[Installing Oracle Database 12c Release 1 on Microsoft Windows 2008 Server]: Creating a VirtualBox Virtual Machine for Installing Oracle Database on Windows 2008 Server

For information on how I installed virtualbox, variables, and directories, see
here

Set a variable with the name of the virtual machine being created to avoid having to substitute this value in commands later.

# su - vmadm
$ vm=vm_win2k8_oradb12.1
$ echo $vm

Create directories for the virtual machine and for snapshots

$ mkdir -p ${VM_HOME}/${vm}/snapshots

Creating and registering a virtual machine:

List supported operating systems

$ VBoxManage list ostypes

For a Windows 2k8 virtual machine

$ VBoxManage createvm \
--name ${vm} \
--ostype Windows2008_64  \
--basefolder ${VM_HOME}/${vm} \
--register

I choose a motherboard with a more modern chipset. Default is piix3

$ VBoxManage modifyvm ${vm}  --chipset piix3

Setting up processors.

$ VBoxManage modifyvm ${vm}  --cpus 2

Setting the amount of RAM

$ VBoxManage modifyvm ${vm} --memory 4096

Connecting a 32 MB video card

$ VBoxManage modifyvm ${vm} --vram 32

Remove sound card, remove floppy drive

$ VBoxManage modifyvm ${vm} --floppy disabled --audio none

I connect the hard disk controller (SATA). (With the SAS controller connected, Windows does not see hard drives)

$ VBoxManage storagectl ${vm} \
--add sata \
--name "SATA Controller"

Create virtual hard disks. Size is recommended to be set according to available resources. Otherwise, problems and virtual machine crashes may occur:

$ cd ${VM_HOME}/${vm}/${vm}

If you do not want to copy-paste the same thing 8 times, you can use just one command:

Create disks with 1 command:

$ for i in $(seq 1 8 )
do VBoxManage createhd --filename ${vm}_dsk_dsk$i.vdi --size 40960 --format VDI --variant Standard
done

Attach disks with 1 command:

$ for i in $(seq 1 8 )
do VBoxManage storageattach ${vm} --storagectl "SATA Controller" --device 0 --port $i --type hdd --medium ${vm}_dsk_dsk$i.vdi
done

Connect the IDE controller to which the DVD-ROM will be attached later:

$ VBoxManage storagectl ${vm} \
--add ide \
--name "IDE Controller"

Connect the DVD image of the operating system being installed to the IDE controller:

$ VBoxManage storageattach ${vm} \
--storagectl "IDE Controller" \
--port 0 \
--device 0 \
--type dvddrive \
--medium /mnt/dsk2/_ISO/_Microsoft/win2k8/x64/en_windows_server_2008_with_sp2_x64_dvd_342336.iso

Connecting network interfaces:

(My computer is connected to a router (a regular home router). Data exchange between my computer and the virtual machine will pass through it. If you are not using a router or switch, you need to create network interfaces with the parameter bridget replaced by internal connection.)

Run the command:

$ VBoxManage list bridgedifs

Pay attention to the value:

Name:            eth0

I use eth0 as the main physical interface that the virtual machines will use as a bridge.

I connect 2 virtual network interfaces “Intel® 82540EM Gigabit Ethernet Controller” working as bridged to the virtual machine:

$ VBoxManage modifyvm ${vm} \
--nictype1 82540EM \
--nic1 bridged \
--bridgeadapter1 eth0

Connect the DVD image of the operating system being installed to the IDE controller:

$ VBoxManage modifyvm ${vm} \
--nictype2 82540EM \
--nic2 bridged \
--bridgeadapter2 eth0

Define the boot order of devices

$ VBoxManage modifyvm ${vm} \
--boot1 disk \
--boot2 dvd

Define the snapshot directory

$ VBoxManage modifyvm ${vm} \
--snapshotfolder ${VM_HOME}/${vm}/snapshots

Allow RDP connection to the machine:

$ VBoxManage modifyvm ${vm} \
--vrde on \
--vrdemulticon on \
--vrdeauthtype null \
--vrdeaddress 192.168.1.5 \
--vrdeport 3389

Here we specify:

–vrdeaddress - ip address of the machine where virtualbox is installed.
–vrdeauthtype null - no authentication required.
–vrdemulticon on - multiple connections to virtual machines are allowed.
–vrdeport port that can be connected to when the virtual machine starts.

Show the result of the created virtual machine:

$ VBoxManage showvminfo ${vm}  | less

Create a snapshot before OS installation

$ VBoxManage snapshot ${vm} take before_os_installation

VIRTUAL MACHINE IS READY FOR OPERATING SYSTEM INSTALLATION

Start the virtual machine with RDP connection capability

$ VBoxHeadless --startvm ${vm}

You can check running virtual machines with the command

$ vboxmanage list runningvms

If you work on linux, you can connect to the virtual machine using rdesktop

$ rdesktop \
-r sound:local \
-k common  \
-g  1600x1024 \
192.168.1.5:3389

If you need to connect with a specific “geometry”, use the parameter
-g 1600x1024

If you need to work in full screen mode, remove the -g key and replace it with -f

To exit full screen mode - CTRL+ALT+ENTER

rdesktop - all available keys:
http://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/lucid/man1/rdesktop.1.html

In Windows, Remote Desktop Connection (mstsc.exe) is suitable for this. In Linux, there is a similar program for connecting to remote desktops - Remmina.

For more detailed documentation on creating snapshots and backups of virtual machines, see here

For normal operation in Windows, you will also need to install VirtualBox Guest Additions
http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/4.3.30/