How to setup headless Sun xVM VirtualBox on Ubuntu server

The steps are not too difficult but I did have to find a few places for information. Search on the forum turn up nothing on this subject so hopefully this HOWTO would be helpful to someone out there.

Note: This is not using the OSE version.

Background:
VirtualBox has a very good GUI running on the host to manage guest OS. However when running a server, we typically do not want to run X on it. Fortunately VirtualBox has commandline tools to manage guest systems. It also provides the VirtualBox Remote Desktop Protocol (VRDP) to allow connection to the guest remotely.

Clarification of terms used:
Host – refers to the machine we are trying to install VirtualBox.
Guest – the VirtualBox guest system that is setup on the host.
Remote – the PC that we are working on to connect to the host via SSH.

This setup was done on a fresh install of Ubuntu Server 8.04 with openssh-server installed.

All the following steps are done by SSH into the host from a remote (I’m using Windows for now).

1. Get required packages
Download the Ubuntu package for VirtualBox from http://www.sun.com/software/products/virtualbox/get.jsp

wget “download link here” -O virtualbox_1.6.2-31466_Ubuntu_hardy_i386.deb

We are using the non-OSE version here.

The manual from http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads is also very useful.

2. Installation

sudo dpkg -i virtualbox_1.6.2-31466_Ubuntu_hardy_i386.deb

This will generate a bunch of dependencies. Fix them with

sudo apt-get -f upgrade

3. Decide on user, disk files location

First decide which user you want to run VirtualBox. Add this user to the vboxusers group.

sudo usermod -a -G vboxusers vboxuser

By default VirtualBox creates the directory .VirtualBox on the user home directory and put all the config and disk file there. In my setup, I put the disk files in /var/vbox as I had created a large partition for this purpose.

4. Install a guest OS

You will need an iso for the guest OS install CD. Copy or download it to the host. For example we will just use ubuntu-8.04-server-i386.iso

-create a vm

VBoxManage createvm -name ubuntu -register

-config vm

VBoxManage modifyvm ubuntu -memory “256MB” -acpi on -boot1 dvd -nic1 nat

-create a disk

VBoxManage createvdi -filename “/var/vbox/ubuntu.vdi” -size 5000 -register

-add disk to vm

VBoxManage modifyvm ubuntu -hda “/var/vbox/ubuntu.vdi”

-register an install iso

VBoxManage registerimage dvd /var/vbox/ubuntu-8.04-server-i38.iso

-mount iso on vm

VBoxManage modifyvm ubuntu -dvd /var/vbox/ubuntu-8.04-server-i38.iso

-start the vm with port

VBoxHeadless -startvm ubuntu -p 3389 &

If you are running just 1 guest, the -p 3389 is optional. For more than 1 guest, it has to listen to different port.

5. Connect from remote

Since my desktop is still Windows, I use Remote Desktop Connection. (On XP, Start>All Programs>Accessories>Communications)

For Mac, use http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/remote-desktop/
For Ubuntu, look at http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=824710

Just fill in the IP of your host (or IP:port if not the default) and you should see the Ubuntu installation waiting for you.

Other useful commands:

VBoxManage controlvm ubuntu poweroff
VBoxManage controlvm ubuntu reset

Getting Ubuntu Server to run in VirtualBox

After installation and restarting, you may find that the boot up hang with this error

This kernel requires the following features not present on the CPU: 0:6

To fix this, do the following:

1. Reset the guest
2. Hit F12 to choose to boot from the CD. (It goes by pretty quickly, reset again if you miss it.)
3. Select Rescue a broken system
4. After going through the install screens you will get a command prompt. Select to run it on the root system.
5. Install the virtual linux-virtual kernel

apt-get install linux-virtual

6. Reboot and this should fix the restart.

Upgrading kernel
If the kernel on the host is upgraded, the VirtualBox kernel module need to be re-compiled. Do the following steps:

1. apt-get install make gcc linux-headers-2.6.24-19-server (other kernel header, check uname -a)
2. /etc/init.d/vboxdrv setup

It should recompile the VirtualBox module and everything should be working again.

[ Source: kcnnc from Ubuntu Forum ]

Google Chrome (BETA) for Windows

Google Chrome is a browser that combines a minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the web faster, safer, and easier.

Google Chrome

One box for everything
Type in the address bar and get suggestions for both search and web pages.

Thumbnails of your top sites
Access your favorite pages instantly with lightning speed from any new tab.

Shortcuts for your apps
Get desktop shortcuts to launch your favorite web applications.

[ Source: Google Chrome ]

Firefox 3 launch a success: 8 million downloads in 24 hours

Mozilla’s Firefox 3 release event yesterday was an epic success. The servers logged over 8 million downloads during the 24-hour download day, and Mozilla has declared victory after exceeding its initial goal of 5 million downloads.

The rapid pace at which the downloads are occurring makes it difficult to compute an exact total. The counter appears to be lagging behind the actual count, and Mozilla’s statisticians say that the number could be as high as 3 million just four hours after Firefox’s official launch. Users can follow along at home by watching the counter at the official site.

Firefox 3 downloads have already exceeded the total number of downloads that took place in the first 24 hours after the Firefox 2 release. This is a significant milestone for Mozilla, which hopes that Firefox 3 will set the world record for the most software downloaded in a 24-hour period.

The display shows a breakdown by country, which indicates that the highest number of downloads is coming from the United States, followed by Germany and Spain. The US alone has reached over half a million downloads.

[ Spread Firefox | Download Day 2008 ]

Coming Tuesday, June 17th: Firefox 3

Whenever we’re asked “when is Firefox going to be released” we endeavor to answer to the best of our abilities, but the truth of the matter is that we’ll only ever ship “when it’s ready”. We have a lot of indicators that help us understand when the product is ready for release: feedback from our pre-release milestones, excitement in the community and the press, availability of compatible Add-Ons, and a large active beta community helping us ensure that the release is compatible with all the various sites on the Internet.

After more than 34 months of active development, and with the contributions of thousands, we’re proud to announce that we’re ready. It is our expectation to ship Firefox 3 this upcoming Tuesday, June 17th. Put on your party hats and get ready to download Firefox 3 — the best web browser, period.

[ Source: Mozilla Developer News ]

Firefox community to set Guinness World Record

The Firefox community is always up to some cool, collaborative way to declare their passion for Firefox. What better way to do this than band together to set a Guinness World Record for the most software downloaded in 24 hours?!

With your help the Firefox community can go down in history! If you have any questions or ideas please drop us a line at worldrecord @ mozilla.com.

[ Source: The Mozilla Blog | Download Day Headquarters ]

Using OpenSSH keys with SSH.com Server

You can determine which versions of the ssh protocol an ssh server supports by examining the service banner. The service banner includes both the remote protocol version and the remote software version.

Example:
telnet ssh_server 22

SSH-1.5-remote_software_version (supports ssh protocol 1 only)
SSH-1.99-remote_software_version (supports ssh protocols 1 and 2)
SSH-2.0-remote_software_version (supports ssh protocol 2 only)

ssh protocol 2:

1. Create a DSA or RSA key named foo. As of version 3.0 of the ssh.com server includes support for RSA keys.
$ cd ~/.ssh
$ ssh-keygen -t dsa -f foo

2. Convert the DSA or RSA key into “SECSH Public Key File Format,” the format used on an ssh.com server.
$ ssh-keygen -e -f foo > foo.pub

3. Copy the foo.pub file to the ssh.com server.
$ scp foo.pub user@ssh.com_host:.ssh2

If the remote server only allows ssh protocol 2, you may receive the following errors:

scp: warning: Executing scp1 compatibility.
scp: FATAL: Executing ssh1 in compatibility mode failed (Check that scp1 is in your PATH).
lost connection

Use sftp instead to transfer the key:

$ sftp user@ssh.com_host
put foo.pub .ssh2

4. Add the appropriate ~/.ssh2/authorization file entry in the ssh.com server.
$ ssh user@ssh.com_host ‘echo “key foo.pub” >> .ssh2/authorization’

5. Login to the ssh.com server using the foo identity.
$ ssh -o IdentityFile2=~/.ssh/foo user@ssh.com_host

ssh protocol 1:

1. Create an RSA1 key.
$ cd ~/.ssh
$ ssh-keygen -t rsa1

2. Append the ~/.ssh/identity.pub file to the ~/.ssh/authorized_keys file on the ssh.com server.
$ cat ~/.ssh/identity.pub | ssh remote_server “cat – >> ~/.ssh/authorized_keys”

Note: Any ssh.com server only allowing ssh protocol 1 should be upgraded, as usage of ssh protocol 1 itself is not recommended.

Keep Windows Up to Date Quickly with Appupdater

Command line application Appupdater is similar to the Linux apt-get package management. It enables you to install and update many common programs.

Download and Install Appupdater and execute one of the following:

appupdater –update
appupdater –upgrade

To install a specific application:

appupdater –install=packagename

To list available packages:

appupdater –available

To list installed packages:

appupdater –list

[Source: Hackosis ]

Gmail welcomes your AIM friends.

Now you can talk to your AIM® friends using an integrated chat list right inside Gmail.

Gmail chat now offers the option to sign in to your AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) account to chat with your AIM buddies from Gmail. Your AIM buddies will populate your Contacts list, and are searchable just like your Google Talk contacts.

Chatting with your AIM buddies is easy — just click on a name in your chat list, and start typing.

Note that an AIM account is required to use this feature. AIM in Gmail is not a Google Talk and AIM federation; it’s the ability to sign in to your AIM messaging account from Gmail. Gmail uses Open AIM to provide this feature.

[ Source: About AIM in Gmail ]

Windows Live Messenger 9 Beta

The next upgrade of Windows Live Messenger has been leaked from a “private” beta for 5,000 users (surprising?) and is available for downloading—at least until Microsoft decides too many people are hitting their servers. The beta of Live Messenger 9 shows off some decently cool features, including the ability to log on from multiple locations without annoying warning messages, setting up “signature sounds” that broadcast to those you’re chatting, spam reporting, and a generally less-cluttered interface. The full version isn’t due out until late 2008 or early 2009, so more additions are sure to come. Windows Live Messenger 9 beta is a free download (while it lasts) and works on Windows XP and Vista.

[ Windows Live Messenger 9 ] [ Source: Lifehacker ]

Download Free Camtasia Studio with Serial Key!

What’s almost as good as stuffing your belly with a healthy Thanksgiving dinner? Free downloads! And Techsmith is offering a deal that will make your screencasting wishes come true.

The company is offering its popular Camtasia Studio software up as a free download. The screencasting software currently sells for $300. But there is one small catch. The most recent version of Camtasia Studio is Camtasia 5, while the version available for free download is Camtasia 3. That means a few of the newer features will not be available. Nonetheless, it’s free and upgradable to version 5 for half price if you choose.

To get started, grab your copy here, and request a registration key from Techsmith. Sorry, this is only available for PC users.

[ Source: Download Squad ]