Permanently installing Linux onto vdi from iso

[OlyDLG]

First: sorry if this is covered elsewhere, but my search using "install OS onto vdi from iso" returned over 58K hits, and using "install Linux vdi iso" returned over 10K hits, so...

Second, my platform particulars: Host--Mac OS 10.11.6; VirtualBox--V5.0.30; Guest--Kubuntu Linux V16.10 64-bit, successfully booting up off of an iso image in my Downloads folder.

Note: I'm relatively inexperienced--though not a complete novice--with both VB and Linux (though I'm quite comfortable working at a Posix command prompt; for example, I used the Mac Terminal to determine that the permissions on my vdi file are -rw-------).

Now to my "issue": _if possible_, I'd like to "permanently" install the Linux operating system onto the guest, i.e., virtual, harddisk--I assume this means "into" the vdi file, yes?--so that, for example, Linux boots up off this virtual drive, just as it would if this were real hardware. (Yes, I know that booting up off a CD-ROM, equivalent to my present way of booting up off of an iso, is a perfectly valid and accepted way of running Linux, and if what I want to do is impossible or extremely difficult, then I guess I'll just keep doing that, but I'd like to emulate a "modern, stand-alone, workstation environment" as much as possible.)

Now, the kubuntu iso I have has an "Install Kubuntu onto your harddisk" applet; I've tried to run that, both with and without sudo, both from the command prompt and "from the icon." When I run it without sudo, it runs a "Wizard," asks me what language I want, lets me continue to the next screen, which asks me if I want the installer to automatically download and install updates and one other action I don't recall at the moment, but regardless of my selections, the Continue button never becomes un-greyed, i.e., leaves me with no way (that I can see) to advance to the next screen. If I run it with sudo, it accepts the command, i.e., gives me a fresh command prompt, but otherwise nothing at all happens--no error message, no Wizard, nada.

Before I found the furnished install applet, I did find online instructions for how to do what I want "manually," but before I resort to trying that, I thought I should first: a) make sure that what I'm trying to do is even possible; b) that I do(n't) need to first change the permissions on the vdi file (and if so, to what, and for how long, i.e., only long enough to the install and then change them back?); and c) check to see if maybe someone here knows (or can guess) what I'm doing wrong using the applet.

Thanks for your help!

OlyDLG

[socratis]

OlyDLG, you need a crash course on virtualization, that's what you need

Open VirtualBox and go in Help » Contents. That will take you to the nicely formatted User Manual (PDF). Read the following chapters: 1.1, 1.2, and 1.7. Especially the 1.7 one, read it carefully. It's going to take you less than an hour, if you're a slow reader.

After that you'll realize that you do not need to change permissions on the VDI, use 'sudo' or anything like that, which not only help you, but they're unnecessary and dangerous because you're doing them on your host. Don't.


Moving this to "Using VirtualBox" from "Linux Guests".

[OlyDLG]

I'll do as you say, but I don't think my problem is with VirtualBox, because I've used it with Windows OS as the guest--several times--and never had any problems installing the OS onto the vrtual drive--the only new variable is that I'm trying to install Linux.

[OlyDLG]

Thanks! So, I already did everything in 1.7--as I said in my post, I've been successfully running the Linux VM, booting off the ISO, for a few days now--I simply want to know how to install Linux from the ISO onto the virtual disk (assuming that's possible): none of the sections you referred me to have anything about that (I'm left wondering when was the last time YOU read those sections).

Is there anyone else--hopefully someone without the condescending attitude--who can advise me more politely and more substantively?

Thanks!

[OlyDLG]

Socratis: I just re-read your post and you clearly misunderstood me (language barrier?): I was NOT running sudo or su on the host (my Mac), I was running it on the guest (the Linux VM), hypothesizing that the Linux installer furnished on the ISO wasn't working being run normally because it needed to be run with elevated permissions; in any event, as I said, neither way (appeared to) work, i.e., accomplish the task of installing the Linux OS onto the virtual harddisk. Now that I've clarified--hopefully--what it is I've tried, perhaps you'll be able to provide more constructive, less condescending, advice?

[OlyDLG]

Socratis: I went back and re-read my original post and I think maybe I see the source of the confusion: I wasn't explicit as to whereon I ran the installation applet, because I WAS explicit that the applet was furnished "with" (in this case, implying "in" as well) the Linux ISO; seeing as how one can't even open a Linux ISO on a Mac (at least, not without specific software), it never dawned on me that anyone would have thought for even a moment that I would have been trying to run the Linux installer on the Mac! So no, Socratis, I was not trying to run the installer, elevated or otherwise, on the host Mac, I was trying to run it in the guest Linux platform, the only place it was even visible to me to try to run it. Next time, rather than assume someone is stupid, perhaps you should check to see whether you're interpreting the situation correctly.

[socratis]

Your statements from the original post:

Note: I'm relatively inexperienced

I used the Mac Terminal to determine that the permissions on my vdi file are -rw-------).

I've tried to run that, both with and without sudo, both from the command prompt and "from the icon."

along with the rest of your post, makes me think that you're not the most experienced user out there, and I was addressing to you as such. So I directed you to read the basics of virtualization, not how to perform the installation of KUbuntu. That's not what the VirtualBox manual is about. And because of the combination of 1) "I'm a novice", 2) "I opened Terminal" and 3) "I know how to use sudo", I thought "Oh dear, they are going to mess with their system". Like the old one "I know just enough to be dangerous". I was simply raising the caution flag.

So, I'm not quite sure where this came from:

Is there anyone else--hopefully someone without the condescending attitude--who can advise me more politely and more substantively?

More politely? Seriously? You need to start reconsidering perhaps your sensitivity levels on what's considered polite or not. I don't know where you're from and perceived it as such, but I see absolutely nothing impolite on my post. I wasn't trying to be condescending or impolite in any way, and I'm sorry you understood it as such. That's all on this, let's move on.


Now, to your problem. The installer icon is the proper way to install KUbuntu from within the VM. No 'sudo' or anything like that. Your real problem is the following:

the Continue button never becomes un-greyed, i.e., leaves me with no way (that I can see) to advance to the next screen.

That's most probably because you selected to "Check for updates" and there is a problem connecting to the Internet to do that. A quick way to bypass this, is to unselect the "Check for updates" option and let the installation of KUbuntu proceed. Later on, when the installation is complete, there will be more tools available to see why there is no network connectivity. For now, just make sure you haven't changed anything in the guest template, which should default to NAT. BTW, please send me the .VBOX file for the VM, by right-clicking on the VM in the VirtualBox Manager and selecting "Show in Finder". Attach it in your response (see the "Upload attachment" at the bottom of the form).

Mind you, that at this point it is not (yet) a VirtualBox problem, but an operating system installation problem. You'd still have the same obstacles even on a real, physical computer. There should be plenty of tutorials out there that could help you achieve the installation. We can help you up to a point to do this. I simply don't want you to blame it (unjustifiably maybe) on VirtualBox.

[ChipMcK]

Now, the kubuntu iso I have has an "Install Kubuntu onto your harddisk" applet; I've tried to run that,

say what?
Search install kubuntu from dvd for directions on doing so on a PC

[OlyDLG]

Thanks, ChipMcK. Search where: here, on the ISO, Google?

[BelJoost]

I'd like to "permanently" install the Linux operating system onto the guest, i.e., virtual, harddisk

This primarily seems a Linux (guest) install issue. My personal experience with virtualbox and Linux guests is that a "Dynamically Allocated" virtual disk does not grow automatically when needed. This works fine though with Windows guests.

Of course it could be anything Kubuntu and Virtualbox related so I tried google. One of the first hits pointed me to a howto video. Another suggested it could be a 3D Acceleration issue.

Have you tried a "fixed size" vdi of about 10GB?
Did you try with 3D disabled? Though the video seems to show it does not matter.

The video seems to successfully install Kubuntu as a virtualbox guest. If you did exactly the same it perhaps is a Mac issue.

[socratis]

My personal experience with virtualbox and Linux guests is that a "Dynamically Allocated" virtual disk does not grow automatically when needed. This works fine though with Windows guests.

I'd like to see an explanation about this statement and/or a couple of example cases where you saw the dynamic disk not grow when needed.

[BelJoost]

[likes to see an explanation on dynamic disk on Windows guest vs Linux guest]

Ah you mean it works perfectly fine. Well you are absolutely right.

The difference is that in a Windows guest all magic is done for you. In a Linux guest you need to do things manually, like booting a live Linux, using e.g. gparted to increase/move the desired partition and some additional things. As the OP seems not to be very experienced I left out the details and suggested to go with a fixed size disk. Nothing more to it.

[socratis]

In a Linux guest you need to do things manually

Ha! You call that manually? Reboot with a LiveCD and a GUI? If you really want manually, try to resize an HFS+ partition on an OSX guest! Let the fun begin!!!
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