BunsenLabs as a VM in VirtualBox

jimjamz · 2016-07-24 11:56:39

I'm considering setting up BL as a VM in VirtualBox on my Macbook. I'm running OS X 10.11.6 and the latest version of VirtualBox.

- What is the minimum size virtual disk (.VDI) I can use to install and run BL appropriately? Would a 16GB drive suffice?

The VM will only be responsible for working on files already stored on the OSX partition (via Shared Folders) and other local network shares (e.g. samba), simply to have access to an EXT4 filesystem to clean up files. I won't be installing any heavy apps or storing any content on the VM.

nobody · 2016-07-24 12:52:59

jimjamz wrote:

I'm considering setting up BL as a VM in VirtualBox on my Macbook. I'm running OS X 10.11.6 and the latest version of VirtualBox.
- What is the minimum size virtual disk (.VDI) I can use to install and run BL appropriately? Would a 16GB drive suffice?
The VM will only be responsible for working on files already stored on the OSX partition (via Shared Folders) and other local network shares (e.g. samba), simply to have access to an EXT4 filesystem to clean up files. I won't be installing any heavy apps or storing any content on the VM.

The base install which already inludes major desktop applications like the browser uses up to 2.5G of disk space. I'd say allocate 4-6G of space which will get used up by the apt cache and possibly multiple kernel images should you choose to install a different kernel + some room to spare. Since you are running on a Mac you probably want the latest kernel from backports.

If you don't need a desktop you could also start with a minimal Debian netinstall.

Head_on_a_Stick · 2016-07-24 14:44:40

If you want to use the graphical desktop, follow this guide to install the Guest Additions on the BunsenLabs VM:
https://virtualboxes.org/doc/installing … on-debian/

As nobody notes though, a GUI is superfluous for your described use case.

Horizon_Brave · 2016-07-24 19:28:13

I run multiple BL instanes, in virtualbox, and I do have a full gui running in one. Though I'm pretty sure you can create the vdi disk as "dynamic" as opposed to 'fixed" meaning it's can be shrunk or grown as you write to the disk.

This is from the Virtualbox site:

Irrespective of the disk capacity and format, as briefly mentioned in Section 1.7, “Creating your first virtual machine”, there are two options of how to create a disk image: fixed-size or dynamically allocated.
If you create a fixed-size image, an image file will be created on your host system which has roughly the same size as the virtual disk's capacity. So, for a 10G disk, you will have a 10G file. Note that the creation of a fixed-size image can take a long time depending on the size of the image and the write performance of your hard disk.
For more flexible storage management, use a dynamically allocated image. This will initially be very small and not occupy any space for unused virtual disk sectors, but will grow every time a disk sector is written to for the first time, until the drive reaches the maximum capacity chosen when the drive was created. While this format takes less space initially, the fact that VirtualBox needs to expand the image file consumes additional computing resources, so until the disk file size has stabilized, write operations may be slower than with fixed size disks. However, after a time the rate of growth will slow and the average penalty for write operations will be negligible.

jimjamz · 2016-07-24 22:17:23

Thanks guys. Some good points there.

I already have installed BL as a VM on my Macbook Pro for work and have been using it for about 6 months now. I wanted to install it on my home Macbook but I'm more conservative with disk space on my personal machine as opposed to my work machine. At work, I just created a 64GB VM and have no issues. I was just wondering if people have been playing around with BL as a VM, what is the minimum disk space they have been able to get away with.

For my home machine I'll probably go for 16GB and see if I can get away with just using that. Additionally, another piece of software I would want on there is obviously VirtualBox Guest Additions, which doesn't take up too much.

I usually prefer a fixed size on the disk so I don't get caught out with the Virtual disk increasing at the most inappropriate time as it usually does with a dynamic. With a fixed, I know where I stand.

I'll also consider using the latest kernel from the backports as @nobody suggested.

Thanks for the advice guys.

iMBeCil · 2016-07-25 08:10:46

^ I often use BL in VirtualBox for various testing ... just yesterday did a fresh install. With (post)installed LO, blender, gimp, inkscape (and other stuff), disk is 3.7 GB full. Go figure. I guess, 15GB would suffice.

BTW, I would - in accordance with you - suggest fixed size disk.

And, there is a nice snippet how to 'permanently' install Guest additions in guest (by schwim).

As for the backported kernel ... I don't quite follow @nobody's logic about it, so IMHO it makes no difference what kernel you install (in relation to host: Mac). After all, guest kernel is not aware of most of the host OS/hardware. But I might be wrong ...

KrunchTime · 2016-08-03 21:33:39

It really all depends on how many apps you intend on installing and how many files, and their size, you plan on having. I'd say start with at least 10GB or go with your initial decision to use 16GB.

cherkie · 2018-08-29 09:11:34

I will hook up to this thread as I am running similar scenario.

BL as a VM in Virtualbox on Windows 10 host.

However my issue is screen tearing and any youtube/vimeo/etc are not playing videos at all. This has started (I think) after I have removed my GPU at work and I am currently running on integrated intel GPU.

albert@albertbl:~$ lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 440FX - 82441FX PMC [Natoma] (rev 02)
00:01.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82371SB PIIX3 ISA [Natoma/Triton II]
00:01.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 IDE (rev 01)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: InnoTek Systemberatung GmbH VirtualBox Graphics Adapter
00:03.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82540EM Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 02)
00:04.0 System peripheral: InnoTek Systemberatung GmbH VirtualBox Guest Service
00:05.0 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corporation 82801AA AC'97 Audio Controller (rev 01)
00:06.0 USB controller: Apple Inc. KeyLargo/Intrepid USB
00:07.0 Bridge: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 ACPI (rev 08)

Due to running in VM the display adapter is vbox native. I have the newest vbox guest additions installed.

jimjamz · 2018-08-30 05:49:43

I also see this in my development macbook pro, which has an integrated Intel Crystal Well chipset. Occasionally, I also see this on my home macbook, which has an nvidia chipset gpu (MCP89 Geforce 320M). It is more noticeable on white static backgrounds. I would say I see this less when there is motion on the screen (except page scrolling).

Therefore, my experiences are not just confined to the VM guest. That said, I'm running BL-Helium as both host and guest, which is different from your host configuration.

Last edited by jimjamz (2018-08-30 05:51:00)

#1 2016-07-24 11:56:39

BunsenLabs as a VM in VirtualBox

#2 2016-07-24 12:52:59

Re: BunsenLabs as a VM in VirtualBox

#3 2016-07-24 14:44:40

Re: BunsenLabs as a VM in VirtualBox

#4 2016-07-24 19:28:13

Re: BunsenLabs as a VM in VirtualBox

#5 2016-07-24 22:17:23

Re: BunsenLabs as a VM in VirtualBox

#6 2016-07-25 08:10:46

Re: BunsenLabs as a VM in VirtualBox

#7 2016-08-03 21:33:39

Re: BunsenLabs as a VM in VirtualBox

#8 2018-08-29 09:11:34

Re: BunsenLabs as a VM in VirtualBox

#9 2018-08-30 05:49:43

Re: BunsenLabs as a VM in VirtualBox

Board footer