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VirtualBox VM Setup Guide

Add Oracle’s GPG key and repository:

bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y gnupg wget

Downloads Oracle's public key and adds it to your system. This key is a digital signature that lets your system verify that the VirtualBox software is authentic and hasn't been tampered with.`

bash
wget -O- https://www.virtualbox.org/download/oracle_vbox_2016.asc | sudo gpg --yes --output /usr/share/keyrings/oracle-virtualbox-2016.gpg --dearmor

Adding the official VirtualBox repository to your list of software sources, specifying noble for Ubuntu 24.04 version.

bash
echo "deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/oracle-virtualbox-2016.gpg] https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian noble contrib" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/virtualbox.list

Install VirtualBox:

bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt install virtualbox-7.1

Check installation: virtualbox

Download Lubuntu 16.04 ISO. Official archived ISO :
https://cdimage.ubuntu.com/lubuntu/releases/16.04/release/

IMPORTANT

If VMWare is installed then it has to be turned off from using KVM sudo rmmod kvm_intel or for amd sudo rmmod kvm_amd Then Unload the main KVM Module sudo rmmod kvm

Create a Virtual Machine in VirtualBox

Launch VirtualBox, Click "New" and configure :

Network Settings

Two main options depending on your use case.

a. NAT (Default – For Internet Access)

  • Go to Settings > Network

  • Adapter 1: Attached to NAT

  • This allows the VM to access the internet through your host system

b. Detached Mode (for GNS3 or Host-only networking)

  • Go to Settings > Network

  • Adapter 1: Attached to Bridged Adapter or Host-only Adapter

  • Bridged: VM will get IP from the same network as the host (works for GNS3)

  • Host-only: Useful for isolated lab setups without internet

c. Add a second adapter for dual-networking

  • Adapter 2: Enable and attach to Host-only Adapter or Internal Network as needed for GNS3 or Program Design

Post-Installation Linux Setup

After first login:

  • Install sudo
bash
su

apt-get install sudo

usermod -aG sudo vboxuser

exit
reboot
  • Update packages:
bash
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
  • Install openssh-server (for remote access):
bash
sudo apt install openssh-server
  • Check SSH service status:
bash
sudo systemctl status ssh

Should see active (running). If not, start and enable it:

bash
sudo systemctl enable ssh
sudo systemctl start ssh

Check listening port (default is 22):

bash
ss -tlnp | grep ssh

Optional: Adjust firewall to allow SSH (if UFW is enabled):

bash
sudo ufw allow ssh
sudo ufw enable

Test SSH Access from Another PC:

bash
ssh yourusername@<ip-of-vm>

ProFTPD Setup is covered in the next programs.

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