learn how to install zorin os version 15.1 or newer on oracle vm virtualbox 6. You will also learn how to install guest additions and how to create a shared folder.
Zorin OS is a linux based operating system developed by the Zorin Group in ireland. One of its well know features is that users can change the appearance of the graphic user interface (GUI) to make it resemble the Windows , MacOS or Linux user interface. There are 3 versions of Zorin OS that you can choose from and these are: ULTIMATE – (paid version which costs $ 39 USD) , CORE , LITE and EDUCATION. You can download the CORE, LITE and EDUCATION versions for free from the Zorin OS download page and install on any compatible physical or virtual platform. The aim of this tutorial to to show you how to install Zorin OS version 15.1 Core on Oracle VM VirtualBox 6.1. You will also learn how to install Zorin OS virtualbox guest additions to enable full screen display and also shared folders. A video tutorial is also available for free on Youtube. Click on the VIEW YOUTUBE TUTORIAL button below to watch now.
REQUIREMENTS
In order to complete this tutorial successfully the following items are required. Please ensure to have these items available before taking implimentation action on this tutorial:
1) The Zorin 0S version 15.1 disk image file (ISO). You can use a Zorin disk image file for any newer version.
2) A desktop or laptop with atleast 4GB RAM and 50GB of free disk space running Windows 10, MacOS or Linux
3) Oracle VM VirtualBox 6.1 or any newer version.
4) An internet connection to install Zorin OS updates.
OVERVIEW
1) Learn about the minimum hardware requirements to run Zorin OS on a virtual machine.
2) Check and enable virtualization technology in your computer’s BIOS
3) Go to the Zorin download page and down the Zorin OS 15 disk image file (ISO file).
4) Create the Zorin OS virtual machine in virtualbox
5) Check For Zorin OS Updates, Install VirtualBox Guest Additions And Setup A Shared Folder.
Zorin OS 15.1 System Requirements.
The following are the minimum system / hardware requirements that are needed to install Zorin 0S 15.1 (Ultimate, Education, and Core) on a virtual machine:
1) A desktop or laptop with virtualization technology supported and enabled in the system BIOS.
2) A computer display with a screen resolution of 800 x 600
3) Atleast 2GB RAM
4) 10 GB (Core & Education) or 20 GB (Ultimate)
5) 1 GHz Dual Core – Intel/AMD 64-bit processor.
Below are the hardware / system requirements for running Zorin OS Lite on a virtual machine:
1) A desktop or laptop with virtualization technology supported and enabled in the system BIOS.
2) A computer display with a screen resolution of 800 x 600
3) Atleast 512 MB of RAM
4) An 8GB virtual hard disk
5) 700 MHz Single Core – Intel/AMD 64-bit or 32-bit processor
Check And Enable Virtualization Technology (Intel VT-x / AMD-v) In Your System BIOS On Your Host Computer
1) The process of checking if virtualization technology (Intel VT-x / AMD -v) is supported and enabled on your computer is differs by operating system and operating system version. To check if virtualization technology is supported and enabled on a Windows computer, right click on the task bar and select TASK MANAGER.
2) If you are using a Mac, to check if virtualization technology is supported open the MacOS terminal and run the following command:
sysctl -a | grep -o VMX
After runnning the command, if it returns the word VMX then it means virtualizaation technology is supported and enabled.
3) If you are using a linux based operating system such as linux ubuntu desktop, open the terminal application and run the command for checking information about your CPU’s architecture. The command is:
lscpu
After runnning the command, if it returns the word VMX then it means virtualizaation technology is supported and enabled.
Step 1: Download The Zorin OS Disk Image File (ISO File)
4) Go to zorinos.com and click on the DOWNLOAD ZORIN OS button. On the download page, scroll down to the ZORIN OS 15 CORE section and click on the DOWNLOAD button.
5) If you would like to receive emails about news and products from Zorin enter your email address on the “YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS” text box and click on the SIGN UP & DOWNLOAD button.
If you do not wish to receive any emails, click on the SKIP TO DOWNLOAD link.
6) Your web browser will redirect to a page titled “Thanks for downloading Zorin OS!” and show a OPENING FILE popup message, choose the SAVE FILE option and click on OK.
Step 2: Create The Zorin OS Virtual Machine In VirtualBox.
7) Open the virtualbox app and click on MACHINE > NEW. On the virtual machine creation wizard that appears enter a name for the ZORIN virtual machine on the NAME text box and choose a folder to save virtual machine files. On the TYPE dropdown menu, select LINUX, on the VERSION drop down choose UBUNTU (64 BIT) and click on CONTINUE
8) On the MEMORY SIZE step, enter the amount of memory to be allocated to the virtual machine and click on CONTINUE.
9) The next step is to create a virtual hard disk fro the virtual machine, on the HARD DISK step click on the CREATE A VIRTUAL HARD DISK NOW option and click on CREATE.
10) Next, select the type of file that you would like to use for the new virtual hard disk. If you wish to migrate the ZORIN OS virtual machine to the HYPER-V platform at a later point in time choose the VHD (VIRTUAL HARD DISK) option and if you wish to migrate the ZORIN OS VM to the VMware platform select the VMDK (Virtual Machine Disk) option. However if you are going to run the ZORIN OS VM only on virtualbox, choose the VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image) option and click on CONTINUE.
11) To save storage utilization on the physical hard disk on your computer, click on the DYNAMICALLY ALLOCATED option and click on CONTINUE.
Step 3: Power On The Virtual Machine And Install Zorin OS
12) On the Oracle VM VirtualBox Manager, right click on the newly created ZORIN OS VIRTUAL MACHINE and click on START > NORMAL START.
13) When the virtual machine powers ON, it will automatically detect that an operating system or operating system installation disk is not present and will prompt you to select an virtual optical disk file or physical optical drive containing operating system installation files.
Select the ZORIN OS disk image file that was downloaded on step 1 and click on START.
14) Use your keyboard to select the “TRY OR INSTALL ZORIN OS: option and press ENTER.
15) On the ZORIN OS installation welcome screen click on the INSTALL ZORIN OS button.
16) On the KEYBOARD LAYOUT selection step, select ENGLISH (us) or any other layout that you wish to use and click on CONTINUE.
17) Select the “DOWNLOAD UPDATES WHILE INSTALLING ZORIN OS”option as well as the “INSTALL THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE FOR GRAPHICS AND WI-FI HARDWARE AND ADDITIONAL MEDIA FORMATS” option and click on CONTINUE.
18) The next step is to select an INSTALLATION TYPE. Choose the “ERASE DISK AND INSTALL ZORIN OS” option and click on the INSTALL NOW button.
19) Before the installation makes changes to the virtual hard disk, a warning message will be displayed prompting you to confirm changes. Click on the CONTINUE button.
20) Next, select your physical location on the “WHERE ARE YOU?” step and click on CONTINUE
21)Proceed by entering a computer name, username and password on the appropriate spaces provided, ensure the the “REQUIRE MY PASSWORD TO LOG IN” radio button is selected and click on CONTINUE.
Wait for the ZORIN OS installation process to complete. It should not take more that 10 minutes.
22) The next step is to detach the ZORIN OS disk image file so that the ZORIN VM can boot using the virtual hard drive. Shut down the virtual machine, right click on the virtual machine and click on SETTINGS > STORAGE. Select the ZORIN OS disk image file, click on the REMOVE button and click on OK.
Step 4: Check For & Install Zorin OS Updates, Install VirtualBox Guest Additions And Setup A Shared Folder.
22) Next, you will learn how to check for and install Zorin OS updates.
Start the virtual machine and log in using the credentials you created during installation.Click on the ZORIN button and click on SYSTEM TOOLS > SOFTWARE UPDATER.
When the SOFTWARE UPDATER open it will automatically start check for any application or system updates and prompt you to download and install if there are any updates available.
Install VirtualBox Guest Additions...
23) To install VirtualBox Guest Additions, on the virtualbox menu bar click on DEVICES > INSERT GUEST ADDITIONS CD IMAGE.
If you get an error message stating that virtual box could not insert the VBOXGUESTADDITIONS.ISO file, power off the virtual machine.
Click on SETTINGS > STORAGE and click on the ADD OPTICAL DRIVE button. Select the VBOXGUESTADDITIONS.ISO file and click on OK.
24) Click on the FILE icon to open the ZORIN file manager, double click on the disk labelled VBox_GAs_6.1.16 and click on the RUN SOFTWARE button.
25) A terminal window will open and show an output of the VirtualBox Guest Additions installation progress. Once the installation is complete press the ENTER key on your keyboard and restart the ZORIN virtual machine.
When the ZORIN OS starts up, click on the maximise window button. The virtual machine should switch to full screen mode.
26) A virtualbox shared folder allows you to access files that are on your host computer from the guest computer (Zorin OS Virtual Machine). VirtualBox shared folders work like network shares except that there are no network configurations that you have to apply on the host computer or guest virtual machine.
To create a shared folder click on MACHINE > SETTINGS > SHARED FOLDERS and click on the ADD FOLDER button.
Select a folder on the FOLDER PATH drop down menu, click on the AUTO MOUNT and MAKE PERMANENT check boxes and click on OK.
27) Open the ZORIN OS file manager and you should see the shared folder mounted as a network share.
