Getting Started with VirtualBox and Ubuntu: A Step-by-Step Guide

Virtualisation means running one computer system inside another. In this setup, your main operating system, such as Windows, is the host, and the virtual machine running Ubuntu is the guest.

Software called a hypervisor makes this possible by assigning part of your computer’s hardware, such as memory, processor capacity, and storage, to the guest system. VirtualBox is one example of a hypervisor, and Oracle provides it as a downloadable desktop virtualisation tool for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Solaris hosts.

 

VirtualBox is a good choice for beginners because it is free to download and works on common desktop operating systems. Oracle’s download page provides host packages for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Solaris.

Ubuntu is a good first Linux distribution because it is widely supported and easier to learn than more specialised distributions. If your goal is cybersecurity, learning the basics of Linux first will make later tools and workflows easier to understand.

This setup gives you a safe place to practise. You can test commands, explore the file system, and make mistakes inside the virtual machine without changing your main Windows installation.

Make sure your computer meets these practical requirements before you start:

• At least 8 GB of RAM is recommended; 4 GB is a workable minimum for a light setup.

• At least 25 to 40 GB of free disk space

• Hardware virtualisation enabled in BIOS or UEFI, such as Intel VT-x or AMD-V

Go to the official VirtualBox downloads page and select the installer for your host operating system. If you are following this guide on a Windows computer, choose the Windows hosts package. Oracle’s page lists the current VirtualBox release and provides platform-specific downloads.

Verify your download

This step is recommended because it helps confirm that the file you downloaded is complete and has not been changed or corrupted. Ubuntu publishes SHA256 checksum files for Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, and Oracle advises users to verify VirtualBox downloads using checksums.

To verify your VirtualBox Download, go to the official website and check for the SHA256SUMS hash value. This is what you will use to confirm the integrity of your download. 

Option 2: Scannable & Structured (Best for a step-by-step guide)

Clicking the SHA256SUM link will open a list of multiple hashes. Don't let the long list confuse you! Because we downloaded the Windows version, we only need to look for the file named VirtualBox-7.2.12-174389-Win.exe.

As shown in the screenshot, the correct hash value for our download is: 5094f3d573fe2a511bfc7ae8982c2f6544ae9b5051048dc7a0e9985c74dcac4c 

Now, let’s try to confirm if our hash value matches the one on the VirtualBox official page. Follow the steps below:

• Open PowerShell or Command Prompt on your Windows. Navigate to your Downloads folder using the command “cd Downloads”.

• Input the command Get-FileHash .VirtualBox-7.2.12-174389-Win.exe -Algorithm SHA256 in the terminal.

• Manually compare both hashes to ensure the download hasn’t been tampered with.

Since the two hashes match, we can confirm the file's integrity! This tells us two important things: the installer is safe, and it wasn’t tampered with or modified during the download process. 

your download folder and double-click the download to run the installer. If Windows asks for permission through User Account Control, click Yes.

Work through the setup wizard. In this installation phase, you need to perform a few activities, including:

• Accept the licence terms.

• Choose the installation location, or keep the default option.

• Review any network interface warning shown during setup.

You are required to select one or more startup options depending on your choices. This helps to create a desktop shortcut for easy access. 

Click the Install button to install VirtualBox software.

Click Finish to complete the setup and launch your virtual machine right away. Congratulations, you have successfully installed VirtualBox! 

 

Next, download the Ubuntu Desktop ISO. Ubuntu 26.04 LTS is available from the official Ubuntu releases page. That page also includes checksum files to verify the integrity of the download.

Go to your browser, type ubuntu.com/download/desktop, and click on Download.

Verify your Ubuntu download.

To verify the Ubuntu download on your Windows, follow the steps below:

• Open PowerShell or Command Prompt on your Windows. Navigate to your Downloads folder using the command “cd Downloads”.

• Input the command Get-FileHash .ubuntu-26.04-desktop-amd64.iso -Algorithm SHA256 in the terminal.

• Manually compare both hashes to ensure the download hasn’t been tampered with. 

Both hash values match perfectly. This proves that your download is completely identical to the original file on the official server and wasn't altered or corrupted along the way. 

 

 

 

Search for your VirtualBox program and double-click to Launch. Once it’s launched, click New to create a new virtual machine.  

Once the new virtual machine window opens, you should uncheck “Proceed with Unattended Installation”. Then provide the following details:

• VM Name: You can choose any name for your machine. However, you should give it a name that corresponds to the machine you are installing. In this case, we are using Ubuntu. 

• VM Folder: You can leave this section as it is

• ISO Image: If you are using an ISO file, click this section to add the file. 

• OS Distribution: Choose the OS distribution you are installing. Since we are installing Ubuntu, we will select Ubuntu. But if you are installing another OS, you need to check the distribution category they fall into. 

• OS Version: In this section, choose the OS version you are installing.  We are selecting Ubuntu (64-bit)

During installation, you need to allocate resources for your virtual operating system. Below are the minimum requirements needed to get your machine running without hanging. 

• RAM: 4–8 GB

• CPU: 2 processors

• Create a Virtual Hard Disk Now. In the Disk size section, use the bar to allocate the required resources as follows:

  • RAM: 4–8 GB

  • CPU: 2 processors

  •  Hard Disk: 25–50 GB (VDI, Dynamically Allocated)

  If you wish to install the VM on an external hard drive, click the folder button to select the path to the external hard drive, then create a folder named VirtualBox VM. Once you are done with the hard disk allocation, click Finish. 

Launch VirtualBox and the virtual machine, and click the Green Arrow button to start the installation process. Ubuntu should boot from the ISO and launch the installer. Ensure your system is plugged in throughout the installation. 

Welcome & Language Selection

Choose your preferred language, then click Next. For this installation, I selected English.

Accessibility Screen 

Next, you will see the Accessibility configuration screen. This window allows you to customise display, audio, and keyboard settings (such as Zoom or Screen Readers) to suit your preferences. If you do not need any special adjustments right now, simply click Next to proceed. (Don't worry, you can always change these settings later in Ubuntu's main Settings menu). 

Network Connection (If applicable)

If prompted, connect to Wi-Fi or continue without connecting. Connecting during installation may allow Ubuntu to download updates as part of the setup process.

The step below is what you want to do with Ubuntu. If you don’t want to install, you can click “Try Ubuntu” to explore the features of the operating system without going through the stress of installation. But as a cybersecurity enthusiast, we recommend you go with the first option. This allows easy access to the environment anytime you want. 

Create Your User Account

Enter your details:

• Your name

• Your computer name (‘Code’ in our example)

• A username

• A strong password

Use a lowercase username without spaces. For better security, choose the option that requires your password to log in. Then click Next.

Select Your Time Zone

This is the time to select your location and timezone. It sets the correct time for your system. Click Next.

The Installation Process

Ubuntu will now copy files and complete the installation. This can take anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes, depending on your hardware and internet speed.

After installing the Ubuntu OS and configuring your preferences, the core installation phase is complete. Now you need to perform a restart. Click the “Restart” button to finalise the installation and get your virtual Ubuntu environment ready. 

Starting Your Machine: Your First Login

After the restart, log in using the username and password you created during setup.

What to do next

Once you are logged in, start with a few basic tasks:

• Open Terminal using the app menu or by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T.

• Update the system with sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y.

• Practice basic navigation commands such as pwd, ls, and cd.

• Explore the file system and get comfortable moving between folders.

• These first steps help you build confidence with Linux and prepare you for later cybersecurity labs and tools.

Conclusion:

The Cybersecurity learning curve can feel overwhelming even for seasoned professionals; this is why, here at CyLynk.com, we take pride in delivering exceptional learner experience and outcomes. We focus on helping learners gain job-ready skills that are essential for landing their first job either locally or remotely. We offer hands-on job-ready cybersecurity bootcamps, modules, hands-on labs , and Certifications. Subscribe or donate to get started on the journey to transform your career.