How to configure Oracle VM VirtualBox network configuration

In this post we will learn about Oracle VM VirtualBox. How to setup network configuration so that internet connection is available from host.

What is Oracle VirtualBox

Virtual box helps to create multiple guest operating systems under a single host operating system. Its an open source hypervisor and can be installed on many operating systems such as Linux, Windows, Mac, Solaris etc.,

VitualBox creates an emulated environment in which you can manage each guest virtual server created independently. You can spin multiple VMs and simulate network virtualization.

Follow below steps to setup Oracle VM Virtual Box network adapters so that host internet connection is available to guest OS VM servers.

Where to download latest version?

You can download latest version from official site and select platform of your choice.  

https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

Step 1: Open Oracle VM Virtual Box

Step 2: Go to File Menu and click Preferences

Step 3: Select Network in VirtualBox preferences box 

Step 4: Click on Add new Nat Network icon (right side)     

Step 5: Once the NatNework is installed, click on the edit icon to Edit settings 

Make sure that Enable Network check box is selected as shown below and click OK

Step 6: Go to Host-only Networks Tab

Step 7: Click on Add new host only network icon right side, it will start installing adapter as shown below

After installation is done, click on settings icon and you should see IPv4 address. If not just add your host OS IP Address.

Step 8: Now, go to DHCP server tab and make sure enable server option is checked. If you do not see the IP adress, you can add as below. Click OK to save changes

That' it, we have now configured our Oracle VM VirtualBox so that host operating system internet will be accessible on all new guest OS VM servers.

In the next post, I will show how we can test the above network configurations and make sure that we have internet access on Guest OS VM Server.

Creating and Installing comodo SSL certificate in AppEngine custom domain

In  this post I will explain how to create new RSA key using openssl to request SSL certificates from comodo and installing the certificates in Google AppEngine.

Generate .csr and private key.

Open command prompt in windows and run the following command.

c:\temp\openssl req -nodes -newkey rsa:2048 -keyout server.key -out server.csr

You have to provide your company registered name, address, and FQDN you can provide your website domain address. ex: www.example.com

You should see two files generated after you successfully complete above steps.

1. server.csr (you will use this file to submit SSL certificate request with comodo)
2. server.key (this is your private key and keep it safe and do not share with anyone)

Request your free SSL certificate (90 days) by going to below url
https://secure.instantssl.com/products/SSLIdASignup1a

copy and paste your server.csr into the box 1

Select other in the server software used to generate the CSR dropdown

Finish the rest of the registration process. You will receive CSR's hashes to your registered email. If you have registered email account with your domain name ex: admin@example.com then you can complete your domain validation process using your email. 

if you are completing your domain validation through CSR hash, then you have to login to domain and update DNS settings and add a CNAME record and use the CSR's hashes received to your registered email.

EX:
_MD5HASH.example.com       CNAME     SHA256.comodoca.com

Note: if you are running into invalid CNAME key, just chat with comodo specialist and they will provide you exact keys to enter in CNAME record. You can read my other post "enable naked domain" to learn about adding CNAME record.

In few minutes, DNS propagation will happen and you will receive your SSL certificates to your registered email. You will 4 files in the zip attachment.

Configuration of SSL Certificates for Custom domains in the Google app Engine

Login to https://console.cloud.google.com

Select App Engine -> Settings as shown below

Under Settings go to SSL Certificates tab

Click on upload a new certificate

In "PEM encoded X.509 public key certificate" first upload box, select the ww-example.com.crt file you received from comodo.

Now select the private key you generated in the first step c:\temp\server.key for "Unencrypted PEM encoded RSA private key"

If you are getting error message while uploading server.key like below

The private key you've selected does not appear to be valid.

You have to convert your private to RSA private key. Run the following command and it will generate server_rsa.key 

c:\temp\openssl rsa -in server.key -out server_rsa.key


You can use the new generated server_rsa.key and it will finish your SSL certificate installation.

Configuring Naked domain for Google Appengine Applications

What is Naked domain?
Internet domain name without "www." or any other subdomain is called naked domain. You can just type google.com without www in browser and it should display the page.

How to configure?

Login to console.cloud.google.com, go to AppEngine --> Settings
Under Settings go to custom domains.
Click on button Add custom domain and give your domain name without www
ex: example.com
Click continue and you can verify the custom domain by going to domains.google.com (assuming you are using google domain)
Under google domain, go to configure DNS and add A record.

You can copy the A record ip address from AppEngine Settings ->custom domains tab
Add the ipaddess as below. Make sure that Name is "@"
You can also add the CNAME record if you want to New Domain.

You should now be able to access your domain without "www"

Jenkins Installation as WAR file on Tomcat web container

Jenkins is a great tool to implement continuous integration and continuous deployment. Basically its a practice in DevOps to integrate code continuously and facilitating technical aspects of continuous delivery. Jenkis is an open source software tool. You can install Jenkins as a service or as a simple deployment using war file. Below are the steps you can follow to install Jenkins to automate continuous integration.