running_in_vbox.md

How to run skiftOS on Virtual Box

Preparing the host OS

1. Download the latest stable version of Virtual Box for your host OS from here or any other similar service.
2. Download the latest release .img file of skiftOS from here.
3. Rename the extension of the downloaded .img file from .img to .hdd.

NOTE: Incase you are using windows, file extensions may not be displayed. Read this guide to enable extensions and then rename the file.

4. Great! You now have all the files required to run skiftOS

Creating the VM on Virtual Box

5. Create a new VM by clicking on the New button.
6. Give the OS a meaningful name and set Type: Other and Version: Other/Unknown and click on next.
7. Allocate a minimum of 128MB RAM (512MB recommended) and click on next.
8. Choose Do not add a virtual hard disk, click on Create and ignore the warning message and press Continue.

9. Click on Settings, go to Display and increase Video Memory to 32MB.
10. Next, click on Storage and under storage devices, click on the icon that looks like a hard disk (located next to the CD icon) and in the window that appears,click on Add.
11. Navigate to the .hdd file created in Step 3 and choose the file.
12. You're all set to run skiftOS! Click on start to see it boot up.

Increasing display resolution (optional)

13. Click on applications and search for terminal.
14. Run displayctl -s 1920x1080 or displayctl -s 1280x720 to increase the display resolution as required. Other resolutions may not be stable!.

Feedback and Issues

Feel free to report errors,bugs and make feature requests here any and do consider contributing to the skiftOS repository. Also checkout the skiftOS webpage.