How To Run Ubuntu 11.10 aka Oneiric Ocelot Using VirtualBox [Guide]

Few days ago, the most famous Linux-based Operating System developer Ubuntu released their latest final version of OS 11.10 also know as Oneiric Ocelot for PC. This version came with a huge improvement even it’s mouth watering even for the hardcore Windows or Mac fan. Motivated by it’s great release, I wanted to install this latest version on my PC but before that I decided to give a quick look over this latest release using VirtualBox. For those who aren’t familiar with VirtualBox, VirtualBox is the most reputable options for emulation of operating systems in virtual machines. With it you can run one system inside another, like Ubuntu (or any other Linux distribution) on a Windows PC or Mac, and vice versa. Now I am going to show you exactly how I ran Ubuntu 11.10 AVD so that you can try out this before installing. Follow for the full tutorial.

Resources:

1. Latest version of VirtualBox
2. Ubuntu 11.10 ISO file

First of all, download the latest version of VirtualBox and install it on your current machine. After installation, run the software. From the home window, click on New to create new Virtual Machine.

Now from the new window, click Next and then on the VM Name and OS Type window, type Ubuntu on the field and select Linux from Operating System then Ubuntu from the Version option and then click Next.

From the next window, dedicate some RAM for the Ubuntu AVD. Assign at least 512 MB of RAM. If you want to make your user experience much swifter, assign as much RAM as you can. But make sure to leave some of it for your Host OS. Then click Next.

From the next window, check on Boot Hard Disk and select Create New Hard Disc and then click Next.

Now the Create New Virtual Disc Wizard will open. Click Next to continue. From the Storage Type option, select Dynamically expanding storage and then click next. This means the AVD will use your hard disc space only when needed. If you choose Fixed-Size Storage then you have to dedicate a amount of space of hard disc no matter you use this AVD or not.

From the next window, browse for the place where you want save the created virtual disc under Location and from the Size select how much space you are going use for this virtual machine. It is recommended to use minimum 8 GB.

After then you will be show the summary menu. Click on Finish to create virtual machine for Ubuntu.

Now select newly created machine and then click on Settings. Now move to the System tab from the left panel and make sure that CD/DVD have the most priority on Boot Order.

Now move to the Display tab then increase the Video Memory to 128 MB and then enable the Enable 3D Acceleration.

Then move to Storage window. From here first delete the Empty disc under IDE Controller and then add the the downloaded Ubuntu 11.10 ISO file by click on the add disc icon right next to IDE Controller.

To enable networking and Internet on the Guest Ubuntu OS, go to Network tab and enable Network Adapter. After then click on OK. Now you are ready to go.

Run the Ubuntu AVD by clicking on Start and then install Ubuntu OS. It’s pretty easy and usual and so I am not going show it here. But if you feel it difficult then wait for my tomorrow’s tutorial where I am going to show you how to dual boot Ubuntu.

Now check out some screenshot of installation.

Troubleshooting: 60.620821] piix4_smbus 0000:00:07.0: SMBus base address uninitialized - upgrade BIOS or use force_addr=0xaddr shows while installing Ubuntu.

Solution: This may just a false warning and doesn’t hamper the installation. Wait for some moments and the screen will disappear.

Hope you can now be able to try out Ubuntu 11.10 on VirtualBox successfully. Comment here if you encounter any problem.

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