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Get Ubuntu
Get the Ubuntu ISO image from ubuntu.com. The recommended version is 16.04.3 LTS (Long Term Support). You can use the server or desktop edition. I used the server edition.
Get VirtualBox and VirtualBox Guest Additions
Make sure you have the VirtualBox Guest Additions ISO for your version of VirtualBox. I'm using VirtualBox 5.1.28. Save the Guest Additions ISO on your host computer along with the Ubuntu ISO. Get the Guest Additions ISO from here:
http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox
NOTE: Guest Additions versions prior to 5.1 will not work with Ubuntu 16.04.3. If you have an earlier version of VirtualBox, you should upgrade to the latest 5.1 version.
Create a new VM in VirtualBox for Ubuntu
Type: Linux
Version: Ubuntu (64-bit)
At least 2048 MB memory
At least 40 GB VDI
Network: Attached to: NAT
Create a port-forwarding rule for SSH
Create a port-forwarding rule so that you can use PuTTY (or other SSH client) to connect to the VM.
Go to "Network" settings in VirtualBox, add a port forwarding rule:
Name: SSH
Protocol: TCP
Host IP: 127.0.0.1
Host Port: 1022
Guest IP: <leave blank>
Guest Port: 22
Create Shared Folder
This is for Windows users. If you're using a MAC or a Linux host, things may be quite different. The shared folder allows you to easily transfer files between the guest VM and the host computer.
Go to "Shared Folders" settings in VirtualBox, add a share:
Folder Path: C:\Users
Folder Name: Users
Auto-mount: <checked>
Read-only: <unchecked>
Install Ubuntu in the VM
On the "Storage" panel in VirtualBox, click on "[ optical drive ]" and then "Choose Disk Image". Select your Ubuntu ISO image.
After selecting the image, start the VM.
Follow the prompts to install Ubuntu.
Proxy Configuration (optional)
If you're behind a corporate firewall, configure some proxy settings. The examples here show a username and password in the proxy URL. You can omit them if your proxy server doesn't require them.
Ubuntu system proxy setting:
System Settings → Network → Network proxy
apt proxy setting:
Edit /etc/apt/apt.conf and add one line at the top:
Acquire::http::Proxy "http://username:password@proxyhost:port";
Reboot the VM.
Install SSH Server
sudo apt update
sudo apt install openssh-server
Connect to the VM from your host computer
The PuTTY SSH client is popular. A connection to localhost:1022 (or whatever port you have forwarded) will go to the VM.
Install VirtualBox Guest Additions
On the "Storage" panel in VirtualBox, click on "[ optical drive ]" and then "Choose Disk Image". Select your VirtualBox Guest Additions ISO image.
In a terminal window on the VM:
Get a root shell:
sudo bash
Mount the cdrom:
mkdir -p /media/cdrom
mount /dev/cdrom /media/cdrom
Install necessary dependencies:
apt update
apt install gcc g++ dkms linux-headers-generic
Install the guest additions:
cd /media/cdrom
./VBoxLinuxAdditions.run
Create Shared Folder
This is for Windows users. If you're using a MAC or a Linux host, things may be quite different. The shared folder allows you to easily transfer files between the guest VM and the host computer.
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