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Getting Started with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 (RHEL 9) on VirtualBox

Faizan Shaikh's photo
Faizan Shaikh
·

3 min read

What is an Operating System (OS)?

Think of your computer as a powerful machine consisting of a CPU, RAM, and storage. The OS acts as the brain, managing hardware resources, running programs, and providing a user interface—either a Graphical User Interface (GUI) or a Command-Line Interface (CLI).

Linux has various distributions (distros), each catering to specific needs:

  • Ubuntu – Beginner-friendly and widely used for development.

  • Kali Linux – Designed for penetration testing and security research.

  • Linux Mint – A stable and easy-to-use alternative to Windows.

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) – An industry-grade Linux OS, commonly used in enterprises and cloud computing.

Different Ways to Install an OS

Depending on your needs, you can install Linux in different ways:

  1. Bare Metal – Install Linux directly on a physical machine (e.g., your laptop).

  2. Virtualization – Run multiple OS on a single system using software like VirtualBox (ideal for learning and testing).

  3. Containerization – Use Docker to run applications in isolated environments without installing a full OS.

  4. Cloud Computing – Deploy Linux servers on platforms like AWS, Azure, or GCP without requiring physical hardware.

Installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 (RHEL 9) on VirtualBox

Step 1: Download the Required Files

  • VirtualBox: Download from virtualbox.org

  • RHEL 9 ISO: Obtain from Red Hat Downloads (requires a free Red Hat account)

Step 2: Create a Virtual Machine (VM)

  1. Open VirtualBox and click New.

  2. Set a name (e.g., RHEL 9) and select Linux as the OS type.

  3. Allocate at least 2GB RAM (preferably 4GB+ for better performance).

  4. Create a virtual hard disk (allocate at least 20GB of space).

  5. Attach the downloaded RHEL 9 ISO.

Step 3: Install RHEL 9

  1. Start the VM and select Install RHEL 9.

  2. Choose your language and click Continue.

  3. Select the installation destination and click Done.

  4. Set a root password and enable GUI access.

  5. Click Begin Installation and wait for around 15-20 minutes.

Post-Installation Steps

After installation, log in and open the terminal to start exploring Linux commands!

VirtualBox Shortcuts for Efficient Navigation

  • Right Ctrl + F → Full-screen mode

  • Right Ctrl + C → Scaled mode

  • Right Ctrl + R → Restart VM

  • Right Ctrl + Q → Close VM

  • Right Ctrl + G → Enable/disable keyboard capture

  • Ctrl + Shift + S → Take a snapshot (backup VM state)

Basic Linux Commands to Get Started

Echo Command

Displays text or variable values in the terminal:

echo "Welcome to Linux!"

Text-to-Speech with espeak-ng

Make Linux "speak" text aloud using espeak-ng:

espeak-ng "Hello, welcome to Red Hat Linux"

Adjust speed using -s:

espeak-ng -s 150 "Speaking slower now"

Terminate a Running Program

If a program is stuck, press:

  • Ctrl + C → Stops execution

Open the Terminal in RHEL 9

After logging in, try:

  • Searching for Terminal in "Activities"

  • Using the shortcut Ctrl + Alt + T

With these steps, you're ready to explore the power of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 in a virtualized environment! 🚀

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