VirtualBox

Installing VirtualBox on Debian.

Notes: I run Debian testing and use micro as the text editor. Adjust the instructions as necessary.

Enable virtualization

Go into your machine's BIOS and enable virtualization support.

This is different on each machine.

Install VirtualBox

Based on Debian Wiki

Add the correct sources

Open Apt's sources

sudo micro /etc/apt/sources.list

Add sid (unstable) repo:

deb http://deb.debian.org/debian/ sid main non-free contrib

To prevent Debian from installing latest packages from sid, which might make your system less stable, set a default release.

Create a new file:

sudo micro /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/00default-release

Add the setting:

APT::Default-Release "testing";

Install the packages

All required software:

• VirtualBox itself
• Extensions
• Guest additions
• Guest additions ISO (to be used inside the VM)
• Guest utilities
• DKMS
• Linux headers for your current kernel

sudo apt install virtualbox virtualbox-ext-pack virtualbox-guest-additions virtualbox-guest-additions-iso virtualbox-guest-utils virtualbox-dkms linux-headers-$(uname -r)

Guest additions ISO is downloaded into /usr/share/virtualbox

Some more config

Add yourself to the vboxusers group:

sudo usermod -a -G vboxusers $(whoami)

You might need to enable the kernel module for virtualbox:

sudo modproble vboxdrv

Run

virtualbox

Guest additions (shared folders etc)

• Launch VirtualBox
• Run the VM
• Boot into Devices / Insert Guest Additions CD...
• Run the installer from the "CD" on the virtual machine

Known issues