VirtualBox How To
From Grid-Appliance Wiki
Contents |
Introduction, versions
Sun Microsystems' VirtualBox is an Intel x86 virtualization system for Windows, Mac OS X, Solaris, and Linux. Sun also provides VirtualBox-OSE (Open Source Edition) with some feature set differences from the proprietary edition. VirtualBox-OSE is integrated into some Linux distributions. Both VirtualBox and VirtualBox-OSE are appropriate for running the Grid Appliance.
The most recent version of VirtualBox is 3.0.6. Versions after 2.2 are suitable for running the Grid Appliance. Versions prior to 2.2 will work but require additional work to establish the host-only network connection not documented here.
VirtualBox can read VMWare disk images but cannot import VMWare appliances directly. Some configuration is necessary to install the Grid Appliance.
Host configuration
Windows
There is no information yet on host configuration for Windows.
Mac OSX
There is no information yet on host configuration for Mac OSX.
Solaris
There is no information yet on host configuration for Solaris.
Linux
The following kernel modules are part of the VirtualBox software and should be loaded prior to running VirtualBox.
vboxdrv vboxnetadp vboxnetflt
In many Linux distributions this task can be performed automatically at boot by adding those module names to the /etc/modules file.
Loading disk images
In this step the Grid Appliance disk images are loaded into VirtualBox.
Disk images in VirtualBox are managed from a central utility, the virtual media manager. Existing hard, optical, or floppy disk images can be loaded from VMWare VMDK files. VMDK files include a UUID that must be unique amongst all disks in VirtualBox's virtual media manager. This means that only one Grid Appliance can be installed at a given time without modifying each disk's UUID (which can be performed with VMWare software).
Step 1. Download and uncompress the Grid Appliance software from Grid-Appliance.org. Move the directory containing the software to a location where you wish to keep it. If it is moved at a later time the virtual machine will need to be reconfigured.
Step 2 Within VirtualBox, expand the File menu and then click the Virtual media manager... entry. 
Step 3 Select the Hard Disks tab and click the Add button. 
Step 4 Navigate to the uncompressed Grid Appliance files and select "ga.vmdk". Click the Open button. 
Step 5 Repeat steps 3 and 4 for "home.vmdk" and "opt.vmdk". 
Step 6 Select the Floppy Images tab and click the Add button.
Step 7 Navigate to the uncompressed Grid Appliance files and select "fdb.img". If you are installing a Group Appliance you should instead select the floppy drive image applicable to that Group Appliance as downloaded from the appropriate project page. Click the Open button. 
Step 8 Click the OK button.
Virtual machine creation
In this step a new virtual machine is created and configured to use the Grid Appliance disk images.
Machine creation
Step 1 Within VirtualBox, expand the Machine menu and then click the New... entry. Click the Next button. 
Step 2 Enter a name into the Name textbox. For example, "Archer Group Appliance".
Step 3 Select "Linux" from the Operating System dropdown menu. Select "Linux 2.6" from the Version dropdown menu. Click the Next button. 
Step 4 Select a base memory size from the slider. The default recommended base memory size may be sufficient. This value can be reconfigured later if necessary. Click the Next button. 
Step 5 Ensure that the Boot Hard Disk (Primary Master) checkbox is checked. Select the Use existing hard disk radio button. Select "ga.vmdk" from the dropdown menu. Click the Next button. 
Step 6 Click the Finish button.
Attaching the floppy disk image
Step 1 Select the newly created machine in the main window. Expand the Machine menu and click the Settings... entry. 
Step 2 Select the Floppy entry. Check the Mount Floppy Drive checkbox. Select the Image File radio button. Select "fdb.img" (or the appropriate image, if you are installing a Group Appliance) from the dropdown menu. 
Step 3 Set boot order. Uncheck floppy and/or set hard disk to be the first option in the boot order menu under the System. 
Configuring the network
Step 1 Select the Network entry. Select the Adapter 1 tab. Ensure that the Enable Network Adapter checkbox is checked. Ensure that "NAT" is selected in the Attached to dropdown menu. 
Step 2 Select the Adapter 2 tab. Check the Enable Network Adapter checkbox. Select "Host-only Adapter" from the Attached to dropdown menu. The Name dropdown menu should be automatically filled (for example, on a Linux host the Name dropdown menu will automatically select vboxnet0. 
Step 3 Configuration is complete; click the OK button.
Running the Grid Appliance
Step 1 In the main window of VirtualBox, select the machine name.
Step 2 Click the Start button. 
Platform-specific notes
Windows
There are no notes yet for Windows.
Mac OSX
There are no notes yet for Mac OSX.
Solaris
There are no notes yet for Solaris.
Linux
There are no notes yet for Linux.
