We recommend that users install Oracle VM VirtualBox to run our Open Virtual Appliance (OVA or ".ova") files. Information for installation and VM import/export is listed below on this page.
## VM Installations
[Download Oracle VM VirtualBox Here](https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads) The link above brings you to the Oracle VirtualBox website to choose between recent VirtualBox installations.
[Download Virtual Machine File (Currently housed on CyBox, eventually needs to change)](https://iastate.box.com/s/swtzcj8q3teaaychpcvokxymtx4hncfc)
## Importing a .ova VM File
- Open Oracle VM VirtualBox
- Navigate to File-\>Import Appliance, or click the orange arrow button titled "Import"
- Browse your file directory by clicking the file button to the right of the path bar or by directly typing in the path of the directory desired for the Virtual Machine (the path must point to a file with a valid .OVA file extension)
- Click **Next**
- Check all of the available appliance settings. Make sure everything looks correct from previous use or description
- Click **Finish**
- Wait for import to finish, might take a couple of minutes to complete.
## Exporting a .ova VM File
- Open Oracle VM VirtualBox
- Select the VM you want to export as a copy (in our case, it would be 488_MP-4_VM or related)
- GO through the General and System Settings of the selected VM and make sure they sound correct. In our case, they should look like:
1. Operating System: Ubuntu Linux (64-bit)
2. Base Memory: 4096MB
3. Processors: 2 (Varies per machine, for lab machines, 8-10 cores would be best. For personal use, check the amount of cores available on personal PCs)
* Click next until you reach the "Format Settings" page
1. Keep format as "Open Virtualization Format 1.0" unless otherwise specified
2. Change the file to the desired path and name of the VM file (must end using the .ova extension)
3. Select MAC Address Policy as "Include all network adapter MAC addresses"
4. Additionally, include "Write Manifest File" to include export configs of the VM
* Click next and confirm all parameters for the appliance settings seem correct to your liking. Primarily check to make sure the Guest OS Type, CPU, and RAM are all correct. Include all other parameters to your liking as well. (To change this, you will need to exit out of the export and change the VM parameters by going to the main menu and clicking the "settings" button (should be displayed as a large orange cog icon)
* VM will begin writing and will take a couple of minutes for the writing to finish.
## Reducing Virtual Disk Image (.vdi) size
After editing the contents of a Virtual Disk Image (VDI), you might notice that the file size quickly increases as you change the content within the VM directory. It is recommended to often find ways to reduce the size to ensure that the VDI doesn't take up as much space as possible.
Here are some resources to check out to further learn more about reducing VM size:
1.[How to Shrink a VirtualBox Virtual Machine and Free Up Disk Space](https://www.howtogeek.com/312883/how-to-shrink-a-virtualbox-virtual-machine-and-free-up-disk-space/)
2.[Zerofree on Ubuntu 18.04 (2018)](https://askubuntu.com/questions/1092812/zerofree-on-ubuntu-18-04)
