InstallFest

The Unix Users Group provides an modified image of Linux Mint that is intended to function like the Linux lab computers in ISAT. The image has software recommended and requested by a variety of professors in the department.

The image is provided as a virtual machine intended to be used with VirtualBox, which allows you to install it on your computer with no impact to your existing operating system.

In order to get the most use out of the image, it is important to follow the steps in the “Configuring” section below when going through the installer in the virtual machine. Additionally, some PCs with Windows will need to modify BIOS settings to enable the virtualization features necessary to run the virtual machine.

This guide will give you a brief overview of what is done at the InstallFest and should allow you to install the image on your own if necessary. Please consider reading through all the steps before beginning.

Getting Virtualbox

Go to the VirtualBox downloads page and get the latest version of VirtualBox. Complete the installation. For the most part, this will consist of agreeing to the license agreement and pressing “Continue” or “Next” on all the prompts you are given.

Getting the UUG image

Download the latest image from the image mirror.

Versions are named for the year they were created and have a letter at the end specifying the build within that year. Choose the highest year and the highest letter (for example, attendees at the fall 2017 InstallFest will choose image2017e.ova).

Importing the image to VirtualBox

Once the image has downloaded completely, you will need to import it to VirtualBox. To do this, double-click the downloaded file. This should open the VirtualBox program. Import the virtual machine with the default settings.

Launching the virtual machine

If you double-click “JMU Linux Mint 2017” within VirtualBox, it will launch the virtual machine.

Special instructions for Windows Users

For people with a device running Windows, you may get an error that VT-x or AMD-V is not enabled. You will need to enable a BIOS feature to enable virtualization.

To do this, open Settings and go to Updates and Security. On the left side of the window, choose “Recovery”. In the main portion of the window (on the right), click “Restart now” under the Advanced Startup heading.

Once your computer reboots, click “Troubleshooting” and then “Advanced” and then “Change UEFI Settings”. Your computer may reboot again and you may be prompted to press a key on your keyboard to enter BIOS settings.

Look for an option relating to virtualization and make sure that it is enabled.

If you do not get an error when launching the virtual machine, you do not need to complete these steps.

Configuring the virtual machine

When the image boots up, it will walk you through an installer. Configure the options as appropriate.

Recommended settings:

• Language: English
• Time Zone: New York
• Keyboard: English (US)

When it prompts you to choose a username, please enter your JMU e-ID. We recommend NOT using your JMU password for the password. Do NOT select “Encrypt home folder,” but please select the option for automatic sign on. You may enter whatever you would like for your full name or for the computer name.

After that screen, the actual installation process will begin. Depending on your host machine, this can take several minutes. Please be patient. Once the installation is done, your virtual machine will reboot.

Using the virtual machine

After your virtual machine finishes rebooting, you will either be signed in and at your desktop or at a welcome screen (if you’re at the welcome screen, sign in with the username and password you chose during configuration). You can click the “stu-home” link on the desktop to automatically mount your home folder on stu within the virtual machine.