Using Virtualbox To Ready Freebsd Vm On Debian

Many virtualization software (aka hypervisors) tin run on the host operating organisation of Linux. Notable open-source software include Parts 2, 3, as well as 4 cover, respectively, additional post-installation tasks, how to access USB flash drives on the invitee OS, as well as how to percentage folders betwixt host as well as guest.

About VirtualBox

In 2010, Oracle acquired Lord's Day Microsystems and, every bit a result, took over the ownership of several open-source technologies including VirtualBox as well as mySQL. Subsequently, VirtualBox was rebranded every bit Oracle VM VirtualBox, simply the software has remained gratis as well as open-source.

VirtualBox, similar KVM, is a type-2 hypervisor, pregnant that it runs every bit a physical care for on the host OS (Linux). In contrast, XEN is a type-1 hypervisor which runs direct on top of the bare-metal hardware. Type-1 hypervisors guide maintain an inherent payoff over type-2 regarding performance. Yet, type-2 hypervisors, such every bit VirtualBox, exercise goodness from the continual advancement of their underlying OS.

Hypervisors typically back upward the same multitude of invitee operating systems including Linux, BSD, Solaris, Mac OS X, as well as Windows. But, hypervisors vary inward what host OSes they support. For instance, KVM solely runs on Linux. VirtualBox, on the other hand, runs on multiple host platforms such every bit Linux, Solaris, macOS, as well as Windows.

Prepare for installation

Perform the next steps prior to installing VirtualBox:

1. Enable virtualization applied scientific discipline inward BIOS.

2. Download the invitee OS (FreeBSD) ISO.

Enable virtualization inward BIOS

In 2005, chip manufacturers introduced the education laid extensions Intel VT as well as AMD-V to back upward hardware virtualization. Before that, all virtualization was done amongst software. VirtualBox supports both software as well as hardware virtualization. If hardware virtualization back upward is non available on a machine, VirtualBox volition switch to software virtualization. Note that without hardware virtualization, VirtualBox tin solely exercise 32-bit virtual machines. In other words, a 64-bit virtual automobile is solely possible if hardware back upward is available.

To decide if your CPU supports hardware virtualization, run the next command:


$ egrep '^flags.*(vmx|svm)' /proc/cpuinfo


The inward a higher house ascendancy searches the CPU flags register for either 'vmx' (Intel VT) or 'svm' (AMD-V). If the termination is non-nil, your automobile does guide maintain hardware-assisted virtualization.

Even if your automobile supports hardware virtualization, it does non necessarily hateful that it is currently enabled. To confirm that it is enabled, reboot the automobile as well as travel into BIOS. Once within the BIOS, await for an selection to plow on virtualization technology.

Download FreeBSD ISO

VirtualBox is a full-virtualization hypervisor(as opposed to para-virtualization), pregnant that the invitee OS, FreeBSD inward this case, tin live on used every bit is, without modification. Having said that,
y'all are responsible for downloading the invitee OS yourself.

You tin download the latest installer icon (release 11.1) from the FreeBSD website. You guide maintain the options of downloading regular Installer Images, Virtual Machine Images, as well as SD Card Images. For this tutorial, utilisation regular Installer Images. (VirtualBox does non back upward all Virtual Machine icon formats.) Make certain that y'all select the correct hardware architecture (amd64 vs i386).

Within the architecture, download the compressed disk icon file amongst the disc1.iso.xz suffix as well as the corresponding SHA512 checksum file. The .xz file is close 40% smaller inward size than the uncompressed version as well as volition salve y'all download time.

After y'all guide maintain downloaded the ii files, decompress the disk icon file as well as exercise a checksum using the respective commands below.


$ unxz FreeBSD-11.1-RELEASE-amd64-disc1.iso.xz
$ sha512sum -c CHECKSUM.SHA512-FreeBSD-11.1-RELEASE-amd64
...
FreeBSD-11.1-RELEASE-amd64-disc1.iso: OK
...


Install VirtualBox

The next commands demand to live on executed amongst root privilege.

1. Add the source repository for VirtualBox.
   
   
# echo deb http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian stretch contrib > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/virtualbox.list

2. Import the Oracle GPG world key.
   
   
# wget -q https://www.virtualbox.org/download/oraclevbox2016.asc -O- | apt-key add together -
OK

3. Install VirtualBox.
   
   
# apt update
# apt install virtualbox-5.2


Create FreeBSD VM

After installing VirtualBox, run it for the starting fourth dimension time past times clicking Oracle VM VirtualBox inward your carte system. For the Xfce desktop, the selection is nether the System submenu. Then, click New to exercise a virtual machine.



Next, supply a host name, as well as specify the Type (BSD), as well as Version (FreeBSD 64-bit or 32-bit).



The remaining steps configure the retention size, exercise a virtual difficult disk as well as specify its file format, its pathname as well as size, as well as whether storage is dynamic or fixed-sized. At each step, reasonable defaults are given, as well as tin live on accepted unless your requirements dictate otherwise. Click Create at the cease to exercise the virtual machine.

The virtual automobile is inward the powered-off patch later on creation. Next, ability upward the automobile past times clicking Start.



At this point, the VM has no operating system. Powering it on prompts y'all to insert a start-up disk. Click the folder icon to specify the file path for the disk icon file downloaded before (FreeBSD-11.1-RELEASE-amd64-disc1.iso).



Continue past times selecting Start. The FreeBSD boot-up covert appears. Hit Enter to boot.



Select Install to transcend away on installation.



The FreeBSD installer forthwith takes over, as well as prompts y'all for information it needs to configure the system.

At the end, the installer volition prompt y'all to reboot into the installed system. At this point, y'all should reboot, simply starting fourth dimension y'all must unmount the disk icon file (otherwise, y'all volition kick into the CD icon again). The reboot physical care for I recommend is every bit follows. First, unopen the VM window past times clicking the X inward the upper right-hand corner.



In the ensuing dialog box, select Power off the machine.



To unmount the CD disk image, click the Machine Tools down-arrow, as well as select Details.



In the Storage section, correct click the Optical Drive too the IDE Secondary Master label, as well as select Remove disk from optical drive.



Now that the CD icon is unmounted, y'all tin click Start inward the upper left-hand corner to kick the VM.

Post-installation

VirtualBox offers additional functionalities via guest-specific improver packages. Guest additions packages enable the sharing of folders as well as the clipboard betwixt host as well as guest. Follow the physical care for below to install VirtualBox invitee additions for FreeBSD.

1. Login to FreeBSD every bit root.
2. Install the VirtualBox invitee improver packages.
   
   
# pkg install emulators/virtualbox-ose-additions

3. Append the next ii lines to the startup configuration file /etc/rc.conf.
   
   
vboxguestenable="YES"

vboxserviceenable="YES"


4. Add each X11 user (say peter) to the wheel group.
   
   
# pw groupmod bicycle -m peter


5. Reboot the VM to guide maintain the changes convey effect.

Summary & conclusion

VirtualBox is slow to install. With VirtualBox, creating a FreeBSD virtual automobile on a Linux host automobile is straightforward. If y'all are looking for a open-source multi-platform hypervisor, VirtualBox should live on high on your priority list.

Related posts

• Part ii - post-installation.
• Part 3 - on mounting USB drives.
• Part 4 - on sharing folders.

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