Debian Stretch in VirtualBox

Installing Debian Stretch in a VirtualBox VM is pretty straight forward, but there are a few things to do to get the basic comforts of home.

1. Download a Debian image.

2. Use VirtualBox to create a new VM, and mount the Debian image as a CD.

3. Follow the GUI and install.

4. Start the VM, the rest of the commands are setting up the OS with what’s needed.

5. Install and setup sudo.

   su -
   apt-get install -y sudo
   usermod -aG sudo <your-username>
   

6. Restart the VM.

7. Prepare for installing VirtualBox Guest Additions.

   sudo apt-get update
   sudo apt-get upgrade
   sudo apt-get install build-essential module-assistant
   sudo m-a prepare
   

8. In VirtualBox select Devices > Insert Guest Additions CD image....

9. Install VirtualBox Guest Additions.

   sudo sh /media/cdrom/VBoxLinuxAdditions.run
   

10. Restart the VM.

You’ll now have a VM running Debian Stretch, with some of the basics setup.