Practice Moodle in VirtualBox

Step-by-Step Guide to Share Alpine Linux .OVA File with Moodle Preconfigured

This guide explains how to set up a .OVA file with Alpine Linux, configure it for sharing, and provide instructions for others to use it in VirtualBox.

Part 1: Step-by-Step Instructions for Users

1. Download and Install VirtualBox:

1. Visit [VirtualBox’s official site](​https://www.virtualbox.org/).
2. Download the latest version for your operating system (Windows/macOS/Linux).
3. Install VirtualBox using the default options.

2. Download the .ova File:

1. Open the Google Drive link provided: ` ​https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bun_iIx-RaQINks6RFgXBHM8kWDEhaAq/view?usp=sharing `
2. Download the `.ova file.

3. Import the .ova File:

1. Launch VirtualBox:
   • Open VirtualBox from your Start Menu, Applications, or Dock.
2. Import the Appliance:
   • Go to File > Import Appliance from the VirtualBox menu bar.
3. Browse to the .ova File:
   • Click on the folder icon to open the file picker.
   • Locate and select the .ova file you want to import.
4. Review Appliance Settings:
   • Click Next after selecting the file.
   • Review the virtual machine settings, including CPU, memory, and network.
5. Import the Appliance:
   • Click Import to start the process.
   • Wait for VirtualBox to import the .ova file. This might take a few minutes.

4. Start the Virtual Machine:

1. Click Start in VirtualBox.
2. Log in using:
   • Username: moodle
   • Password: mdl@123

5. Find the VM IP Address:

1. Inside the VM, type:

   ip addr
   

2. Note the IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.10).

6. Map Moodle to a Hostname on Host Machine:

• On the host machine, edit the hosts file to map the VM's IP to a hostname.

Edit Hosts File

Windows:

1. Path: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
2. Open Notepad as an administrator and add your VM IP: eg: ` 192.168.1.10 mymoodle.test.learn.ac.lk `

MacOS:

1. Path: /private/etc/hosts
2. Open a terminal and edit the file:

   sudo nano /private/etc/hosts
   

3. Add: ` 192.168.1.10 mymoodle.test.learn.ac.lk `

Linux:

1. Path: /etc/hosts
2. Edit the file with:

   sudo nano /etc/hosts
   

3. Add: ` 192.168.1.10 mymoodle.test.learn.ac.lk `

7. Access Moodle from the Host Machine:

1. Open a browser on the host machine.
2. Navigate to: ` ​http://mymoodle.test.learn.ac.lk `

Notes for Users:

• Ensure VirtualBox's network settings are set to Bridged Adapter.
• Ensure the VM is running before accessing Moodle.
• Default credentials for the VM:
  • Username: moodle
  • Password: Mdl@1234

This guide ensures users can easily import the .vdi file, configure the VM, and start practicing Moodle without additional setup.

Part 2: Troubleshooting

Site Not Loading Properly:

Verify nginx and php-fpm services are running:

rc-service nginx restart
rc-service php-fpm82 restart

Ensure proper permissions for moodledata:

chmod -R 777 /var/www/moodledata

Error Messages:

Check logs:

tail -f /var/log/nginx/error.log

Renew DHCP Lease on Alpine Linux

/etc/init.d/networking restart

then follow [Step 5](​https://github.com/LEARN-LK/lms/blob/master/Practice-Moodle-VirtualBox.md#5-find-the-vm-ip-address)

plugin installation Troubleshooting

Edit config.php in the Moodle directory: Add these lines at the end of config.php:

@error_reporting(E_ALL | E_STRICT);
@ini_set('display_errors', '1');
$CFG->debug = (E_ALL | E_STRICT);
$CFG->debugdisplay = 1;

1. Update PHP-FPM User and Group

Open the PHP-FPM pool configuration file:

vi /etc/php82/php-fpm.d/www.conf

user = nginx
group = nginx

Restart PHP-FPM

rc-service php-fpm82 restart

Set Permission "$CFG->directorypermissions = 0777;"

vi /var/www/moodle/config.php