Débuter avec VirtualBox : créer sa première VM (mais pas que !)

Introduction

This tutorial guides you through the process of getting started with VirtualBox, a powerful tool for creating and managing virtual machines (VMs). You'll learn how to install VirtualBox, create your first VM, install an operating system within that VM, set up Guest Additions for improved performance, and share data between your VM and host machine.

Step 1: Install VirtualBox on Windows 11

1. Download VirtualBox

   • Go to the VirtualBox Downloads page.
   • Choose the Windows version and download the installer.

2. Run the Installer

   • Locate the downloaded installer and double-click to run it.
   • Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
   • Accept the default settings unless you have specific preferences.

3. Complete Installation

   • Once installation is complete, launch VirtualBox from the Start menu.

Step 2: Create Your First Virtual Machine

1. Open VirtualBox

   • Click on "New" in the toolbar to start creating a VM.

2. Configure Your VM

   • Enter a name for your VM.
   • Choose the type of operating system (e.g., Windows, Linux) and version.
   • Click "Next".

3. Allocate Memory

   • Select the amount of RAM to allocate to your VM. A minimum of 2GB is recommended for most modern OS installations.
   • Click "Next".

4. Create a Virtual Hard Disk

   • Choose "Create a virtual hard disk now" and click "Create".
   • Select the hard disk file type (VDI is a common choice).
   • Decide between dynamically allocated or fixed size storage. Dynamically allocated saves space but may perform slower.
   • Set the size of the virtual disk (20GB or more is typically sufficient).
   • Click "Create" to finalize your VM setup.

Step 3: Install the Operating System in the VM

1. Start the Virtual Machine

   • Select your VM and click "Start".

2. Select Installation Media

   • When prompted, choose the installation media (ISO file) for the operating system you want to install.
   • If you don’t have an ISO, you can download one from the official website of the OS.

3. Follow OS Installation Instructions

   • Follow the standard installation process for the OS you are installing.
   • Complete the setup by following on-screen prompts.

Step 4: Install Guest Additions

1. Access Guest Additions

   • With the VM running, click on "Devices" in the VM window menu.
   • Select "Insert Guest Additions CD image".

2. Run the Installer

   • In the VM, navigate to the CD drive and run the Guest Additions installer.
   • Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

3. Restart the VM

   • Restart your VM to ensure the changes take effect.

Step 5: Set Up Shared Folders

1. Open VM Settings

   • With your VM powered off, select it and click on "Settings".

2. Configure Shared Folders

   • Go to the "Shared Folders" tab.
   • Click the "+" icon to add a new shared folder.
   • Select the folder on your host machine that you want to share.

3. Set Options

   • Choose "Auto-mount" and "Make Permanent" options for easier access.
   • Click "OK" to save the settings.

4. Access Shared Folders in VM

   • Start your VM and navigate to the shared folder, typically found under "/media" or "mnt".

Conclusion

You've successfully installed VirtualBox, created your first virtual machine, installed an operating system, set up Guest Additions, and configured shared folders. This foundational knowledge allows you to explore and utilize virtual environments for testing, development, or learning new operating systems. For further learning, consider experimenting with different configurations and exploring additional features of VirtualBox.