Virtualbox installation

[Chrisdb]

Hello,

Last night I tried to install debian stretch in virtualbox (Linux Host), but the installation process took more than 2 hours.
I had to terminate the installation because it was getting too late.

Is this a known problem, or did I miss something?

Also, how long does an installation of 'Stretch' normally take ?

Thx

[dilberts_left_nut]

It depends on what you are installing and where you are installing it from.

[Chrisdb]

What you are installing: Debian stretch with Gnome
Where you are installing it from: Virtualbox v6.0.4-1 (on Arch Linux)

[Head_on_a_Stick]

I can't answer your question directly but I would advise against using VirtualBox, both in general (it's crap) and specifically for Debian stretch (it's so crap that the Debian developers removed it just before the release: https://packages.debian.org/search?keyw ... ection=all) — try QEMU/KVM instead.

[Dai_trying]

Also, how long does an installation of 'Stretch' normally take ?

I can usually perform a full install in less than 15 minutes, if it is particularly old hardware (probably not the case here as you are using VirtualBox) it could take longer.

[stevepusser]

I've had it take that long, on not particularly old hardware, but with a comparatively slow Net connection. Virtual Box slows down the install quite a bit compared to a bare-metal install, too.

There are Debian derivatives that just blast an image onto the disk without getting anything from the Net, though--MX and antiX are ones that I know well. That takes about five minutes.

[Dai_trying]

Yes, I should have added that I use either live images or full install images to keep installation time down.

[eor2004]

@ Chrisdb: Hi, I just followed the instructions from here: https://wiki.debian.org/VirtualBox#Debi ... Stretch.22 and I was able to install Virtualbox for debian stretch, just follow the instructions for your debian version, hope this helps, good luck!

[stevepusser]

@ Chrisdb: Hi, I just followed the instructions from here: https://wiki.debian.org/VirtualBox#Debi ... Stretch.22 and I was able to install Virtualbox for debian stretch, just follow the instructions for your debian version, hope this helps, good luck!

You have it a bit mixed up, the OP is installing a Debian guest in Virtual Box running on Arch...

[eor2004]

Oh, Ok sorry, my bad.

[_nobody_]

I can't answer your question directly but I would advise against using VirtualBox, both in general (it's crap) and specifically for Debian stretch (it's so crap that the Debian developers removed it just before the release: https://packages.debian.org/search?keyw ... ection=all) — try QEMU/KVM instead.

Wrong, Head! I (present time) install with VBox VMM Debian Buster VM using my proprietary pre-seeded scripts for circa 20 minutes (on my tiny duo-core notebook). All this goes seamlessly (in the meantime I do other stuff, or rest watching TV)!

Hey, Head... You just have to understand. And you do NOT (small head on the stick)!

_nobody_

[sunrat]

He's not wrong about KVM/QEMU being better than VBox. Try it before casting aspersions. The virt-manager GUI makes it fairly simple.

[GarryRicketson]

As a ex Virtualbox user, I must agree with H_O_A_S, and Sunrat,... For years I had been using VirtualBox, and never all that happy with it, used it with Debian 6, and 7, then when I switched to a non systemd OS, Virtualbox was not available in their packages, but QEMU and KVM were, well, to make a long story short, I am so impressed with QEMU, I will/would never go back to Virtualbox, even if it was available in the packages,...

by Chrisdb »Also, how long does an installation of 'Stretch' normally take ?

If it is with a netinstall ISO, for me that is impossible as well, my ISP is to slow, and it takes forever, or never completes, But I downloaded a CD live image, but no Gnome, XFCE instead, ( I had to use a internet cafe in the city to do that), any way it took about the same 15 min, maybe less, to install to a QEMU VM, Gnome is a extremely bloated DE, so I suppose it might take a little longer, .... I would at least try QEMU, before bashing it, the OP might be surprised at the differences, not sure that it would make any difference on the install time for the Debian guest or not, we would need to see some hardware specs on the host system, also, if it is a netinstall, and the OP does not have a very good ISP, that could be why it is so slow. I am tempted to say some other things, but don't want to be rude or a troll.

[stevepusser]

..., then when I switched to a non systemd OS, Virtualbox was not available in their packages, ...

Just to be clear, VBox does not require systemd.

[GarryRicketson]

I did not say it did, but, maybe my grammar is bad or something, the point being that the other OS does not have VB available in it's packages, so I used QEMU because that is what they did have, and I am glad it happened, I might not have ever tried qemu if it had not been for the fact that it was not available . The OS I switched to is a non systemd OS, but no where did I say it needs or requires systemd,... Why are you trying to make it sound like I said something that I didn't ?

[_nobody_]

Just to be clear, VBox does not require systemd.

Seems that some (everyday more and more) people complain about systemd. I have myself some problems with it. Since I am somehow ignorant to it, time to focus to systemd a bit. It is a complex systems package, with a lot of dependencies.

_nobody_

[stevepusser]

I did not say it did, but, maybe my grammar is bad or something, the point being that the other OS does not have VB available in it's packages, so I used QEMU because that is what they did have, and I am glad it happened, I might not have ever tried qemu if it had not been for the fact that it was not available . The OS I switched to is a non systemd OS, but no where did I say it needs or requires systemd,... Why are you trying to make it sound like I said something that I didn't ?

I'm not, but those that don't like systemd will take your words that way. Just trying to cut them off at the pass.

[sunrat]

Seems irrelevant to even mention it in the context of this thread. sunrat dons tinfoil hat before golinux appears

[GarryRicketson]

Was writing when sunrat replied, yes, it is irrelevant, for sure, apology on my part, wish I could go back and edit, well I could but it would make the replies not make sense,...
@steve
Oh, ok, and yea, you have a good point there, I did not even think about that, but I see what you mean now, It didn't even occur to me , that would happen. Sorry about that,
and to clarify more, I also am not complaining about systemd, never have complained about it, QEMU seems to work much better , then Virtual Box to me, and it is easier to configure , in my opinion any way, it would be interesting if the OP could try QEMU, and see if Debian 9 installs any faster on it, ...... To be honest, I suspect the hardware of the host system may be the problem, and just not enough ram, or ,.????