Virtualbox: network setup, Windows XP, Windows 7. Virtualbox Ubuntu: network setup

PC users can use different types of operating systems in their work. Sometimes it is very necessary, being in one OS, to use the functions of another, and rebooting is undesirable at the same time. There is an excellent solution - "virtual machines". Among the most famous in the global IT market is VirtualBox. What are its features? How is the network configuration necessary for working with VirtualBox?

What is VirtualBox

VirtualBox is, as we noted above, a "virtual machine". In other words, it is a software environment that allows you to load a certain operating system in a fully functional mode when the user is in the interface of another OS.

That is, for example, if a person is running Windows, then he can, by using VirtualBox, run (and before that - install) on a Linux PC without rebooting. The practical utility of this function can be, for example, that when working with Windows-based programs, you can fully use the functions of the server operating systems of the Linux family, which in some cases are irreplaceable. By the way, the reverse procedure is also possible.

The full name of the "virtual machine" in question is Oracle VM VirtualBox, as it was developed by the famous American corporation. Let's consider the main features of the solution from Oracle.

VirtualBox Features

The VirtualBox program is an excellent alternative to solutions such as Wine, which is used when a Linux user needs to run a program for Windows. In this case, using Wine does not guarantee the successful launch of software, oriented to Windows. In turn, the "virtual machine" allows you to load the appropriate interfaces of the operating system from Microsoft and use them with almost the same functionality as with a separate Windows boot.

So, when solving problems on managing computer networks, such opportunities are extremely in demand. The most important thing for a full-scale use of the potential of Windows or Linux via VirtualBox is to configure the network in accordance with the correct algorithms.

Terms of Use

Among the main advantages of VirtualBox - free. In this case, this solution is released in fact in a single version, and therefore, having mastered the subtleties of working with it, you can use it without problems later, without fear that the developer will release fundamentally new interfaces. We note, however, that Oracle has created an additional package for the "virtual machine" - the Expension Pack, which includes solutions such as the RDP server, through which you can connect to the virtual machine remotely by means of the appropriate protocol type. The extended package for VirtualBox for personal purposes - that is, subject to non-commercial use - is delivered to enthusiasts of useful IT solutions for free.

Capabilities

What are the most notable features of the VirtualBox program?

First of all, this is virtualization on platforms like x86 - there is no need for support for Intel VT, as well as for AMD-V.

The program is characterized by an intuitive friendly interface. Russian language is also supported in VirtualBox. Setting up the network and solving other tasks, thus, will be facilitated for Russian users.

VirtualBox is a cross-platform solution. It is suitable for Windows, Linux, Mac OS.

There is support for processors with multiple cores, as well as computers in which several corresponding chips are installed.

There is Guest VM Additions, which allows you to optimize communications with the OS, on the basis of which the program runs.

The performance of a virtual machine, according to many IT specialists, is at the highest level.

Among the key tasks in preparing the work with VirtualBox is network configuration. Let us consider the main nuances of its solution.

Installing the Virtual Machine

So, we have to configure the virtual machine VirtualBox network. Let's study the key nuances of its installation on the user's computer, as well as the algorithms for the basic stages of setting up this software. First of all, you need to download the distribution package on virtualbox.org and install the solution on your PC. What nuances can accompany this task? For example, you should confirm the installation of the virtual interface needed for the network. In this case, the actual connection can be temporarily deactivated.

Key Virtual Machine Settings

Next, run the program. In the main window of the interface, a list of virtual machines that can be launched on the PC will be displayed. At the very first download of the program, it is likely to be empty. Therefore, the user will need to create the virtual machine himself. To do this, click on the corresponding button, after - choose the type of virtual machine and its name. The OS that many users prefer to put on VirtualBox is Ubuntu. Setting up the network with its help is carried out sufficiently quickly, the attendant nuances are easy to master.

After selecting the type of virtual machine in the settings, you need to specify how much RAM can be used by the program. The recommended value is 1 GB. After that, you need to create a virtual disk space - this is done on the hard drive of the computer. To do this, you need to specify in the settings that this type of file, such as VDI, will be used. Also note in the program that the disk will be dynamic. After you specify the size of the hard drive, for example, 8 GB (to start the "virtual machine" does not need too much disk space).

Consider how to configure a "virtual machine" from Oracle. It can be run in the interface of virtually any version of Windows, including the most common in the world - Windows 7.

Basic nuances of setting up VirtualBox in Windows 7

Installing the program, for example, in Windows 7, you will need to configure some of its key options. In the main window of the VirtualBox interface, right-click on the created "virtual machine" and select the "Properties" option. The key point that we are interested in in the corresponding interface is the buffer type between the two systems: the base and the guest. The corresponding option is located in the "General" tab. The best way to tell the program is to use a bidirectional buffer.

It is also useful to select the menu item "File", after - go to "Settings". In the "General" section, select the "Machine folder" list. We mark the option "Other" and specify the folder where the virtual machine files will be located. In the "Enter" section, you can configure a key that allows keyboard input and mouse manipulation to be redirected to the interfaces of the virtual machine. You can also configure the display - for example, in terms of the maximum screen resolution.

Launch VirtualBox and install the second OS

Once the basic settings have been made, you can run the "virtual machine". To do this, select its name from the list in the main menu and click on the "Start" button. After that, an interface will open, with which you can install the required OS. Its distribution, therefore, should be ready - for example, in a recorded on a CD or DVD-ROM form. Once the OS is installed, we can proceed to the stage of directly configuring the VirtualBox virtual network.

Network Configuration: Key Options

You must select the type of virtual OS and click the "Configure" button. After that, go to the "General" tab. Here we are interested in the "Network" section. You must select a connection type, such as a bridge. It assumes that a channel will be created between the network card of the PC and the virtual machine, with which the corresponding resource of the current OS can be used in another operating system. Note that in the "Shared Folders" section, you can manage the relevant items to store the files that appear during the exchange between the PC and the virtual machine.

Setting up a network in a "virtual" Ubuntu operating system

As we noted at the beginning of the article, the optimal virtual environment when using VirtualBox is Ubuntu. Network configuration by using this operating system can be implemented in the following algorithm. First you need to download one of the versions of the OS, best adapted to solve the problem in question. You need to go to the site releases.ubuntu.com, then select version 14.04 LTS. After that, you should download the ISO-image of the operating system. If the user has a 64-bit PC, then you will need a version of Ubuntu of the appropriate type. Further, using the VirtualBox interface, it is necessary to start the OS installation process (we have discussed how this mechanism works above). After installing the "virtual" Ubuntu, we go to the main stages of such a procedure as setting up the VirtualBox network. Windows 7 can also be used to solve this problem.

We can use the remote script to configure the server using the SSH protocol - in fact, to use this feature, we installed a "virtual machine". Among the most convenient tools for working with SSH in Windows is the PuTTY program. It must be downloaded on putty.org. But before that, you need to install Ubuntu correctly - some nuances accompany this task. Consider them.

Features of OS installation in a virtual machine

At the beginning of the Ubuntu installation, the system will ask for the desired language settings. After you enter them, the installation of additional components will begin. During OS installation, the system can attempt to configure the network with DHCP, but it only needs to do this if this type of server is on the network. If they do not exist, the user will be prompted to set the appropriate settings manually. But at the current stage of the installation, this is not necessary - this step can be skipped.

Among the options that are important to us is the name of the computer. It may sound like this: computer227.computer227network.com. This, of course, is not the address on the Internet, but just the necessary network ID of the PC. Next, you need to set up user accounts. It should be borne in mind that as the nickname it will not be possible to use the word admin - this is the specificity of the Ubuntu OS (it is reserved in the system). You can choose an option such as userhost, for example. Password - any that will be convenient to the owner of the PC.

The next step in installing Ubuntu is configuring time and time zones. It is desirable to specify real.

Next, you must specify the parameters for the hard disk. The corresponding options depend on the resources available to the user, as well as on the allocation of free space on the hard drive.

After the hard disk has been configured, the main files will be downloaded. After its completion, the system will offer to configure the APT packages - but this is important only if the user wants to install a proxy server. We agree that we will not use it on the network, so you can skip this configuration step.

Next, the system asks whether you want to install automatic updates. Many IT professionals prefer not to implement this procedure, since in this case you can completely control the processes running in the OS. Then, in the interface window, OpenSSH should be noted as the type of software used.

In the future installation process of Ubuntu, the system asks whether the GRUB boot loader should be installed in the appropriate area of the disk. After the OS is fully installed, you need to restart the PC.

Basic Network Options

The next step in working with VM VirtualBox is configuring the network through Ubuntu OS interfaces. It is necessary to enter the operating system, specifying the login and password that we defined during the installation.

The next necessary action is obtaining access rights at the ROOT level, that is, the superuser. It is necessary to activate the corresponding option.

This can be done by entering the command: sudo su. Another option is to enter sudo passwd root with a password in the command line. Actually, these are the main settings at this stage. You can download the PuTTY program and manage the server on the Ubuntu OS via a virtual machine.

Nuances of network settings

What are the nuances of working with Oracle VirtualBox? Network configuration may require adjustments to a number of other options. Which ones?

For example, you might need to configure the server to establish a permanent IP address on it. To do this, make appropriate changes to / etc / network / interfaces. This is done by the following command: nano / etc / network / interfaces. After that, you can reboot the network with the following command: /etc/init.d/networking restart.

Then you need to make adjustments to / etc / hosts with the appropriate nano command. It is necessary that the following settings are present in the file structure:

- 127.0.0.1 - for localhost;

- 192.168.0.1 (if the IP address of the computer on the local network differs from the specified one, we write the correct one) for the server address specified above, that is computer277.computer277network.com computer277.

Next, enter the command echo computer277.computer277network.com> / etc / hostname, then /etc/init.d/hostname restart. After that, enter hostname, hostname-f. The server address should be displayed on the screen.

Next, you need to synchronize the clocks running on the system with the time server on the Internet. To do this, type apt-get install ntp update in the command line. This completes the configuration. After that, you can fully use Oracle VM VirtualBox. Setting up the network is simple enough. The subsequent use of Ubuntu with the help of a "virtual machine" implies the possibility of using the widest set of functions of this server OS.

Universal tool: works in Windows XP

Does the virtual machine work from Oracle in relatively obsolete versions of Windows, for example, XP? Yes, it is quite. In accordance with the considered algorithm, you can configure other operating systems using VirtualBox. The Windows XP network configuration, of course, will be implemented in a slightly different way. In particular, the command line, as in Ubuntu, will not be used during this procedure.

However, Windows XP has quite understandable even unprepared user control elements of the local network, and work with them should not be accompanied by tangible difficulties and failures.

Of course, in addition to Ubuntu, other OSes from the Linux line are compatible with the "virtual machine" algorithms. Among those that are great for use with VirtualBox, - CentOS. The network configuration in this Linux distribution will be based on algorithms that are generally similar to those we used when working with Ubuntu.