Virtualbox 6.0 Released: How to install/Upgrade on Linux /Ubuntu

The popular open source virtualization software for Desktop and servers: VirtualBox 6.0 has been released by the Oracle.

This major update released by the Oracle has fixed a lot of shortcomings of the Virtualbox and comes with some additional features too such as it now supports the Oracle cloud infrastructure; we keep facing the problem of copying content between which now has been enhanced with new file manager for better file copying mechanism between guest and host operating system.

Here are some newly added features in Virtualbox 6.0

  • Supports Oracle Cloud Infrastructure for exporting virtual machines
  • HiDPI Display and scaling support
  • Retouched the interface of the VirtualBox to make it simpler and more powerful setup virtual machines.
  • New File manager to enhance file copying feature between guest and host operating system.
  • 3D graphics support for Windows guest machine
  • VMSVGA 3D graphics device emulation on Linux and Solaris guests
  • Added support for surround speaker setups (as used by Windows 10 Build 1809)
  • For Apple hosts, the utility vboximg-mount feature enables to access the content of guest disks on the host
  • To mitigate performance reduction, the Hyper-V as the fallback execution core support on Windows host.
  • VBoxManage: support for DHCP options

To know more about other fixes see the VirtualBox 6.0 Changelogs: Link

Install or Upgrade VirtualBox 6.0 on Ubuntu Linux

Step to follow in the tutorial to install VirtualBox 6.0 on Ubuntu 18.04/18.10, 17.04/17.10, 16.04/16.10…

  1. Go to your Ubuntu System.
  2. Open the Command terminal; you can use the keyboard shortcut CTRL+ALT+T.
  3. Download Virtualbox 6.0 Debian package from their official website.
  4. Run the command to install the VirtualBox 6.0 on Linux Ubuntu
  5. Open the VirtualBox 6.0 and install the extension packs, if you required.
  6. Now start creating virtual machines on latest Virtual Box 6.0

Tutorial in Detail…

Step 1: Open the Command Terminal

Log on to your Ubuntu System and open the browser.

Step 2: Download the VirtualBox 6.0

Save Virtualbox 6.0 deb package

In the browser go to the VirtualBox official website to download the latest VirtualBox 6.o version or used this link

VirtualBox 6.0.0 for Linux

If you are using the Redhat/Centos the command will be: rpm -q download VirtualBox RPM file name

Step 3: Install the VirtualBox 6.0 using the command

Generally, what we download from the Internet using browser will go into the Downloads folder. So, switch to Downloads directory in Command Terminal.

The commands for that:

cd Downloads

ls

Copy the Virtualbox file name and use with below package installation command:

sudo dpkg -i virtualbox-6.0_6.0.0-127566~Ubuntu~bionic_amd64.deb

Virtualbox 6.0 – How to install-Upgrade on Linux-Ubuntu

In our case, the output:

h2smedia@h2smedia-VirtualBox:~$ cd Downloads
h2smedia@h2smedia-VirtualBox:~/Downloads$ ls
4kvideodownloader_4.4.11-1_amd64.deb
videoplayback.mp4
virtualbox-6.0_6.0.0-127566~Ubuntu~bionic_amd64.deb
VMware-Player-15.0.2-10952284.x86_64.bundle
winbox.exe
h2smedia@h2smedia-VirtualBox:~/Downloads$ sudo dpkg -i virtualbox-6.0_6.0.0-127566~Ubuntu~bionic_amd64.deb
[sudo] password for h2smedia:
Selecting previously unselected package virtualbox-6.0.
(Reading database ... 210553 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack virtualbox-6.0_6.0.0-127566~Ubuntu~bionic_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking virtualbox-6.0 (6.0.0-127566~Ubuntu~bionic) ...
Setting up virtualbox-6.0 (6.0.0-127566~Ubuntu~bionic) ...
addgroup: The group `vboxusers' already exists as a system group. Exiting.
Processing triggers for systemd (237-3ubuntu10.9) ...
Processing triggers for ureadahead (0.100.0-20) ...
Processing triggers for gnome-menus (3.13.3-11ubuntu1.1) ...
Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils (0.23-1ubuntu3.18.04.2) ...
Processing triggers for mime-support (3.60ubuntu1) ...
Processing triggers for hicolor-icon-theme (0.17-2) ...
Processing triggers for shared-mime-info (1.9-2) ...

 

Oracle VirtualBox 6.0 virtual machine virtualbox 6.0 Ubuntu

Step 4: Download and Install VirtualBox Extension Packages

Again go to the https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads, scroll down and download the Virtual Extension Packages which is the same for all platforms.

virtualbox 6.0 extension package installation

After downloading the VirtualBox packages, click on the File and select the Preferences option…

Virtualbox 6.o extension

Click on the Extensions option and then on the Add (+ icon) to import the Extension packages for VirtualBox 6.o which we have downloaded above.

Load the virtualbox extension packages

Now click on the Install button to install the Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack.

Install the virtualbox extension packages

2nd Method to install the VirtualBox 6.0 using the repository…

1. Add VirtualBox Repository Keys

wget -q https://www.virtualbox.org/download/oracle_vbox_2016.asc -O- | sudo apt-key add -

wget -q https://www.virtualbox.org/download/oracle_vbox.asc -O- | sudo apt-key add -

2. Add VirtualBox package repository…

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian $(lsb_release -sc) contrib" >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/virtualbox.list'

3. Update Ubuntu system

sudo apt update

4. Installing VirtualBox using the command line

sudo apt-get install virtualbox-6.0

In this way, you can install the latest VirtualBox 6.0 on the Ubuntu Linux…

Other Useful Resources: