What is VirtualBox?
VirtualBox is an open-source virtualization platform developed by Oracle that allows you to run multiple operating systems (OS) simultaneously on a single machine. It is a versatile and lightweight alternative to commercial hypervisors like VMware Workstation or Microsoft Hyper-V. One of VirtualBox’s significant advantages is its ability to run on a wide range of hardware, including less powerful machines, making it ideal for personal and educational use.
This blog will focus on using VirtualBox as a platform to support development and testing environments, particularly for identity and access management solutions like SailPoint IdentityNow (IDN).
Why use VirtualBox for IDN Development?
As a virtualization platform, VirtualBox enables developers to create isolated environments for testing, troubleshooting, and learning. Below are some ways VirtualBox can be leveraged for IDN development:
- Quickly set up virtual machines (VMs): VirtualBox allows you to create and configure VMs for your source and target systems in minutes.
- Save and revert states with snapshots: You can capture the state of a VM at any point and revert to it if something goes wrong during configuration or testing.
- Create reusable templates: Build a base VM image with pre-installed tools and configurations. Clone it whenever you need a fresh environment.
- Set up virtual networks: Use VirtualBox’s network management capabilities to simulate different network configurations required for connecting multiple virtual appliances to IDN.
If you’re looking for a reliable, cost-effective way to set up development environments on an existing system, VirtualBox is an excellent choice.
What do we need before we start?
Before setting up VirtualBox for IDN development, ensure the following prerequisites are met:
- VirtualBox Installed: Download and install the latest version of VirtualBox from the official website.
- IDN Tenant: Ensure you have access to an IdentityNow tenant.
- Virtual Appliance (VA) Software: Download the required VA package from the IdentityNow admin portal.
- Regular VA Package:
va-latest.zip - Ambassador VA Package:
vavm.7z
- Host Machine with Sufficient Resources: At least 16 GB of RAM and a multi-core processor are recommended for running multiple VMs.
- Network Configuration Details: Configure VirtualBox to connect your VMs to the internet or a local network, as needed.
Steps to Deploy IDN Virtual Appliances on VirtualBox( Only works on windows or Mac with Intel Based Chips)
- Prepare the Files
- Create a folder on your local machine to store the VA files (e.g.,
~/staging). - Unzip the downloaded VA package. Depending on the package type, you should find
.vmdkor.ovffiles in the extracted directory.
- Create a New Virtual Machine in VirtualBox
- Open VirtualBox and click “New” to create a new VM.
- Configure the VM settings:
- Name: Provide a meaningful name (e.g., “IDN VA”).
- OS Type: Linux → Ubuntu (64-bit).
- Memory: Set at least 8 GB (8192 MB).
- Disk: Choose Use Existing Virtual Hard Disk File and point it to the
.vmdkfile extracted earlier.
- Adjust VM Settings
- Go to the Settings menu for the VM and adjust the following:
- System → Processor: Allocate at least 2 CPUs.
- Network → Adapter 1: Select “Bridged Adapter” or “NAT” based on your network requirements.
- Storage: Verify the
.vmdkfile is attached as the primary disk.
- Start the VM
- Start the VM and observe the boot process.
- Once the VM reaches the SailPoint login prompt, it is ready for configuration.
Alternate Approach: Import OVF Files
If the VA package includes an .ovf file, you can use VirtualBox’s import feature:
- Open VirtualBox and click “File” → “Import Appliance.”
- Select the
.ovffile from your staging folder and follow the prompts to import the VM. - Adjust the settings (e.g., RAM, CPUs, network) as needed, then start the VM.
Conclusion
VirtualBox is a powerful and flexible tool for developers and IT professionals working with IDN and other platforms. It enables easy setup of test environments, supports snapshot functionality, and offers reusable templates, making it an excellent choice for sandboxing and experimenting with virtual environments. Whether you’re new to virtualization or an experienced developer, VirtualBox can streamline your IDN development and testing workflows.