VirtualBox / Procedures

The following are standard procedures referenced in this documentation.

• Procedure to add a user on Linux VM
• Procedure to change hostname on Linux VM

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Procedure to add a user on Linux VM

It is often necessary to add a new user on a Linux VM, for example a developer that needs to work on software products, or a support person that is troubleshooting a support issue using a VM. To add a user (tested on Debian Jessie VM):

1. Start the VM.
2. Login as a user that has sudo permissions.
3. $ sudo adduser user
   • In the above user is the login name for the user.
   • The command will prompt for additional information.
4. Optionally, add the user to the sudo group so that administrative tasks can be done (in the following, user is the login name for the user to be added to sudo group):
   • $ sudo adduser user sudo

Procedure to change hostname on Linux VM

A VM that was cloned, imported as an appliance, or otherwise created may have a hostname that needs to be changed. For example, the hostname may need to be changed to avoid duplicating a similar hostname on the local network.

To change the hostname (tested on Debian Jessie VM):

1. Start the VM.
2. Open a terminal on the VM.
3. Change the hostname by editing system files:
   1. $ sudo vi /etc/hostname
      • Change the single value.
   2. $ sudo vi /etc/hosts
      • Change multiple values.
      • Also change the domain in the above, if necessary.
   3. $ sudo vi /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key.pub
      • Change the hostname at the end of the very long line.
   4. $ sudo vi /etc/ssh/ssh_host_dsa_key.pub
      • Change the hostname at the end of the very long line.
      • This is used on Debian jessie.
   5. $ sudo vi /etc/ssh/ssh_host_ecdsa_key.pub
      • Change the hostname at the end of the very long line.
      • This is used on Debian stretch.
4. Restart the system: $ sudo reboot
5. Test that the new settings are in effect:
   • $ hostname