Machine Using VirtualBox - Beginner's Guide

How to Set Up a Virtual Machine Using VirtualBox: A Beginner's Guide

Are you interested in running an entirely different operating system without having to install it on your computer? If so, you've landed on the right page.

Virtual machines are now becoming a prominent part of the tech world. They allow you to run an entire computer system on your current operating system, which is perfect for software testing, legacy application support, virus testing and more.

VirtualBox, a product of Oracle, is one of the most popular virtualization platforms today. In this guide, we are going to walk you through a comprehensive setup process of creating a virtual machine using Oracle VirtualBox. Let's jump in!

Requirements

1. A computer with modern hardware

2. The latest version of VirtualBox installed on your computer

3. An ISO file for the operating system you want to install.

Installing VirtualBox

Before we delve into setting up a Virtual Box, it's essential to ensure that you've installed VirtualBox on your computer. You can download it for free from the official VirtualBox site. Choose the version compatible with your computer's operating system. After downloading, run the installation wizard and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Step 1: Creating a New Virtual Machine

To create a new virtual machine:

1. Open VirtualBox and click on the "New" icon

2. Type a name for your virtual machine in the "Name" field, select the type of operating system in the "Type" field and the version in the "Version" field.

3. Click "Next" to proceed

Step 2: Allocating RAM to the Virtual Machine

Upon clicking next, you'll be asked to select the amount of RAM memory to be allocated to your virtual machine. It's recommended to allocate at least 1 GB of RAM for a 32-bit system and 2 GB for a 64-bit system.

1. Adjust the memory size using the slider

2. Click "Next"

Step 3: Creating a Virtual Hard Disk

The next screen will prompt you to create a virtual hard disk for your virtual machine.

1. Choose "Create a virtual hard disk now" and click "Create"

2. On the next screen, keep the default "VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image)" option selected and click "Next"

3. Choose between "Dynamically allocated" and "Fixed size" for your hard disk file type

4. Click "Next" to proceed

Step 4: Selecting Hard Disk Size

Next, you have to specify the hard drive's maximum size. The recommended size will depend on the operating system you have selected.

Step 5: Setting up Virtual Hard Disk File Location

Here, you'll select where you want to store your virtual hard drive data.

Step 6: Installing the Operating System

Once you've created a virtual machine, it's now time to install an operating system.

1. Select the virtual machine and click on the "Start" icon

2. You’ll be prompted to select a start-up disk, which is the ISO file of the operating system. Browse and select the ISO file then click "Start" to begin the installation.

Follow the prompts to complete installing the guest operating system. Once the installation is complete, your VirtualBox is set up and ready! Congrats.

This guide aimed to provide an easy walkthrough of setting up a virtual machine using VirtualBox. Remember, the key to successful virtualization is ensuring that your physical machine has adequate resources. Enjoy exploring your new virtual environment!