VirtualBox is a powerful open-source virtualization tool that allows you to run multiple operating systems on a single machine. Whether you want to test a new OS, run legacy software, or create isolated environments for development, VirtualBox makes it easy. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of installing VirtualBox on Ubuntu.

Step 1: Update the Package Repository

Open Terminal

Press Ctrl + Alt + T to open the terminal.

Update Package List

Before installing any software, update your package list to ensure you have the latest information:

sudo apt update

Step 2: Install Required Dependencies

Install Required Packages

To install VirtualBox, you may need to install some dependencies first:

sudo apt install wget curl

Step 3: Download and Install VirtualBox

Download the Oracle VirtualBox Repository Key

Add the Oracle public key to your system to verify the packages:

wget -q https://www.virtualbox.org/download/oracle_vbox_2016.asc -O- | sudo apt-key add -

Add the VirtualBox Repository

Next, add the VirtualBox repository to your system:

echo "deb [arch=amd64] https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian $(lsb_release -cs) contrib" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/virtualbox.list

Update Package List Again

After adding the repository, update your package list again:

sudo apt update

Install VirtualBox

Now, you can install VirtualBox. For the latest version, run:

sudo apt install virtualbox-6.1

(Replace 6.1 with the latest version number if necessary.)

Step 4: Verify Installation

Check Installation

You can verify that VirtualBox was installed successfully by running:

virtualbox --help

This command should display help information about using VirtualBox.

Step 5: Install Extension Pack (Optional)

Download Extension Pack

If you want additional features such as USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 support, download the extension pack from the VirtualBox website.

Install Extension Pack

After downloading, you can install it via the GUI or the command line. To install via the command line, run:

VBoxManage extpack install <path_to_extension_pack>

Replace <path_to_extension_pack> with the actual path of the downloaded extension pack.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you will have successfully installed VirtualBox on your Ubuntu system. You can now create and manage virtual machines for various operating systems! For further configuration and usage instructions, refer to the official VirtualBox documentation.

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