#497 Lion, VirtualBox and Ubuntu Server - 14 Septembre 2011

Web Programmation

Installing Apache, Mysql and Php directly on a Mac isn't a good idea: when you want to do a fresh reinstall, you need to format your personal computer. So let's use VirtualBox (free virtualization software) to run a Ubuntu Server.

The process is actually very straightforward so I am going to be very brief about it. At the end you will have a server with Apache / Mysql / Php and ssh access.

• Download VirtualBox and the Ubuntu Server ISO file.
• Install and open VirtualBox (you don't need to mount the Ubuntu iso).
• Create a new virtual machine (Memory 512Mo / Hard drive: 8Gb).
• Run it, it will ask you the Ubuntu ISO file.
• Follow the install procedure.
• When you have the screen to install services, select the ones you will need luckily need: SSH, Apache etc.
• Once the installation is finished, stop completely the virtual machine.
• Open a Mac terminal and enter (replace machine-name by the name of your machine in VirtualBox):
  • VBoxManage modifyvm "machine-name" --natpf1 "guestssh,tcp,,2222,,22" # SSH
  • VBoxManage modifyvm "machine-name" --natpf1 "apache,tcp,,8888,,80" # Apache
• Launch your virtual machine.
• Open Safari: http://localhost:8888/, if you see "It works!", it means apache is working properly.
• Open a terminal: ssh username@localhost -p 2222.