How To Install VirtualBox on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS

In this tutorial, we will show you how to install VirtualBox on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS. For those of you who didn’t know, VirtualBox is a powerful, open-source virtualization software that allows you to run multiple operating systems on a single machine. Whether you’re a developer testing applications, a student learning about different environments, or an enthusiast exploring new systems, VirtualBox offers a versatile solution.

This article assumes you have at least basic knowledge of Linux, know how to use the shell, and most importantly, you host your site on your own VPS. The installation is quite simple and assumes you are running in the root account, if not you may need to add ‘sudo‘ to the commands to get root privileges. I will show you the step-by-step installation of Oracle’s VirtualBox on Ubuntu 22.04 (Jammy Jellyfish). You can follow the same instructions for Ubuntu 22.04 and any other Debian-based distribution like Linux Mint, Elementary OS, Pop!_OS, and more as well.

Prerequisites

• A server running one of the following operating systems: Ubuntu 22.04, 20.04, and any other Debian-based distribution like Linux Mint.
• It’s recommended that you use a fresh OS install to prevent any potential issues.
• At least 4GB of RAM (8GB or more recommended for optimal performance).
• Sufficient disk space for virtual machines (20GB or more).
• A 64-bit processor with hardware virtualization support.
• SSH access to the server (or just open Terminal if you’re on a desktop).
• A non-root sudo user or access to the root user. We recommend acting as a non-root sudo user, however, as you can harm your system if you’re not careful when acting as the root.

Install VirtualBox on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Jammy Jellyfish

Step 1. First, make sure that all your system packages are up-to-date by running the following apt commands in the terminal.

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt install linux-headers-$(uname -r) dkms

Step 2. Installing VirtualBox on Ubuntu 22.04.

By default, the VirtualBox is available on Ubuntu 22.04 base repository. Now run the following command below to install the latest stable VirtualBox to your Ubuntu system:

sudo apt install virtualbox

Step 3. Installing VirtualBox Extension Pack.

For an improved experience, it is advised to install VirtualBox Guest Additions and VirtualBox Extension Pack. Now run the following command below to install it:

sudo apt install virtualbox-guest-additions-iso
sudo apt install virtualbox-ext-pack

Step 4. Accessing VirtualBox on Ubuntu 22.04.

Once successfully installed on your Ubuntu system, run the following path on your desktop to open the path: Activities -> Show Applications -> VirtualBox or launching it through the terminal with the command shown below:

virtualbox

Step 5. Troubleshooting Common Issues.

Despite its user-friendly nature, you may encounter some issues while using VirtualBox. Here are a few common problems and their solutions:

• Kernel driver not installed: If you see an error message stating that the VirtualBox kernel driver is not installed, run sudo /sbin/vboxconfig to build and install the required modules.
• VT-x is disabled in the BIOS: If you receive an error indicating that VT-x is disabled, you need to enable hardware virtualization in your computer’s BIOS settings. Restart your machine, enter the BIOS, and look for options related to virtualization (e.g., Intel VT-x, AMD-V). Enable these options, save the changes, and restart your computer
• USB device not recognized: Ensure that your user is added to the vboxusers group and that you have installed the VirtualBox Extension Pack. If the issue persists, try disconnecting and reconnecting the USB device or restarting the virtual machine
• Network connectivity issues: Check that your virtual machine’s network adapter is properly configured. Verify that the correct network mode (e.g., NAT, Bridged, Host-only) is selected based on your requirements. If using Bridged mode, ensure that your host’s network connection is stable and properly configured.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed VirtualBox. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the VirtualBox open-source virtualization software on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Jammy Jellyfish system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official VirtualBox website.