With the aid of virtual machines, which are available nowadays, you don’t need to install two operating systems on the same computer, in order to do different tasks. Among the most popular programs to run virtual machines, Oracle VirtualBox is a program, which deserves special mention, as it is free, lightweight. It has almost everything, a user needs to run virtual machines. It comes with a lot of new functionalities, and can efficiently handle operating systems, developed by multiple manufacturers.

With a dual boot system the operating system is installed to a seperate partition on the hard drive, or a seperate hard drive all together. When booting up the computer, the user is given the option as to which operating system to load. In our case we could load Ubuntu on our Mac instead of OS X. With a dual boot system the operating system is installed to a seperate partition on the hard drive, or a seperate hard drive all together. When booting up the computer, the user is given the option as to which operating system to load. In our case we could load Ubuntu on our Mac instead of OS X. For information on this, have a look here: Lifehacker 'How to Run Mac OS X Inside Windows Using VirtualBox'. Ignore the fact that they are using VirtualBox in Windows, because the same process will work in Ubuntu too.

But, due to some system limitations on older operating systems, you might not get the advantage of numerous new features, which might be offered by your computer hardware. In such cases, Oracle came with a solution of Extension Pack for VirtualBox, which can be installed, in order to get the extra hardware functionalities, which is present on your computer. The VirtualBox extension Pack is platform independent, which means you can install it on any of the existing operating systems, provided VirtualBox is installed on your computer.

How to install VirtualBox extension Pack on any platform running VirtualBox

How to install VirtualBox extension Pack on any platform running VirtualBox

Wait, do you need it!

Before proceeding with the installation of extension pack for your VirtualBox, it is recommended that you check, whether you need it.

• The extension Pack comes with support for USB 2.0 and 0, which can be helpful, if you are having a new computer, and want to use those ports with maximum potential, within your guest operating system, while using VirtualBox.
• The extension Pack also come with Intel PXE Boot ROM, which is the abbreviation of Pre-Boot Execution Environment, and you will need that while making your guest operating system boot from the network.
• If you need nativedisk encryption features, on your guest operating system, you can also get the feature with the Extension Pack. Apart from the three most important features, which you can get, you can also get bonus functionalities, which include VirtualBox RDP, NVMe features and many more.

In most of the cases, the features, which are mentioned here, are not necessary for normal users, and thus, it is not present in the default package of VirtualBox. But if you are a developer, and you really need those functionalities, you should not think once again before you download and install a VirtualBox Extension Pack.

Downloading and installing the extension Pack on all platforms

Mac Os On Virtualbox Windows

Downloading the extension Pack for VirtualBox

Step 1: Visit the official website of VirtualBox, which is https://www.VirtualBox.org/, and click on “Downloads” on the left panel of the webpage.

Step 2: Find out VirtualBox Extension Pack, and click on the link, which says “All Supported Platforms”, in order to start downloading the extension Pack directly.

You can also click on the following link, https://download.VirtualBox.org/VirtualBox/5.2.6/Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-5.2.6-120293.vbox-extpack, to start downloading the Extension Pack without going through all the above steps.

Installing the extension Pack for VirtualBox on Windows, Mac OS, and Ubuntu Linux

Step 1: Locate the downloaded file, and it will come with the extension “.vbox-extpack”. Double click on the file.

Step 2: A new window will open, asking you, whether you want to install the Extension Pack for VirtualBox. Just click on “Install” to start installing the Extension Pack.

Step 3: Scroll down to the end of the Terms and Conditions page and click on “I agree”.

After successful installation, you get a message as shown in the below screenshot…

Installing the extension pack on VirtualBox Portable

Note: The Portable VistualBox is only available for Windows machine. So, if you are running on Windows 10, Windows 8 or Windows 7 then only you can follow or use the Extension pack on Portable VirtualBox.

Installing the Extension Pack on a portable version can be a little tricky, but you should know the correct method to do it.

Step 1: Open VirtualBox Portable and click on “File”

Step 2: Click on “Preferences”, which will possibly the first on the list.

Step 3: In the “Preferences” window, go to “Extensions”.

Step 4: On the right side of the window you can find “Adds New Package”. Click on that.

Step 5: Locate the VirtualBox Extension Pack, with the extension “.vbox-extpack”.

Step 6: Click on Install, Accept the “Terms and Conditions”, and the installation will start.

Mac Os Image For Virtualbox

The installation will take hardly a few seconds, though it depends upon your system. Click on “OK” to finalize the installation. Once the installation is complete, you can easily configure your existing or new guest operating systems to take advantage of the extension Pack, by using all the latest features, which are available.

How to Remove or Uninstall Oracle VirtualBox Extension Pack

The above method to install Extension Pack on VirtualBox is not only limited to portable editions, but it also works perfectly on other editions. The following method can even help you to remove any old or unused Extension Pack.

Step 1: Click on File from the Virtualbox Menu and select the Preferences option.

Step 2: Select the Extension option and just select the package you want to uninstall.

Step 2: Click on cross icon to Remove Selected Package.

Step 3: Click on “Remove”, in the new window, which appears and you are done…

A final note on Oracle VM VirtualBox extension pack

As the VirtualBox extension Pack comes with the file extension “.vbox-extpack”, you should keep VirtualBox installed on your computer, to install the Extension Pack. In case you’re not having VirtualBox, the Extension Pack will not be recognized by your operating system.

SEE:

This in depth guide will take you every step of the way through installing Ubuntu Linux on your Mac, by way of VirtualBox – a free and outstanding program. Using this method you’ll be able to run Ubuntu and macOS at the same time!

Please note: although this guide was initially authored in 2015, it has been updated (2020) to be current. The following guide uses Ubuntu 18.04.3 LTS “Bionic Beaver”, but the steps and screenshots are nearly identical for most versions of Ubuntu, up to including 20.04.1 LTS.

Using this method to install Ubuntu not only allows you to run it and macOS at the same time, you can really try out Ubuntu – and if you don’t like it – very easily get rid of it. Plus, it will not affect the files in macOS itself at all. None of the data on your Mac is at risk of being deleted or altered. The entire process is actually quite straightforward – and all of the software involved is free – so why not give it a shot :)

Mac Os On Virtualbox Linux

1. Before you get started, there are a few things that should be noted up front.
   1. Depending on the speed of your Internet connection, it might take a while to download Ubuntu. During the actual installation process, based on the version of Ubuntu you opt to install – you may have to spend some time downloading updates as well.
   2. The installation time is about 20 minutes, depending on the speed of your Mac, amount of memory etc. You may want to make yourself a cup of coffee or tea before you start.
   3. Running both Ubuntu and macOS at the same time will “slow down” your Mac. The more memory you have and the faster your CPU and/or hard drive is, the less you’ll notice it.

   Let’s get started!

   1. First up, head over to the Ubuntu download page and download Ubuntu.
   2. Now you’ll need to download and install VirtualBox. Visit their download page and click the link OS X hosts (which is the current stable version). Once the download has completed, open the .dmg file and run the installer – the installation is as easy as clicking ‘next’ a bunch of times. When installation is done, launch VirtualBox from your Applications folder.
   3. When VirtualBox opens, click the New button.
   4. Give your “virtual machine” a name (something descriptive is good, but it doesn’t matter). Make sure the Type: is set to Linux and the Version: is Ubuntu (64 bit). Then click the Continue button.
   5. Now you’re going to decide how much memory (RAM) you’re going to allocate to Ubuntu when it’s running, and how much to leave for macOS. As illustrated in the screenshot below, my total RAM is 4GB, so I allocated half of it to Ubuntu, and the other half to macOS. The more memory you give to Ubuntu, the faster it will run. The drawback is that macOS will have less to use while Ubuntu is running. At a minimum, give Ubuntu at 1GB (1024MB) of RAM. When you’ve decided how much memory (RAM) to give Ubuntu, click the Continue button.
   6. On the Hard drive screen, select Create a virtual hard drive now and then click Create.
   7. Now select VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image) and click Continue
   8. Select Dynamically allocated and yep – you guessed it – click Continue
   9. Use the “slider” to determine the size you want to make the “hard drive” for Ubuntu. At a minimum, you’ll want to select 6GB – and that will not allow for you to install many programs, let alone store files etc. Keep in mind that because you selected “Dynamically allocated” in the previous step, that does not mean that VirtualBox is going to take up that space right away. It means that as Ubuntu needs more space, it will allow the “hard drive” to increase up to whatever size you set at this step.

      As illustrated in the screenshot below, I opted to give Ubuntu 10GB. That’s enough for the installation and to install quite a few programs. Since I won’t be “storing” many files in Ubuntu (movies, pictures, music etc) – 10GB will suit my needs. Plus, I have a small hard drive on my MacBook Air. If you have a big hard drive, you might as well allocate more rather than less, again – the space won’t be used until it’s needed. After you’ve made your selection, click Create.

   10. Almost time to install Ubuntu! Click the Start button.
   11. If you’re using macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later, you’re going to need to ‘allow’ Virtualbox to receive keystrokes from any application (which is completely safe). Click the Open System Preferences button.
   12. Click the ‘lock’ icon in the bottom left corner of the screen. After entering your password, place a check in the box next to the Virtualbox item in the list.
   13. Click Later when prompted.
   14. Back in Virtualbox you’ll be prompted to locate a file. Click the “folder” icon next to menu that says Empty (see screenshot below).
   15. Again, if you’re using macOS 10.15 or later, you’ll be prompted to grant permission for Virtualbox to access a folder. Click OK. You may be prompted to do this several more times – just click OK each time.
   16. Navigate to the Ubuntu .iso file that you downloaded all the way back in step #1. Select it, and click Open
   17. Now click Start
   18. Finally! Click Install Ubuntu
   19. Select your keyboard layout and preferred language then click Continue
   20. Make sure to place a check in both of the boxes – Download updates while installing Ubuntu and Install third-party software for graphics and Wi-Fi hardware and additional media formats – then click the Continue button.
   21. Select Erase disk and install Ubuntu. NOTE: this is not going to ‘wipe out’ or erase any data in macOS. None. It is safe to click Install Now, so do just that.
   22. Click Continue
   23. When prompted, select your Time Zone and then click Continue
   24. Fill in each field with the required information. When you’re done, Continue
   25. Now it’s time to sit back and relax with that cup of coffee or tea. This may take a bit.
   26. Yay! It’s done! Click Restart Now
   27. Hit Enter (the ‘return’ key on your keyboard) when prompted.
   28. And you’ll boot into Ubuntu! Enter your password when prompted.
   29. Welcome to the Ubuntu Desktop! At this point you should be connected to the Internet and completely ready to go – have fun!