"CentOS is an Enterprise-class Linux Distribution derived from sources freely provided to the public by a prominent North American Enterprise Linux vendor. CentOS conforms fully with the upstream vendor's redistribution policy and aims to be 100% binary compatible. (CentOS mainly changes packages to remove upstream vendor branding and artwork.) CentOS is free." -- CentOS Website
This is a step-by-step guide to install CentOS in the Oracle Virtual Machine (VM) software.
First off, grab your .iso of centOS-6.3 from this Link.
1. Start Oracle VM and click on the New button.
2. Input centOS in the Name text field. Usually Oracle VM would automatically search for its version upon typing the name of the OS, but in case it doesn’t, select Red Hat from the Version combo box field. Click the Next button after filling up the necessary fields.
3. Set the memory size to 1024 MB (roughly 1GB) RAM, and click the Next button. You can choose higher values for the RAM if you like.
4. Select Create a virtual hard drive now, and click the Create button.
5. Select VDI, and click on the Next button.
6. Select Dynamically allocated, and click on the Next button.
7. By default, the allocated vdd space is set to 8.00 GB, you can set it to any value you are comfortable with, then click on the Create button.
8. Now, click on the Start button.
9. If this prompt pops up, click on the folder icon at the right and select your centOS.iso file.
10. Press any key to halt the automatic boot sequence/countdown. Select Install.
11. The next step might take a long wait, so please be patient as the system does the preliminary part of the installation of centOS.
12. Once you’ll reach this screen, click on the Next button
13. For the language selection, select English, click on the Next button.
14. For your keyboard setting, select US English, and click on the Next button.
15. Select Basic Storage Devices, then click on the Next button.
16. Click on the Yes, discard any data button, since we have already allocated 8GB (or whatever memory you have allocated) of memory for centOS earlier.
17. Input your desired hostname in this text field, it is important that you choose a hostname that is easy to remember. Click on the Next button afterwards.
18. Select the nearest city in your time zone, in my case, I live in the Philippines, so I chose Manila. Then, click on the Next button.
19. Enter your desired password for the root user, again be sure that you won’t forget this piece of information. Click on the Next button afterwards.
20. In this selection, you have to select what type of installation you like. I chose Use All Space since I have allotted 8GB of HD space for the sole purpose of this installation. You can select other choices if you want. After you have made your choice, click on the Next button.
21. If this prompt appears, click on the Write changes to disk button.
22. The installation proper will execute, click on Close, when you will see this screen:
23. If upon closing, your VM hangs – or is aborted – click on the Start button, and thwart the automatic boot selection. Select on the Devices tab, click on CD/DVD devices, and select Remove disk from virtual drive.
24. Then, go to the Machine tab and select Reset.
25. Your VM will automatically boot the centOS installation. When you reach this screen, click on the Forward button.
26. This is the license information of centOS… simple and brief isn’t it? Click on the Forward button to continue.
27. Fill up the following fields, again, choose a username which is easy to remember. Click on the Forward button to continue.
28. In this screen, you can set up your time setting, but since it the timezone has been configured earlier in this installation, just click on the Forward button.
29. If you are prompted by an error about Kdump, just click on OK, and you will see this screen. Click on the Finish button to continue.
30. If you have reached this screen, Congratulations! You have successfully installed centOS on your Oracle VM. You can now log-in with your username, and password. Enjoy!
