Debian VM (w/ VirtualBox)

VirtualBox is a free and open-source virtual machine monitor (software that creates and runs virtual machines, i.e. emulated computer systems) developed by Oracle. VirtualBox can run virtual machines (VMs) running a variety of operating systems.

These instructions will go over how to set up a VirtualBox VM running Debian 13.

Note

More information on VirtualBox and virtualization in general is readily available online, and we encourage you to explore, learn, tinker, and have fun with these technologies on your own!

Installing VirtualBox

Navigate to the VirtualBox Downloads page and follow the following instructions based on your operating system.

macOS

1. Download the appropriate VirtualBox package for your Mac’s architecture (Intel or Apple silicon).
2. Double-click the downloaded .dmg file to mount it.
3. Double-click the installer and follow the installation wizard.

Windows

1. Download the VirtualBox package for Windows.
2. Double-click the downloaded .exe file and follow the installation wizard.

Linux

1. Download the appropriate VirtualBox package for your Linux distribution.

   VirtualBox provides distribution-specific .deb and .rpm packages, as well as an executable .run installer.

2. Install the downloaded package. If you downloaded a .deb or .rpm, using your distribution’s package manager will automatically handle dependencies.

UEFI Secure Boot

If your system uses UEFI Secure Boot and you have not previously enrolled a Machine Owner Key (MOK), you may receive a message stating that additional configuration is required to use third-party drivers.

You will be enrolling a Machine-Owner Key in your firmware; this is just another layer of protection on top of UEFI Secure Boot to ensure that you are not a malicious third party.

You will need to create a MOK password, reboot your computer, and enroll the key when prompted.

Remember the password you create!

For more information, see discussions about MOK enrollment on Ask Ubuntu or Stack Exchange.

Download Debian

Download the appropriate Debian 13 ISO for your computer’s architecture from the Debian website.

The download may take a few minutes.

Create the Virtual Machine

Open VirtualBox. You will be asked to choose an Experience Model, Basic Mode is fine.

Select Create a new virtual machine (VM).

Virtual Machine Name and Operating System

Under “Virtual machine name and operating system”:

1. Give your virtual machine a name.
2. Select the Debian 13 ISO you downloaded.
3. You can leave Proceed with Unattended Installation checked.

Unattended Guest OS Installation

Under “Set up unattended guest OS installation”:

Set the password for the user that will be created inside the virtual machine.

Virtual Hardware

Under “Specify virtual hardware” and “Specify virtual hard disk”:

Choose how many resources from your computer will be temporarily allocated to the virtual machine.

A reasonable starting point is:

Resource	Recommended
Memory	4 GB
Storage	16 GB

Debian can run with fewer resources if necessary. Its recommended minimums are 512 MB of memory and 4 GB of storage.

Finish Installation

Select Finish and boot into Debian 13!

VirtualBox will use the Debian ISO and the settings you provided to install Debian 13.

Once installation is complete, you can use the Debian VM like a separate computer running inside your existing operating system.

Shutting Down the VM

When you are finished using your virtual machine, use Save State or Shut Down.

Avoid Power Off

Avoid using Power Off unless necessary. Using Power Off is like yanking the power cord on a physical computer and does not allow the operating system to shut down properly.

Additional Resources

More information is available in the official VirtualBox documentation.