Install VirtualBox and its extension on Ubuntu

Step 1: Update Ubuntu

Before installing VirtualBox, run the commands below to update the Ubuntu server.

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade && sudo apt-get autoremove

Step 2: Install Required Linux Headers

Now that your system is updated, run the commands below to install required Ubuntu linux headers.

sudo apt-get -y install gcc make linux-headers-$(uname -r) dkms

Step 3: Add VirtualBox Repository and key

After installing the required package above, run the commands below to install VirtualBox repository key.

wget -q https://www.virtualbox.org/download/oracle_vbox_2016.asc -O- | sudo apt-key add -
wget -q https://www.virtualbox.org/download/oracle_vbox.asc -O- | sudo apt-key add -

Next run the commands below to add VirtualBox repository to your system.

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian $(lsb_release -sc) contrib" >> /etc/apt/sources.list'

Step 4: Install VirtualBox

After adding the repository and key, run the commands below to install VirtualBox . At the time of this writing the latest version of the software was 5.2. If there are newer versions available, please replace the 2 below with the current latest.

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install virtualbox-6.0

To verify if VirtualBox is installed, run the commands below.

VBoxManage -v

Step 5: Install VirtualBox Extension Pack

Everytime you install VirtualBox make sure to install the extension pack as well. The pack enables VRDP (Virtual Remote Desktop Protocol) and many other enhancements.

To install it, run the commands below

curl -O http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/6.0.6/Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-6.0.6.vbox-extpack
sudo VBoxManage extpack install Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-6.0.6.vbox-extpack

Agree to the terms and install.

Run the commands below to view the extension pack installed.

VBoxManage list extpacks

The results should look like the one below:

richard@ubuntu1604:~$ VBoxManage list extpacks
Extension Packs: 1
Pack no. 0:   Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack
Version:      5.2.4
Revision:     119785
Edition:
Description:  USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 Host Controller, Host Webcam, VirtualBox RDP, PXE ROM, Disk Encryption, NVMe.
VRDE Module:  VBoxVRDP
Usable:       true
Why unusable: