Basic System Setup After Installing Ubuntu 24 on VirtualBox | Step-by-Step Guide

After successfully installing Ubuntu 24 on VirtualBox, performing the basic system setup after installing Ubuntu 24 on VirtualBox is crucial. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to configure and optimize your system for better performance and usability. Let’s begin the basic system setup after installing Ubuntu 24 on VirtualBox to ensure your environment is secure and ready for daily use.

Steps for System Setup After Installing Ubuntu 24 on VirtualBox

Updating the System

The first step in the basic system setup after installing Ubuntu 24 on VirtualBox is ensuring your system is up to date. Run the following command to update your package list and upgrade all installed packages:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

This command will update your system, ensuring that your Ubuntu 24 on VirtualBox environment is current with the latest security patches and software versions.

Installing Essential Tools

In this section of the basic system setup after installing Ubuntu 24 on VirtualBox, it’s important to install some essential tools like curl, git, and build-essential. These tools are useful for downloading files, managing repositories, and compiling software:

sudo apt install curl git build-essential -y

Having these tools installed ensures that your Ubuntu 24 on VirtualBox system is ready for development and other essential tasks.

Installing VirtualBox Guest Additions

To improve integration between your host machine and your Ubuntu 24 on VirtualBox system, installing VirtualBox Guest Additions is highly recommended. Run the following commands to install Guest Additions and enhance system performance:

1. In VirtualBox, click on Devices > Insert Guest Additions CD Image.
2. Run the following commands:
   sudo apt install build-essential dkms linux-headers-$(uname -r) -y  
   sudo mount /dev/cdrom /mnt  
   sudo /mnt/VBoxLinuxAdditions.run
   

After completing the basic system setup after installing Ubuntu 24 on VirtualBox, your system will have improved display and seamless integration.

Setting Up a Firewall

For security purposes, it is essential to set up a firewall during the basic system setup after installing Ubuntu 24 on VirtualBox. Ubuntu comes with UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) pre-installed. To enable and configure it, run the following commands:

sudo ufw enable  
sudo ufw default deny incoming  
sudo ufw default allow outgoing  

To allow SSH access or other services, use:

sudo ufw allow ssh

This ensures that your Ubuntu 24 on VirtualBox system is protected against unauthorized connections.

Configuring the Time Zone

A vital part of the basic system setup after installing Ubuntu 24 on VirtualBox is configuring the correct time zone. To check your current time zone, run:

timedatectl

To change the time zone, use:

sudo timedatectl set-timezone <your-timezone>

For example:

sudo timedatectl set-timezone America/New_York

Correctly setting the time zone ensures accurate timestamps for logs and system activities on your Ubuntu 24 on VirtualBox system.

Creating a New User

To avoid using the root account directly, create a new user with sudo privileges. This is an important step in the basic system setup after installing Ubuntu 24 on VirtualBox for security and best practices:

sudo adduser adminuser  
sudo usermod -aG sudo adminuser

Replace adminuser with your desired username. This new user will now have administrative access to your Ubuntu 24 on VirtualBox system.

Installing Additional Software (Optional)

Depending on your needs, you might want to install additional software like Firefox or VLC. This step is part of the basic system setup after installing Ubuntu 24 on VirtualBox to ensure you have the necessary tools for daily use:

sudo apt install firefox vlc -y

You can install other software based on your requirements to complete the setup of your Ubuntu 24 on VirtualBox system.

Enabling Automatic Updates (Optional)

To keep your Ubuntu 24 on VirtualBox system secure and up-to-date, enabling automatic updates is highly recommended. This step ensures that security patches are applied automatically:

sudo apt install unattended-upgrades  
sudo dpkg-reconfigure -plow unattended-upgrades

With this configuration, your Ubuntu 24 on VirtualBox system will stay up to date without manual intervention.

Rebooting and Final Checks

Once you’ve completed all the steps in the basic system setup after installing Ubuntu 24 on VirtualBox, it’s a good idea to reboot your system to ensure all changes take effect:

sudo reboot

FAQs

1. How do I know if VirtualBox Guest Additions installed correctly?
Run lsmod | grep vbox to verify the installation. If installed, the relevant modules will be listed.

2. What if the system doesn’t recognize the Guest Additions CD image?
Ensure VirtualBox Guest Additions ISO is installed. You can download it from the official VirtualBox website.

3. How can I disable automatic updates?
To disable automatic updates, run sudo apt remove unattended-upgrades.

4. Is it necessary to set up a firewall for Ubuntu 24 on VirtualBox?
Yes, even in virtual environments, setting up a firewall is essential for securing the system.

5. Can I create multiple users with sudo privileges?
Yes, you can repeat the user creation process for each additional user.

Conclusion

By following this guide, your Ubuntu 24 on VirtualBox system is now properly configured. You’ve completed the basic system setup after installing Ubuntu 24 on VirtualBox, making your environment secure, updated, and ready for use. For a more detailed walkthrough, watch this video.

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