Virtualbox for LMDE

[Trynna3]

Before I dive into it, I would like to have it confirmed that it won't mess up my system. I see on Oracle website, they deliver Virtualbox for Ubuntu installations (including Ubuntu Mint) or Debian on its own, including Bookworm, on which LMDE is based on. Flatpak doesn't have this application.
Asking the bot it recommended several ways of installation, and I am aware virtualbox also needs regular updates and patches (if some vulnerabilities are found, or just to keep up with the general updates) and it can be done separately, based on the mode of installation, or it will be updated when new updates are released and I update LMDE itself.
Has anyone had any issues with virtualbox in LMDE, or is it smooth?

This is what the bot came with. Can you verify it works? I don't want to start all over with installation of my LMDE on my final computer (which I spend most of my weekend with, including configurations and personalisation, fixing sound, etc). Which version should I choose instead of 7 as is mentioned below?

1. Add the Oracle VirtualBox Repository
   Open a terminal and run the following command:
   
   echo "deb [arch=amd64] https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian bookworm contrib" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/virtualbox.list
   
   
2. Add Oracle’s GPG Key
   To verify the authenticity of the packages, add the Oracle GPG key:
   
   wget -q https://www.virtualbox.org/download/oracle_vbox_2016.asc -O- | sudo apt-key add -
   wget -q https://www.virtualbox.org/download/oracle_vbox.asc -O- | sudo apt-key add -
   
   
3. Update Package Lists
   Update the package index to include the VirtualBox repository:
   
   sudo apt update
   
   
4. Install VirtualBox
   Install the latest version of VirtualBox:
   
   sudo apt install virtualbox-7.0
   
   Replace 7.0 with the desired version if a newer version is available later.
   
   
5. Verify Installation
   Check that VirtualBox was installed correctly:
   
   virtualbox --version

---

Benefits of Using This Method​

1. Automatic Updates:
   VirtualBox updates will be included in regular system updates (sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade or via LMDE Update Manager).
2. Version Control:
   You’ll get the latest stable releases directly from Oracle, ensuring compatibility with guest operating systems like Windows.
3. Ease of Maintenance:
   No need to manually download .deb packages or check for updates on Oracle's website.

 

[KGIII]

Your copy/paste (probably from one of the AI systems out there) includes some garbage, such as "CopyEdit" and span.

I do not know why or how that happened. I'm going to assume that it was something on your end.

 

[Mike-W0BTU]

Your copy/paste (probably from one of the AI systems out there) includes some garbage, such as "CopyEdit" and span.

Yup, that's happened to me copying from an AI page. Don't remember which one.

Sometimes, you can't Select All because you'll also copy hidden text.

@Trynna3 Which AI "bot" did you use?

 

[Mike-W0BTU]

Before I dive into it, I would like to have it confirmed that it won't mess up my system. ...

Likely, it will not. I've used Virtualbox over the years and never messed up my system.

However, you should back up your OS first.
Personally, before I make any major changes to it, I prefer to clone my drive to an external USB drive. I use Foxclone for that. More than once I restored my drive to a previous state, using Foxclone after an update, etc. caused problems. But there are other threads that discuss that.

 

[dos2unix]

Thread 'Virtualization in Linux - part 2'

Feb 25, 2025

This thread is mostly about installing and using VirtualBox. But before we begin, I recommend reading post #1 in this thread.


Almost everything in the post applies to VirtualBox as well. You can skip posts #2 and #3 in that thread if you're going to use VirtualBox.

So how do you install it?

Fedora/Redhat/Rocky/Alma/Oracle

 dnf install -y VirtualBox-kmodsrc VirtualBox-server akmod-VirtualBox kmod-VirtualBox virtualbox-guest-additions VirtualBox libvirt-daemon-driver-vbox libvirt-daemon-vbox

...

• dos2unix
• Replies: 6
• Forum: General Server

• 

 

[Trynna3]

Yup, that's happened to me copying from an AI page. Don't remember which one.

Sometimes, you can't Select All because you'll also copy hidden text.

@Trynna3 Which AI "bot" did you use?

chat gpt, I use it most often as it remembers my past (at least for me, because itself seems to suffer bouts of amnesia and recommending me things over and over which we already went through and didn't work, in the same chat LOL.

And yes, i didn't know what else would copy here. I hoped people would be able to visually extract the commands and see whether anything was wrong there, so I should avoid them.

 

[Trynna3]

cleared the mess.
can I rely on that method then?

 

[bob466]

I've just installed Virtualbox the other day in Mint Cinnamon 22.1...I just download these files...

Then install them...I find this the best way.
When using a VM in Linux...you must add yourself to the vboxusers group...otherwise you can't use Flash Drives or External Drives in the VM...I assume you know how to do this.

 

[Trynna3]

I've just installed Virtualbox the other day in Mint Cinnamon 22.1...I just download these files...
View attachment 24952

Then install them...I find this the best way.
When using a VM in Linux...you must add yourself to the vboxusers group...otherwise you can't use Flash Drives or External Drives in the VM...I assume you know how to do this. View attachment 24953

I have LMDE, not ubuntu. Oracle delivers to either ubuntu or debian 12, among others. I guess I need to go for the debian one?

 

[bob466]

I have LMDE, not ubuntu. Oracle delivers to either ubuntu or debian 12, among others. I guess I need to go for the debian one?

What ever Distro you have...Virtualbox has the correct one for you...just choose it.

You'll notice Linux Mint isn't listed but as Mint is based on Ubuntu...I'll choose one of them.

 

[KGIII]

I'll choose one of them.

The inxi command can help with that.

System:
  Host: kgiii Kernel: 6.8.0-55-generic arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc
    v: 13.3.0
  Desktop: Cinnamon v: 6.4.8 Distro: Linux Mint 22.1 Xia
    base: Ubuntu 24.04 noble

As you can see, this version of Mint is based on Ubuntu 24.04. So, that's the VB package you'd want to download for ideal results.

 

[Trynna3]

Guys, I am a novice to Linux, but I have instincts. Ubuntu doesn't sound right for LMDE, especially when there is a Debian Bookworm package, for which I went.
But for the benefit of doubt, I asked the bot and this was the answer:

LMDE (Linux Mint Debian Edition) is based directly on Debian Stable, not Ubuntu. Since VirtualBox provides separate builds for Ubuntu and Debian, the Debian version is the correct choice for LMDE.
People suggesting the Ubuntu version might be used to the standard Linux Mint (which is based on Ubuntu). However, since LMDE follows Debian’s structure, using the Debian package ensures better compatibility and fewer dependency issues.

 

[Mike-W0BTU]

Guys, I am a novice to Linux, but I have instincts. Ubuntu doesn't sound right for LMDE, especially when there is a Debian Bookworm package, for which I went.
But for the benefit of doubt, I asked the bot and this was the answer:

LMDE (Linux Mint Debian Edition) is based directly on Debian Stable, not Ubuntu. Since VirtualBox provides separate builds for Ubuntu and Debian, the Debian version is the correct choice for LMDE.
People suggesting the Ubuntu version might be used to the standard Linux Mint (which is based on Ubuntu). However, since LMDE follows Debian’s structure, using the Debian package ensures better compatibility and fewer dependency issues.

I believe that is correct.