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The reason to install Virtualbox in Windows is so that Ubuntu Linux can be run as a guest OS within the virtual machine. This is typically used when accessing a virtual machine on a different computer, because the host computer can display the console directly, and this provides a more fluid user experience.
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It is possible to make RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) connections to virtual machines. Using VirtualRDP (VRDP) to View Guest VMs The VirtualBox method is optimised Samba. This is the Virtual Box method, but others are available, such as standard samba, nfs, and using internet-based storage. VirtualBox/SharedFolders describes sharing folders on the host with guests. This allows the guest vm to use USB devices plugged into your host. VirtualBox/USB describes setting up USB devices.
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See VirtualBox/Networking for more sophisticated set-ups, and information for older versions of Ubuntu and VirtualBox.
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VirtualBox 2.0 and onwards provides straightforward networking allowing IP address assignment and internet access using NAT, the default network option. By default this is Control_R which actually means the right hand Control key, not control and the letter R. In the bottom right hand corner of the emulated machine window is the name of the key required to make Virtual Box un-grab the mouse and keyboard. This can be automated by a script, but by default, if you reboot your host, your guest machines will not be running any more.įor help getting started, VirtualBox/FirstVM describes setting up an Ubuntu guest using VirtualBox. The VirtualBox can be run from the menu Applications > System Tools > A kernel module is started when the host computer is booted, but nothing happens until you manually start a virtual machine. No special hardware is required to run a virtual machine, although recent processors have virtualization "hooks" which interact specifically with virtual machines to improve performance.
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