How To Use Desktop Factory on Windows using VirtualBox

Summary

The Timesys Factory is designed to be run from a Linux host. However, not all developers have access to a Linux machine for their work. This guide will show how to host Factory in a VirtualBox virtual machine running Ubuntu Linux.

Prerequisites

Procedure

Create a Virtual Machine

  • Start the VirtualBox software.
  • Click the New button.
  • Click the Next button.
  • Fill out the VM Name and OS Type page.
    • Name can be anything you want
    • Operating System should be "Linux"
    • Version should be "Ubuntu"

NOTE:

64-bit ubuntu need hardware-virtualzation enabled in the hosts bios.
  • On the Memory page, recommended size is 2048 as Base Memory Size.
  • On the Virtual Hard Disk page you want to Create a New Hard Disk.
    • In the New Virtual Disk wizard, select Dynamically expanding storage and click Next.
    • In the Virtual Disk Location and Size page you want to set the size as large as possible.

NOTE:

The virtual disk will not immediately take up this much space, since we chose "Dynamically 
expanding storage" on the previous page. The disk will instead grow as needed. Also note that
we recommend a size of at least 20 GB for the disk, meaning you will have to have at least 20 GB 
free on your host hard drive.  Since disk grows as needed, you can set it to maximum size.
  • Click Next to see the summary page for the Virtual Hard Disk wizard, then click Finish to accept.
  • Accept the defaults for the rest of the wizard.

Set Up Bridged Networking on the Virtual Machine

  • In the VirtualBox window, make sure your Ubuntu virtual machine is highlighted in the left pane.
  • In the right pane, click Network (you may have to scroll down).
  • In the Adapter 1 tab of the Network Settings window, change the Attached to: drop-down from NAT to Bridged Adapter
  • Make sure the Name drop-down shows the network adapter on your host machine that you will use to communicate with your board.
  • Click OK.

Enable USB Host Controller

  • Connect USB devices to your host which you will need access to in your virtual machine.
  • In the VirtualBox window, make sure your Ubuntu virtual machine is highlighted in the left pane.
  • In the right pane, click USB (you may have to scroll down).
  • Check the Enable USB Controller checkbox.
  • On the far right of the window, click the second icon down (USB plug with green plus sign) to add a filter.
  • Select the USB device driver of the device you would like to access in the virtual machine; ensure it's added to the list and that it's checkbox is checked.
  • Click OK.
  • Start your virtual machine.
  • You may need to remove and re-insert the USB device for your virtual machine to detect the device.

Install Ubuntu to the Virtual Machine

  1. Add the Downloaded .iso to the Machine:
    • Make sure your Ubuntu virtual machine is highlighted in the left pane of the VirtualBox window
    • In the right pane click on Storage.
    • Click the Empty CD entry under IDE Controller.
    • Where it says CD/DVD Device, click the folder icon to the right of the drop-down.
    • In the Virtual Media Manager click Add and select your Ubuntu installer .iso from where you downloaded it.
    • Make sure the Ubuntu installer .iso is highlighted, and click Select.
    • Back in the Settings window click OK.
  2. Boot and install Ubuntu:
    • In the VirtualBox window click your virtual machine and click Start.
    • The Ubuntu LiveCD screen should come up. Select your language and then Install Ubuntu.
    • Run through the Ubuntu Installer.
    • Shut down the virtual machine.
  3. Install the VirtualBox Guest Additions:
    • Go back to the Storage settings as shown earlier.
    • Click on the CD icon with the name of the Ubuntu installer .iso
    • In the CD/DVD Device drop-down, replace the .iso with Empty.
    • Click OK.
    • Boot the virtual machine.
    • Use the right-side Ctrl button on your keyboard to release your mouse pointer from the virtual machine.
    • In the virtual machine window click Devices —> Install Guest Additions.
    • A CD icon will appear in your virtual machine. Double-click on it to see its contents.
    • Double click the autorun.sh file and at the prompt click Run in Terminal Window.
      NOTE: If you install a kernel update in the Ubuntu virtual machine you will have to re-install the Guest Additions
  4. Reboot the virtual machine.
  5. Set up your new Linux host to run the Factory:
    • Refer to Factory Host Requirements to set up the virtual machine for Factory
      NOTE: Make sure to follow these instructions from inside the virtual machine
    • Relink /bin/sh to /bin/bash:
      $ sudo ln -sf /bin/bash /bin/sh

VirtualBox Guest Additions

  • Install VirtualBox Guest Additions if you wish to resize your VM display, and for better interaction between your host and VM. To install Guest Additions, start your VM, and choose the option under the tools menubar selection.

Install Timesys Tools to Virtual Machine