Download and Install Ubuntu 18.04 Desktop In VirtualBox on MacOS
Introduction
In this blog I will be showing you how to download and install the most popular Linux distro Ubuntu version 18.04 in VirtualBox in Mac OS.
The instructions are very similar for running it in VirtualBox for Windows and Linux hosts so this blog should suffice for everyone.
Ubuntu is a distribution of Linux maintained by the company Canonical. It is entirely free. If you are someone who has always wanted to try Ubuntu but didn't want to format their hard drive to install it directly to their computer this guide will help you to try the OS without making any major changes to your computer.
In a previous blog post I detailed how to install VirtualBox in Mac OS. If you haven't installed VirtualBox yet please follow this article before continuing with this guide:
https://eyeteahero.blogspot.com/2019/04/installing-virtual-box-in-mac-os.html
Download Ubuntu Desktop
Save the .iso file to your computer
Installing VirtualBox
Open VirtualBox and click New
Type the name of the VM, set the Machine folder and keep the type and version default as shown below
The default RAM size should be suffice but this can be changed later after installation if necessary. Click Continue
Leave VDI as the default unless you have a good reason not to do so and click Continue
Confirm the directory and name of the Virtual Hard Disk File you will be using and it's size and click Create. 10 GB should be suffice for now, this can be changed at a later time
Now click Start to start your new VM
Select the search button
Locate and select the .iso file you downloaded in step 1 and click Open
Click Start
Installation Wizard
Once the .iso boots up it will ask you to confirm your language, then click Install Ubuntu
Select your keyboard layout and click Continue
In this blog we will be doing a normal installation with default settings but feel free to select whichever settings you wish on this page and click Continue
Click Erase disk and install Ubuntu then click Install Now
Note: Encrypt the new Ubuntu installation for security is a great option that will allow you to encrypt your whole disk with a key that must be entered upon boot. Feel free to choose that option as well and specify the key on the next page.
Click Continue
Wait for the installation to complete then Restart to finish the installation
That's the end of this blog. In the next blog I will be showing you how to install VirtualBox Guest Additions which will greatly improve the performance and experience of using this Ubuntu VM.
