Installing Ubuntu on AWS with VirtualBox: A Step-by-Step Guide

As an IT professional, you may need to install various operating systems for testing or development purposes. One popular way to do this is by using a virtual machine (VM) software like VirtualBox. In this article, we will explore the process of installing Ubuntu Server 20.04 on AWS using VirtualBox.

Before we begin, ensure that you have an AWS account and a Linux machine or SSH client that you can use to SSH into the virtual machine. If you're new to AWS, follow these guides on how to install Windows Server 2019 Properties, Windows Server 2016 Operating System, Windows Server 2019 on VMware Workstation, and Ubuntu Linux. You can also refer to these links for installing Windows Server 2019 on VirtualBox.

Understanding VirtualBox Terminology

Before we dive into the installation process, it's essential to understand some basic terminology. The operating system that you install within VirtualBox is called the guest. On the other hand, the operating system on which VirtualBox is installed is referred to as the host. VirtualBox is a software virtualization package that can be installed on your existing Intel or AMD-based computers, regardless of whether they are running Windows, Mac, or Linux operating systems.

Installing Ubuntu Server 20.04 on AWS with VirtualBox

To install Ubuntu Server 20.04 on AWS using VirtualBox, follow these steps:

1. Log in to the AWS Management Console and navigate to Services > Compute > EC2.

2. Click on 'Launch Instance' and select 'Ubuntu Server 20.04 LTS (HVM)' from the list of available operating systems.

3. Choose the instance type that best suits your needs, and then click 'Launch'.

4. Once the instance is launched, navigate to the 'Actions' dropdown menu and click on 'Connect to instance'.

5. In the 'Connect to instance' window, select 'EC2 Instance Connect' as the connection method.

6. Click 'Connect' to establish a secure connection to your instance.

Installing VirtualBox

To install VirtualBox on your host machine, follow these steps:

1. Download the VirtualBox installer from the official Oracle website.

2. Run the installer and follow the prompts to complete the installation process.

3. Once the installation is complete, launch VirtualBox and create a new VM by clicking on 'New' in the VirtualBox main window.

Configuring the Virtual Machine

To configure the virtual machine for Ubuntu Server 20.04, follow these steps:

1. Select 'Linux' as the operating system type and choose 'Ubuntu (64-bit)' from the list of available distributions.

2. Set the VM's memory to at least 2048 MB (2 GB) and allocate a sufficient amount of disk space.

3. Click 'Create' to create the virtual machine.

Installing Ubuntu Server 20.04

To install Ubuntu Server 20.04 on your virtual machine, follow these steps:

1. Insert the Ubuntu Server 20.04 ISO file into the VM's CD/DVD drive or mount it as an ISO image.

2. Restart the VM and select 'Try Ubuntu' from the boot menu.

3. Select your language and keyboard layout, then click 'Continue'.

4. Click on the 'Install Ubuntu Server' button to begin the installation process.

Post-Installation Configuration

After installing Ubuntu Server 20.04, you may need to perform some post-installation configuration tasks, such as configuring the network settings and updating the package list. You can refer to the official Ubuntu documentation for more information on these topics.

In this article, we have covered the process of installing Ubuntu Server 20.04 on AWS using VirtualBox. We have also discussed some essential terminology related to virtualization and provided a step-by-step guide on how to install and configure VirtualBox on your host machine. By following these steps, you should be able to successfully install Ubuntu Server 20.04 on AWS using VirtualBox.

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