Mac OSX Snow Leopard on Sun VirtualBox

From Lifehacker article

Create VM, if you call it OSX, the rest will fill in automatically, create a 20GB Virtual HD, in the VM settings System, uncheck 'Enable EFI', in storage choose the Hazard iso, start up and hit F8, add -v to the boot prompt. Get to the 'Disk Utility' in the menubar (top) and format the disk as Mac OS Extended (journaled). Quit the disk utility, select the disk and continue, then choose customise. Here:

AMD Users check:
Any Updates included at the top.
Drop down Kernels and choose Legacy kernel.
AMD option below System support.

Intel Users check:
Any Updates included at the top.
Drop down bootloaders and check the newest Chameleon.
Drop down Kernels and choose Legacy kernel.
Then click Done and hit the Install button. To speed up the process you can click Skip when the disc check pops up.

remove the CD after the install is complete otherwise it won't boot up after the reboot.

Getting the higher resolution:

There are 2 ways you can do this.

Method 1: Temporary

    * When OSX is booting, tap F8 to get to the boot prompt
    * Type in "Graphics Mode"="1280x1024x32" (with quotations, replacing the resolution with the resolution you want)


Method 2: Permanent

    * Boot OS X
    * Open the TextEdit program in the Applications folder
    * With TextEdit, open the file: /Extra/com.apple.Boot.plist OR /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.Boot.plist (do the second one last only if needed)
    * Open the file, and add these two lines (right after the <string>Yes</string> line if you are on Tiger or <string></string> line if you are on Leopard)


<key>Graphics Mode</key>
<string>1280x1024x32</string>

    * Replace the 1280x1024x32 with the resolution you want
    * Then, in go to File >> Save As..
    * Save the file as com.apple.Boot.plist on the Desktop (make sure the .plist part is there!)
    * Navigate the the /Extra/ or /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/ folder
    * Drag your com.apple.Boot.plist file on the Desktop into the folder window
    * When a messages appears, click Authenticate and Replace and enter your password
    * You're done! Reboot OS X to see the changes


Here is an example of what the com.Apple.boot.plist file looks like with Leopard:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://
www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
            <key>kernel</key>
            <string>mach_kernel</string>
            <key>Kernel Flags</key>
            <string></string>
            <key>Graphics Mode</key>
            <string>1280x1024x32</string>
</dict>
</plist> 

In order to get Virtualbox to full screen if using high res

<right ctrl>+<F>

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Old method, didn't work too well

How to install Snow Leopard on Sun VirtualBox Good walkthrough, but maybe a bit old. This one is a bit more concise

Before you begin, make sure you have enough CPU, RAM, Disk resources to share for the virtual machine.

Hardware Requirements:

   * Processor: Any Intel Processor with VT-x (Virtualization Technology) or AMD-V. (Almost all Intel processors starting from Core 2 Duo, Quad, etc. support it) Ask us, if you still have a doubt: @taranfx.
   * RAM: Anything above 1 GB, Recommended 2GB or higher
   * Disk space: 10GB (minimum)

Software Requirements:

   * Snow Leopard Retail Disc (or ISO). We recommend you buy Original, don’t pirate!
   * A OSx86 Leopard Distro – Any OS X 10.5.x iDeneb, iAtkos, etc. (I had bad time with Kalyway) iDeneb v1.3 (10.5.5) worked great for me. (and iAtkos 10.5.7 as reported by a commenter)
   * Virtualbox 3.1.2 (Download)
   * Bit of Patience :)

Let’s Get started:

Phase I: Install Leopard on Virtualbox

Step 1. Create a new Virtual Machine with name “Leopard”:

   * System Type: BSD, FreeBSD
   * Create Disk (10 GB will suffice) with name “Leofx”
   * System > Motherboard > Enable IO APIC
   * Acceleration > Enable VT-x/AMD-V
   * Memory to 512MB
   * Storage > IDE Controller – ICH6
   * Attach New CD drive > select image (OSx86 Leopard) in the IDE Primary Slave
   * Hit Ok

Shut down Sun VirtualBox then

Step 2. Open Virtual machine xml.

Windows 7: C:\Users\fx<Your User>\.VirtualBox\Machines\Snow\Snow.xml

Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\fx<YourUser>\.VirtualBox\Machines\Snow\Snow.xml

Add string to the section <ExtraData> for the XML:

     <ExtraDataItem name="VBoxInternal2/SupportExtHwProfile" value="on"/>

Step 3. Start up Sun VirtualBox and switch on Virtual Machine and install Leopard distro (iDeneb_v1.5.1_OSX86_v10.5.7) as-usual. (You can check Install Leopard on PC guide, if you are new to OSx86).

NB! Use the 'customise' option and select the 9.7.0 Qoopz kernel but not the AMD patch fix in order for it to work after selecting a disk. Also the Audio driver AC97 GenericAC97Audio

If you can't find a disk, format it using the disk utility (there's a menu up top) using Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format

Alright, Leopard setup would succeed and is up and running after reboot.(Make sure you change boot priority to “Leo” Hard disk in VM settings).

Stuck somewhere? Get in touch @taranfx on Twitter.

Now, Shutdown Leopard and move on to Final Phase

First, close Virtualbox and patch it with the files in VBM.zip (copy the files from the rar to the virtualbox / program files folder)

Now in Sun Virtualbox do:

   * Network > Adapter 1 > Attached to “Bridged Adapter”
   * Advanced > Adapter Type > Select “Intel PRO/1000 MT server”

Snow-leopard-virtualbox-settings

And add the following to Snow Machine XML:

        <ExtraDataItem name="VBoxInternal/Devices/e1000f/0/Trusted" value="integer:1"/>
        <ExtraDataItem name="VBoxInternal/PDM/Devices/PcExt/Path" value="VBoxDD3"/>

Step 2. Run the Virtual Machine and you will land into desktop with everything (including internet) working.

Note: If your mouse doesn’t work use this Kext. For me it worked as-is.

NB Don't upgrade the version of OS-X or you'll kill it :)

There you are, running the latest Snow Leopard, sweet! Enjoy the speed and cost benefits VirtualBox has to offer, Praise the Sun and love Open Source :D

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The OSX86 project has lots more information

Insanely Mac has a driver database as well as forums

osx os x hackintosh