How to Install Debian on VirtualBox [Step-by-Step]

Auhona Islam
Written by Auhona Islam
Md. Ashakul Islam Sowad
Reviewed by Md. Ashakul Islam Sowad
Last updated: Apr 1, 2024

Debian is a free and open-source operating system (OS) that belongs to the Linux family. It’s known for stability, security, and commitment to free software principles. Debian is developed by a community of volunteers worldwide.

VirtualBox is a powerful and open-source virtualization platform that enables users to run multiple operating systems on a single physical machine. Developed by Oracle, VirtualBox provides a versatile and user-friendly environment for creating and managing machines (VMs).

This article will walk you through the step-by-step process of installing Kali Linux on VirtualBox.

Requirements to Install Debian on VirtualBox

  • Minimum 512 MB RAM (2 GB+ recommended).
  • Minimum 10 GB free storage (20 GB+ recommended).
  • A dual-core or higher processor is recommended.
  • Active internet connection to install the Debian system.

Steps to Install Debian on VirtualBox

The process of installing Debian on VirtualBox requires a few fundamental tasks. This includes downloading a Debian ISO file, creating a virtual machine on VirtualBox, installing the OS, and finally Post-installation setup.

To install Debian on VirtualBox easily follow the steps below:

Step 1: Download the Debian ISO File

First, download the ISO file of Debian from the official website of Debian. Download the debian iso file

Step 2: Create a New Debian Virtual Machine

  1. Open the VirtualBox and click on New. Create new virtual machine
  2. First, set a name for the VM (for example Debian), then choose Linux as the “Type” of the VM, and finally choose Debian (64bit) as the “Version”. Specify name, type, and version of the VM
  3. Now, click on the “ISO Image” and select the downloaded Debian ISO file from the host operating system. Then, click on “Next”. select the iso file, click on "skip" and then "Next"
  4. In hardware settings, set 2GB as base memory, specify 1 processor for the VM, and click “Next”. Hardware settings
  5. Create a virtual hard disk of 20 GB, and hit “Next”. Create a Virtual hard disk
  6. The following table in the image summarizes the configuration of the new virtual machine. Finally, click on “Finish”. summary of the vm Finally, the Debian VM has been created.

Step 3: Launch and Install Debian

To install Debian on the newly created virtual machine follow the below steps:

  1. Click on “Start” to power on the VM.  Upon powering the virtual machine, the installation window for Kali Linux will appear on the screen.Launch the VM
  2. Now, use the UP and DOWN arrow keys to navigate to “Graphical Install” and press ENTER. Choose graphical install using UP and DOWN arrow.
    Note: If you don’t select any option from the “Kali Linux Installer menu”, it will choose the first option by default within a few seconds.

Step 4: Configure Keyboard and Language

  1. Select a language as your preference (for example English) and click on Continue. Select a language
  2. Select your preferred keymap and hit Continue. Configure the Keyboard

Step 5: Configure the Network

To configure the network follow the steps below:

  1. Type a hostname for the Debian VM and click on Continue. Set a hostname
  2. Now, type a domain name for the network like below and click on Continue to proceed with the installation. Set a domain name

Step 6: Set up Users and Passwords

You have to create a user account to work on the Kali Linux VM. For that:

  1. First, set a root password and click on Continue. set root password
  2.   Enter your full name and click on Continue. Set full name for the account
  3. Then, type a short user for your user account. set username for the account
  4. Finally, set a password for the user account which will be asked for every time you turn on the VM. Click on Continue. set password for the user account

Step 7: Select Time Zone

Select your time zone and click on Continue. select your time zone

Step 8: Set up the Disk Partition

To ensure the operating system functions smoothly, you have to partition the disk.

  1. First, select “Guided – use entire disk” as the partitioning method and click on Continue. Select the partitioning method
  2. Select the partitioning disk and click on Continue. Select the disk to partition
  3. Choose “All files in one partition” as the partitioning scheme. select the partitioning scheme
  4. Here, a prompt shows the summary of the configured partition. Click on Continue. summary of the partition
  5. Check the Yes option and click on Continue to allow writing the changes to the disks. write the changes

After that, the installation of the base system starts as below. Install the base system

Step 9: Configure Package Manager

To make the installation faster, select “No” for scanning extras installation and click on Continue. Select No to scan extra installation After a few moments, a window will appear asking for “Use a network mirror?”. Select “No” and click on Continue. Shows the extra mirror Again deny to configure popularity-contest by selecting “No” and click on Continue.Select "No" to configure popularity contest

Step 10: Selected Software Installation

At this stage, choose the software from the list you wish to install during the Debian installation process as depicted in the image below. Click on Continue to proceed. Choose software to install After a little time, all the checked software will be installed in your Debian system as below. installing the selected software

Step 11: Install the GRUB Bootloader

  1. To install the GRUB bootloader, check the “Yes” option in the confirmation window and click on Continue. install the grub boot loader
  2.  Now, select “dev/sda” as the device for boot loader installation and hit the Continue button. Select device for boot installation
  3. Subsequently, it proceeds to install GRUB and terminates the installation. GRUB boot loader installing
  4. Finally, reboot your computer by clicking on Continue. Choose continue to reboot

Step 12: Post Installation Setup

Following the completion of the installation, there are a few additional configurations required to set up the operating system. Follow the steps below:

  1. Upon rebooting, a login prompt will be displayed. Enter your password and press ENTER to log in. log into the use account
  2. After logging in, it’s time to configure a few more settings. First, a window with the system language (English) will appear. Click on NEXT. post installation setup
  3. Now, select your keyboard layout or an input method (for example English (US)) and click on NEXT. Select keyboard layout or input method
  4. You can keep your location ON/OFF according to your convenience and click on NEXT. You can keep the location "On".
  5. You now have the choice to link your Debian system with online accounts from the provided list in the image below. Alternatively, you can skip the process by clicking on the Skip button located in the top right corner. skip connecting on your online accounts
  6. Then, click on “Start Using Debian GNU/Liunx”. Click here to start Debian
  7. Finally, the desktop interface of Debian OS will appear as below. Desktop interface of DebianCongratulations! The installation of Debian on your computer has been completed.
  8. After installation, update the system using: 
    sudo apt update

    While running this command you may face the following error:"sudo apt update" error. This apt update error in Debian occurs as your system tries to download the updates from the CDROM  instead of the internet.

To resolve this issue, modify the repository by following the steps below:

  1. Navigate to Show APP > Software & Updates > Debian Software.
  2. After that, mark the following options under the Downloadable from the Internet section. Here you have to authenticate yourself using the root password.Mark the Debian softwares to download the updates from the internet.
  3. Then, navigate to Other Software, unmark the cdrom repository as below, and click on Close. Unmark CDROM to avoid error while update.
  4. Lastly, click on Reload to install software and updates from newly added or changed sources. Click on the "Reload" button to load the changes.
  5. Now, run the command sudo apt update.

Note: You can change the setting also from the terminal by following the steps below:

  1. Open the sources.list file in the terminal using the command: 
    sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list
  2. Now add uncomment the cdrom repository using a # sign before it and add the following repository to enable updates and software installation from the internet: 
    deb https://deb.debian.org/debian/ bookworm main contrib non-free-firmware non-free

    Add the repository in the "sources.list" file.

  3. Lastly, press CTRL+S  to save and CTRL+X to exit. Now, run the command sudo apt update.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this comprehensive guide has equipped you with the knowledge to seamlessly install Debian on VirtualBox, opening up a world of possibilities for exploring and experimenting with this renowned Linux distribution in a virtual environment. By following the step-by-step instructions, you’ve successfully configured VirtualBox, initiated the Debian installation process, and performed essential post-installation steps to enhance your virtual machine’s performance.

People Also Ask

What are the recommended system’s memory requirements for running Debian on VirtualBox?

While Debian itself has modest system requirements, for a smooth experience on VirtualBox, it’s recommended to allocate at least 2GB of RAM to the virtual machine.

How do I update and upgrade Debian after the installation?

To update and upgrade Debian after the installation, open the terminal and run the following command:

sudo apt update

sudo apt upgrade

Can I run other operating systems alongside Debian in VirtualBox?

Yes, VirtualBox allows you run to multiple virtual machines with various operating systems simultaneously. You can experiment with different OS environments without affecting your primary system.

How do I install VirtualBox on my computer?

To install VirtualBox, follow the steps below:

  1. Visit the official VirtualBox website and click on the “Download” button.
  2. Run the installer and follow the installation wizard.
  3. During the installation, you may be prompted to install additional components such as network interfaces.
  4. After the installation is complete, launch VirtualBox from the Start menu or desktop shortcut.

To get a comprehensive guide on the installation of VirtualBox, you can check the VirtualBox installation guide.

What is the purpose of the VirtualBox Guest Additions, and how do I install them?

VirtualBox Guest Additions enhance the virtual machine’s performance and usability. To install them, start your Debian virtual machine, go to the VirtualBox menu, select “Devices,” and click on “Insert Guest Additions CD image.” Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Related Articles

<< Go Back to Virtual Machine Installation Guide | Linux OS Installation Guide | Learn Linux Basics

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Auhona Islam

Auhona Islam is a dedicated professional with a background in Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) from Khulna University of Engineering & Technology. Graduating in 2023, Auhona is currently excelling in her role as a Linux content developer executive at SOFTEKO to provide a more straightforward route for Linux users. She aims to generate compelling materials for Linux users with her knowledge and skills. She holds her enthusiasm in the realm of Machine Learning (ML), Deep Learning (DL), and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Apart from these, she has a passion for playing instruments and singing. Read Full Bio

8 thoughts on “How to Install Debian on VirtualBox [Step-by-Step]”

  2. Hi !!! two comments… If you assign 2 Mb to the VM, Debian BookWorm 12.5 DVD does not boot !!!! (two hours lost trying to understand the problem) … if you say NO to Configure the Package Manager, apt will be unable to get packages and updates, so the system will be totally useless !!! DO NOT DO THAT !!!! (1 day lost debugging this USER ERROR !!!

    Reply

    • Hi Noberto,
      Great findings. I truly appreciate the time and effort you’ve put into it. Please try to be careful of memory allocation to the VM. Before proceeding to the installation, it’s better to check out the requirements section.

      Regarding the second issue, in your installed Debian system, the sudo apt update is trying to install updates from the CDROM instead of online repositories as a result it’s not working.
      To resolve this issue, you have to add the deb https://deb.debian.org/debian/ bookworm main contrib non-free-firmware non-free repository to the sources.list file and comment out the cdrom repository using # before it.
      Adding repository to the sources.list file
      It’s mention-worthy that if you choose YES to the scan extra media file in the configure package manager section, the same screen may appear repeatedly. That’s why it’s better to choose NO and modify the sources.list file after installation as above.
      To have a Debian system that can be updated immediately after installation without any error, you can go for the netinst ISO file instead of the mentioned DVD ISO in the article.

      Reply

  4. Hello, thanks for your tutorial wich really helped me!
    I only have a problem at the last step where my profil is not part of the sudoers list. I’ve tried to fix this issue but apparently i must connect with an account that is already a sudoer to do so and i don’t know how to do so. Where did i messed up ? How can i promote my profil ?

    Reply

  5. Hmm, after selecting “Graphical Install” the virtual display goes black and nothing happens for around a minute – and then the virtual environment closes and is reported as “Aborted” in VirtualBox. This is on the latest version of VirtualBox and 12.5 of Debian. The last few lines of the log file aren’t particularly enlightening..

    00:01:22.030859 GIM: KVM: VCPU 0: Enabled system-time struct. at 0x0000000045601000 – u32TscScale=0xa6978af4 i8TscShift=6 uVersion=2 fFlags=0x1 uTsc=0x7371bb48 uVirtNanoTS=0x12c8058bf6 TscKHz=24010
    00:01:22.031119 TM: Switching TSC mode from ‘Dynamic’ to ‘RealTSCOffset’
    00:01:23.210179 GIM: KVM: Enabled wall-clock struct. at 0x0000000045600000 – u32Sec=1718758863 u32Nano=832984725 uVersion=2
    00:01:23.218452 PIT: mode=2 count=0x12a5 (4773) – 249.98 Hz (ch=0)
    00:01:23.218658 APIC0: Switched mode to x2APIC
    00:01:23.888386 PIT: mode=0 count=0x10000 (65536) – 18.20 Hz (ch=0)
    00:01:27.413974 OHCI: Software reset

    Reply

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