Installing the XMT Virtual Box

  1. Download the virtual box software for your machine from the following website: http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads
  2. Install the virtual box software according to the instructions for your platform.
  3. Download the latest version of the ubuntu virtual-box as described under the Download Section.  
  4. Unzip the zipped file. It contains a .vdi file which is a virtual disk used by the VirtualBox software. Normally VirtualBox stores these files under C:\Documents and Setting\Your User Name\.VirtualBox. We recommend you save .vdi file in that directory. 
  5. Start the VirtualBox software
  6. Click on the "New" icon below the 'File' menu. A wizard is started. Hit 'Next' on the Welcome screen
  7. Provide a Name for the VirtualBox you are creating, for example "xmt-box" and choose 'Ubuntu' as the OS Type. Then hit Next. 
  8. The next screen lets you select how much memory (RAM) to allocate for the VirtualBox you are creating. You can use the recommended base memory as you will be able to change this value later if you wish. Hit Next
  9. At virtual hard disk menu click on "Existing..." to select the .vdi file you downloaded from the XMT website. A new window will open.
  10. In the new window (the Virtual Disk Manager window) click on the "Add"button near the top left. A new window will open.
  11. In the "Select a hard disk image file" window, navigate to where you saved the XMTubuntu.vdi file you extracted from the zip file, select it and click 'Open'.
  12. You will be returned to the 'Virtual Disk Manager' window where the XMTubuntu.vdi disk should now appear on the list of hard disks. Click on it and click the 'Select' button.
  13. You will be returned to the 'Virtual Hard Disk' window of the wizard where now the 'Boot Hard Disk (Primary Master)' should be completedwith the XMTubuntu.vdi disk that you just selected. Click on 'Next'.
  14. A Summary is presented to you. Make sure all the options are correct and hit the 'Finish' button.
  15. Now you will be returned to the original VirtualBox window where you originally clicked on 'New'. The xmt-box you just created will appear under the 'New' button. Select it and click the 'Start' button to fire up your xmt-box. A message window telling you how to go back and forth between your host Operating System (i.e. Windows) and your virtual box will be displayed. Read it carefully and proceed.
  16. The virtual box will boot and you will get to a login screen. When prompted for the username type 'xmtu' and the password is also 'xmtu'.
  17. Congratulations you have logged in, now left-click with your mouse anywhere on the desktop and a menu will open. Choose 'User Application List->xterm' and a terminal opens. You can now start programming. Notice that the same menu that appears with a left mouse click also has the 'Shutdown' option, which will be useful when you are done!
  18. ATTENTION. If you want to have internet access inside your virtual box keep reading
  19. Once you are logged in type type 'sudo rm /etc/udev/rules.d/70-persistent-net.rules'. You will be asked for you password. Type it in (i.e. xmtu), and hit enter.
  20. Reboot your virtual box and you should have internet access (provided of course your host machine has internet access!).

Downloading the XMT VirtualBox Image

You can select the latest version of the XMT VirtualBox Image to download directly below. Expect this to take a while. The file is 840MB+ large.
Current list of changes in the last versions:

You can check the integrity of the downloaded file by checking the md5 checksum:

Updating The XMT tools:

If you enabled the Internet connection on your virtual box (steps 19 and 20 above), you will be able manually update the tools to the latest version. To update your XMT tools type in a terminal:
    cd /opt/xmt
    svn up

Linux tutorial:

If you are new to linux and want a tutorial on linux, here's a couple of pointers: http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/Teaching/Unix/
Reading 'Tutorial One' and 'Tutorial Two' will give you the bare minimum you will need in terms of working in linux. You will also need to learn how to use a text editor in linux.

Emacs is considered powerful and relatively friendly. Learn the basics here:  http://lowfatlinux.com/linux-editor-emacs.html

Keep in mind that the internet is full of useful information on how to use linux and its tools (which is not the case for Windows for example), so don't be shy and use Google if you don't know how to do something! :)