Ubuntu Virtual Machine

Updated 11/06/2009

Question:
What is Ubuntu?
Answer:
Ubuntu is a Linux distribution based on Debian Linux. It is a fully functioning open source operating system with many very useful open source applications already installed. It may be freely downloaded and installed on a PC. As part of its installation process, you may elect to make your system dual boot both your current operating and Ubuntu (i.e. You will be given a choice of operating systems to run at start up). For more information, see http://www.ubuntu.com/

Question:
What is a virtual machine?
Answer:
A virtual machine is an operating system that runs on top of another operating system. Instead of dual booting in order to be able to run two or more operating systems on a single machine, a virtual machine runs in a window of the base operating system. A virtual machine player application installed on the base operating system executes the virtual machine in a window of the base operating system. Once created, a virtual machine may be copied from machine to machine without the usual installation process. Once copied to a machine running a base operating system and run, additional software may be installed to the virtual machine, etc. The virtual machine may "piggy-back" on the base operating system to make use of system resources such as a network connection, CD/DVD-ROM, etc.

Question:
What is the Ubuntu Virtual Machine?
Answer:
The Ubuntu Virtual Machine is a virtual machine prepared specifically for students in CMPS classes by Frank Ducrest (fdd@louisiana.edu). There are two versions. One version is designed to be played with VMPlayer (http://www.vmware.com/download/player/). Note: VMPlayer is free for everyone except Mac OSX users. The other version is designed to be played with VirtualBox. The setup has a few more steps, but VirtualBox is also free and runs on OSX.

The purpose of the Ubuntu Virtual machine is to provide

The most up to date version contains


Question:
What are the requirements for the Ubuntu Virtual Machine?
Answer:
At least 1 GB of RAM and at least 8 GM of free disk space. (If you run Microsoft Vista or Windows 7, make that 2 GB of RAM). If you install additional software and / or store a lot of data on the virtual machine, it has a preset limit of 25 GB of disk space. Although possible, it is unlikely that it will ever take up that much space.

Question:
How do I get a copy of the Ubuntu Virtual Machine?
Answer:
Using a felt tipped pen, write "UVM" (OSX users should write “UVM-OSX”) and your CLID on a DVD+R or a DVD-R that is rated at 16x or greater, then bring to Frank Ducrest in ACTR 215 or leave it in his mail box in ACTR 222. (Students in CMPS 150, 250, 260, 301 or 360 may give the DVD+/-R to their instructor.) You will be notified by email to your UCS account when and where the disk is ready for pickup. Because of excessive burning time required, RW disks are not usable. Because of the compression used to create the copy, heavily scratched or scuffed disks do not make reliable copies.

FAQs on Installing and Using the Ubuntu Virtual Machine

Question:
How do I install the Ubuntu Virtual Machine?
Answer:
Follow the instructions in the "readme.txt" file on the DVD. Windows users should open this file with WordPad or another word processor.

Question:
I have two mouse cursors! Help!
Answer:
This is an old issues and likely will not occur. However, if two mouse cursors do show up, one mouse cursor is for the base operating system, one mouse cursor is for the virtual machine. This can result in not being able to reach all parts of the virtual machine window. To solve this problem, synchronize the two cursors by moving your mouse as far to the right and left as the cursor will go, then up and down as far as the cursor will go. The two cursors will then be in the same location and all portions of the virtual machine window will be accessible.


Question:
The mouse doesn't work as well as it should. How can the mouse be adjusted?
Answer:

Selection System, Preferences, Mouse and make adjustments until you are satisfied with the mouse action.


Question:
I cannot access my wireless connection in the Ubuntu Virtual machine. What can I do?
Answer:
This is also an old issues and likely will not occur. However, if it does, there are three possibilities:


  1. First,in the virtual machine click on System, Administration, Networking. Under the General tab, all connections will be listed. It may just be a matter of activating the wireless connection.

  2. If that works, great, otherwise, right mouse click on the Ethernet button of the VMWare Player and change the connection from “bridged” to “nat” or from “nat” to “bridged”, then shut down the virtual machine. Finally, reopen the player and restart the virtual machine.

  3. Shut down the virtual machine and uninstall the VMWare Player. While your system has a good connection to a wireless network, reinstall the player and start up your virtual machine. (You may have to go back and try #1 and #2 again.)


Question:
How do I adjust the resolution to fit my screen?
Answer:

There are several means. First possible source of resolution is to select System, Preferences, Display and select the appropriate value. If the values listed are too small, download the updates for your system and try again (you may have to restart the virtual machine first). If there still is not an appropriate resolution in the list, there is a second possible source of resolution. Go to System, Administration and check to see if there is a Display option. If there is, select Display and chose the generic monitor that best suits your system, then log out, then log in (or restart the virtual machine). Once logged back in, go to System, Administration, Display and set the resolution that you want. You may have to log out and in (or restart) again for it to take effect. If all this fails, a third option is to contact Frank Ducrest (fdd@louisiana.edu) for assistance. List your systems brand, monitor, and video chip or card or driver.


Question:
How do I install additional applications?
Answer:
For a new Ubuntu user, the easiest way is to use the Add/Remove utility (found at the bottom of the Applications menu). Applications with installation packages for Ubuntu are listed and can be installed by selecting the applications you want installed and clicking Apply. When asked for a password, enter the password of the user student. As you gain experience, you may want to try out the Synaptic Package Manager (located under System, Administration), then begin searching online for applications that you can install with “sudo apt-get”, etc.

Question:
Can I use my virtual machine on campus?
Answer:
Yes, but expect to have to register the virtual machine via your browser as a new machine.