Learn how to install Windows Server 2022 on virtualbox 6.1 or newer in a few simple easy steps.
Introduction
Prerequisites
Before we begin the installation process, make sure you have the following prerequisites in place:
1) A working computer or laptop with VirtualBox 6.1 or newer installed.
2) Windows Server 2022 ISO file downloaded from the official Microsoft website.
3) Sufficient storage space on your computer or laptop.
4) Adequate RAM to run VirtualBox and Windows Server 2022 smoothly.
Overview
The following is an overview of the steps covered in this tutorial:
1) Launch virtualbox and create a new virtual machine
2) Configure the virtual machine settings
3) Start the virtual machine and install Windows Server 2022
4) Create a virtualbox shared folder
5) Conclusion.
Step 1: Lauch virtualbox and create a new virtual machine
Open VirtualBox by double-clicking on the application icon. Click on the “New” button in the top left corner to create a new virtual machine. In the “Name” field, enter a suitable name for your virtual machine (e.g., “Windows Server 2022”). Select “Microsoft Windows” as the “Type” and choose “Windows Server 2022 (64-bit)” as the “Version”.
Allocate an appropriate amount of memory for your virtual machine. We recommend a minimum of 4GB for smooth performance. In the “Hard disk” section, select “Create a virtual hard disk now” and click “Create”. Choose “VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image)” as the hard disk file type and click “Next”. Select “Dynamically allocated” for the storage on physical hard disk and set the desired size. Click “Create” to finish creating the virtual machine.
Pro Tip: Choosing the right amount of memory
Step 2: Configure the virtual machine settings
With the newly created virtual machine selected, click on the “Settings” button. In the “System” tab, go to the “Processor” tab and allocate the desired number of processors. One or two processors should be sufficient for most scenarios. Under the “Display” tab, allocate an appropriate amount of video memory to ensure smooth graphics performance.
Navigate to the “Storage” tab and select the empty disk under the “Controller: IDE” section. Click on the disk icon with a plus sign to add the Windows Server 2022 ISO file you downloaded earlier. Once the ISO file is added, click “OK” to save the changes.
Step 3: Install Windows Server 2022
Start the virtual machine by clicking on the “Start” button in VirtualBox. The virtual machine will boot up, and you will be prompted to select the language, time, and currency format, and keyboard layout. Choose your preferred options and click “Next”. Click on the “Install now” button to begin the installation process.
Accept the license terms and click “Next”. Select the type of installation you prefer. If you are unsure, choose the recommended option and click “Next”. On the next screen, select the disk where you want to install Windows Server 2022 and click “Next”. The installation process will begin, and the virtual machine will restart several times during this process. Be patient and wait for the installation to complete. Once the installation is finished, set up your user account and password, and complete the remaining setup steps.
Step 4: Create a virtualbox shared folder
A shared folder allows you to easily transfer files between your host computer and the guest virtual machine running Windows Server 2022. Here’s how to set it up:
On the VirtualBox host:
1. Open VirtualBox and select your Windows Server 2022 virtual machine.
2. Click on “Settings” in the top menu bar.
3. Navigate to the “Shared Folders” tab.
4. Click the “Add new shared folder” button (plus sign icon).
5. In the “Folder Path” field, browse and select the folder on your host computer that you want to share with the virtual machine.
6. In the “Folder Name” field, enter a name that will be used to access the shared folder within the virtual machine (e.g., “SharedFolder”).
7. Optionally, you can check the “Make permanent” box to make the shared folder persistent across different sessions of the virtual machine.
8. Click “OK” to save the changes.
On the Windows Server 2022 guest virtual machine:
1. Open File Explorer and navigate to “This PC”.
2. Click on “Network” in the left sidebar.
3. You should see a shared folder named “VBoxSVC” or similar. This is the root directory for all VirtualBox shared folders.
4. Open the folder named after the shared folder you created on the host machine (e.g., “SharedFolder”).
You can now access the files and folders within the shared folder from both your host computer and the Windows Server 2022 virtual machine.