(2020-04-21)

1. Install Oracle VirtualBox on your Computer.
2. Download the current Ubuntu Image from here.
   Notice username and password given here.
3. Run VirtualBox and import the downloaded image into VirtualBox.
4. In VirtualBox adjust reserved memory (RAM) and graphics memory for the VM.
5. Start the imported image.
6. Log in with the credentials given here.
7. Explore your new virtual Linux computer.

Ubuntu 18.04 Desktop Image to support the courses Scientific Programming (SciProg) and Applied Measurement and Control (AMC) of the 'Environment and Energy' study program at the Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences. Maintained by R. Becker (2020-04-18)

Most significant features installed:

For a detailed description go here: 2020-04-19_v002

initial approach (outdated)

The computers of the students with their operating systems (OS) are usually very heterogeneous. Some students use Windows with different versions, licenses and language options, others use Mac and a few Linux. Throughout the last semesters we spent a considerable amount of time fixing annoying problems related to different software installations. As a consequence for this semester (SS2020) we will try for the first time to use virtual machines running on your operating systems.

The advantage is that all students will be using the same (virtual) operating system with the same software packages and the same configuration! This makes support much easier.

To put it very simply: A Virtual machine (VM) is a virtual 'computer' running in a window of the host computer. Example: Ubuntu Linux VM running on a Windows 10 host operating system or Debian Linux VM running on Mac OS, etc.

We will set up a Linux VM with Ubuntu 18.04 LTS. It is a wide spread open source OS, very stable, clearly manageable, well supported and extremely transparent.

We prepared our own Linux VM image with the most important software components for AMC and SciProg pre-installed! Everything needed is in already in the VM!

On your computers you have to install VirtualBox from Oracle for your particular operating system. VirtualBox is available for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. Yes, you can run a virtual Linux machine even on a Linux machine. You should do it to acquire the same state of software installation in the VM!

(Thank you, Marla, for your support!)

Problem:
When you start VirtualBox on a Windows host sometimes the following error message comes up:

Fig.: Error, VT-x in Bios disabled (click on the image to enlarge)
Screenshot: Marla Baker

Solution:
Have a look at this Youtube video: How to enable Virtualization (VT-x) in Bios Windows 10