How to Install VirtualBox on a Linux VPS

To install VirtualBox on a Linux VPS, you need to follow several steps depending on the Linux distribution you are using. This guide will walk you through the installation process for Debian/Ubuntu and CentOS/RHEL/Fedora based distributions.

1. Installing VirtualBox on Ubuntu/Debian

Follow these steps to install VirtualBox on a VPS running Debian or Ubuntu:

Step 1: Update the System

First, ensure that the system packages are up to date.

bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Step 2: Add the VirtualBox Repository

Add the official VirtualBox repository to the system.

bash
sudo apt install software-properties-common
sudo add-apt-repository "deb [arch=amd64] https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian $(lsb_release -cs) contrib"

Step 3: Import the VirtualBox PGP Key

Import the signing key for the VirtualBox repository.

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

Step 4: Install VirtualBox

Now, install VirtualBox (replace 7.0 with the latest version if necessary).

bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt install virtualbox-7.0

Step 5: Verify Installation

Check if VirtualBox was installed correctly by verifying the version.

bash
vboxmanage --version

---

2. Installing VirtualBox on CentOS/RHEL/Fedora

If your VPS is running a CentOS/RHEL or Fedora based distribution, follow these steps:

Step 1: Add the VirtualBox Repository

Add the official VirtualBox repository.

• CentOS/RHEL 7:

bash
sudo yum install -y epel-release
sudo wget https://www.virtualbox.org/download/oracle_vbox.asc
sudo rpm --import oracle_vbox.asc
sudo yum install -y https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/rpm/el/virtualbox.repo

• CentOS/RHEL 8+ or Fedora:

bash
sudo dnf install -y epel-release
sudo wget https://www.virtualbox.org/download/oracle_vbox.asc
sudo rpm --import oracle_vbox.asc
sudo dnf install -y https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/rpm/el/virtualbox.repo

Step 2: Install Dependencies

Before installing VirtualBox, install some necessary dependencies:

bash
sudo yum install -y gcc make perl kernel-devel kernel-headers

Step 3: Install VirtualBox

Install the latest version of VirtualBox (replace 7.0 with the required version):

bash
sudo yum install -y VirtualBox-7.0

Step 4: Load the Kernel Module

After installation, ensure the VirtualBox kernel module is loaded:

bash
sudo /sbin/vboxconfig

Step 5: Verify Installation

Check if VirtualBox is installed correctly by verifying the version:

bash
vboxmanage --version

---

Final Considerations

1. Hardware Resources: Installing VirtualBox on a VPS can be tricky because not all VPS providers offer support for nested virtualization. Check with your VPS provider if nested virtualization is supported, as this is crucial for running virtual machines inside a virtualized environment.

2. KVM and Other Hypervisors: In many cases, VPS providers use KVM as their hypervisor, which may conflict with VirtualBox. Be sure to verify compatibility between VirtualBox and any other hypervisors running on your VPS.

By following these steps, you should be able to successfully install VirtualBox on your Linux VPS.