Managing VirtualBox Better

Getting the better out of the painful VM – Virtual Box

After struggling a long time with VM with slow speed and frequent crashes. I found few tips from various websites which helps the VM run in a better way.

This post contains the following.

• ·         Tweaks for a better VM
• ·         Installing Ubuntu or any other Linux/OS on Oraclebox.
• ·         Misc

Below are a few tweaks that can be done to prevent VM from getting crashed and to make it perform better.

(It would be better if you have the fresh vmdk file before applying the following settings.)

Go to

machine-> settings-System.

Set Base Memory to the max green level.

Switch to Processor Tab

Set the CPU as 2 or the green level.

Set the execution Cap below it to 100%

Switch to Acceleration Tab

Set  both Option in Hardware Virtualization to checked.

Go to Display

set Video memory to 128 mb in the video tab

Other things to do:

• ·         Take a snapshot of the fresh install (initial install) – You can restore to any previous snapshot and prevent the loss of your entire vm
• ·         Run Disk Defragmenter every week on your VM.
• ·         Save the machine state, do not shutdown everytime.
• ·         Always choose fixed disk size to prevent space and performance issues.

In case of network issues:

Go to machine -> settings -> Network

Change Adapter 1 to Attached to : Bridged  (works sometimes- this is due to network issues.)

Installing a linux VM on your own.

Download Ubuntu or any linux distro iso file .

http://linuxlookup.com/linux_iso


· Start VMware.

· From the File menu select "Create a New Virtual Machine"

· Choose to install the operating system later. Click "Next".

· Select Linux as the "Guest Operating System" and then choose Ubuntu as the "Version". Click "next".

· Provide a "Virtual machine name" and "Location" where the machine will be stored on the Windows host. The defaults are fine here. Click "Next".

· For "Maximum disk size (GB)" it is good to start with 40G if possible. This means that it will take up 40G on the Windows host. Make sure that the Windows host has at least this much before proceeding. It is also a good practice to tell VMware to split the virtual disk into 2G files. This will makes the image easier to copy and transport if necessary. Click "Next".

· Click "Finish" to complete the creation of the virtual machine.

• settings -> Storage -> Select the disk Icon
• 
  
• On the right select Attributes browse the ISO you downloaded.Click OK.
• 
  
• Now boot up Ubuntu VM ware - install normally like you do any OS installation.
• 
  
• After installation, you will be prompted for reboot. 
• 
  
• Go to Machine ->Settings -> Storage -> Select the disk Icon
• 
  
• On the right select Attributes Disk image and select remove the iso.
• 
  
• Now boot up your VM again. You can use Ubuntu .

MISC:
Cloning:

When you want to clone the VMDK file. (Time consuming, do not do it unless extremely necessary)

Grouping Boxes:

Group -> group (for better classification)