Downloadable Virtual Box

Summer / Fall 2021 Edition

Last update: July 3, 2021

I have created a Virtual Box that you can download and use in several CSIS classes.

The virtual machine runs Ubuntu 20.04, a Linux-based system. The box has the following software installed:

• gcc 9
• g++ 9
• python 3
• OpenJDK Java 8
• git
• a full TeX distribution
• LyX (a TeX-based document processor)
• MySQL client
• atom (a text editor)
• gitkraken (a GUI git client)

The box has the following IDEs:

• C++ IDEs
  • CLion 2020.1.1
  • Code::Blocks 20.03
• Java IDEs
  • IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate 2020.1.1
• MySQL IDEs
  • DataGrip 2020.1.4

Installation Steps

Step 1 – The Virtual Box Manager

Video for this step is here.

You must install both Oracle Virtual Box AND the Extension Pack.

1. Go to the download page at virtualbox.org.
   
2. Click on the link for your system (called the host system), Windows or OS X.
   
3. Once downloaded, install the manager software.
   You may be asked if you wish to delete the installation software. You can if you wish.
   
4. Click on the link to download the Extension Pack. Note there is only one link, it does not depend on which host system you have.
   
5. Once downloaded, install it.

Important note regarding virtual machines

You must also have virtualization enabled in your system CMOS settings. The process for this is different on every system; consult your user’s manual and online sources to see how this is done on your machine.

Step 2 – The Virtual Machine Folder

Video for this step is here.

Do the following:

1. Download the CSIS Virtual Box folder
   Note: This is a .zip file, you must extract the folder from it or the virtual machine will not work.
   
2. Download the CSIS Virtual Box ISO image
   
3. Extract the CSIS Virtual Box folder from the .zip file. You can place it anywhere (Documents or Desktop are good places).
   
4. Open the CSIS Virtual Box folder.
   
5. Double-click the file with the blue box icon. This will launch VirtualBox and add the virtual machine to the manager’s list.
   
6. Click on File -> Virtual Media Manager.
   
7. Click on the Optical Disks tab.
   
8. Click Add.
   
9. Navigate to the location where the ISO image was downloaded and double-click the file ubuntu-autoinstall.iso.
   
10. Close the Media Manager window.

Step 3 – Installing the Software

Video for this step is here.

1. Make sure CSIS Virtual Box is highlighted (in blue) in the manager’s list.
   
2. Click Start.
   
3. When prompted for a start-up disk, click on the folder icon on the right edge of the window.
   
4. In the Optical Disk Selector window, double-click ubuntu-autoinstall.iso.
   
5. Click Start.
   
6. The system will be installed. This will take time, possibly an hour or longer, depending on your internet speed.
   • The window will scroll status messages as the system is installed. This is normal.
   • When the installation finishes, the virtual machine (not your computer) will restart.
     
7. After the VM restarts, it will be in a GUI mode with the user “csis” displaying. Click on the user and enter the password when prompted.
   • The password is csis@2021

Step 4 – First-Time User Setup

Video for this step is here.

After entering the password, the window will black out momentarily as the GUI environment loads. Once it loads, it starts a one-time setup wizard.

1. Click Next to skip the Livepatch feature; it’s not necessary and it requires you to set up an account with Canonical (the creator of the Ubuntu Linux distribution).
   
2. You can send telemetry data if you wish, or you can click No and then Next to skip this step.
   
3. You can turn on Location Services if you wish, or click Next to skip this step.
   
4. Click Done to skip installing additional software from Canonical’s software center.
   
5. Wait for the Software Updater window to appear.
   
6. Click on Install Now.
   
7. Enter the password csis@2021 when prompted, then press Enter.
   
8. Click on the software updater icon on the sidebar (it looks like an A inside a circle) to see the update progress.
   
9. Wait for the process to complete. Click OK when it is finished.
   
10. Click on the 9-box icon in the lower-left corner of the VM window.
    
11. Click “byobu terminal” (should be the icon in the top-right corner of the list).
    
12. At the command prompt, enter the command csis-setup.sh
    You should see several icons added to the sidebar. If you scroll through them, the last one should say “DG”.
    
13. Close the terminal window.
    
14. In the VM menu, choose Devices -> Insert Guest Additions CD Image.
    
15. When prompted, click Run.
    
16. When prompted, enter the password (always csis@2021).
    
17. When prompted, press Enter to close the terminal window.
    
18. Shut the system down, or reboot the system. Click on the power icon in the top right corner, then click on Power Off / Log Out, then click on Power Off and finally click on Power Off or Restart.
    
    Now, when the VM starts, you can change the window size and the VM screen will adjust to match.

Software Updater Notes

• The updater is Ubuntu’s equivalent to Windows Update or MacOS Update. It pops up periodically with the offer to update your system software. It is typically faster than either Windows or MacOS.
• You do not have to update immediately, but you shouldn’t delay it for too long.
• You can do other work while the updater is running.
• Sometimes it will ask to reboot the system when it finishes. You can do that immediately or defer the reboot until a more convenient time.

Ready

The system is now ready to use.

You are encouraged to experiment with the virtual machine. It can’t break anything on the actual machine.

You are strongly encouraged to use the VM for course work. UNIX is a far superior environment for developing software than Windows (yes, my opinion, backed up by a lot of experience).