Set up RepairAmigo, step by step.

Download VirtualBox

VirtualBox is free, open-source software that runs virtual machines. You install it once on the computer that will host RepairAmigo. Pick a computer that stays on during business hours.

1. Open the official download page: virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads.
2. Under VirtualBox Platform Packages, click the package for your computer:

   Your computer	Click	You get
   Windows 10 / 11	Windows hosts	an installer .exe
   Mac with an Intel processor	macOS / Intel hosts	a disk image .dmg
   Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora…)	Linux distributions, then your distribution and version	a .deb or .rpm package

3. The Extension Pack on the same page is optional. RepairAmigo does not need it. It is under a separate license, so skip it unless you know you need it.

Install VirtualBox

Windows

1. Double-click the file you downloaded (it looks like VirtualBox-7.x.x-…-Win.exe). If Windows asks “Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?”, click Yes.
2. On the welcome screen, click Next.
3. On Custom Setup, leave the default features selected and click Next.
4. A Network Interfaces warning says your network will disconnect for a moment. Save any open work, then click Yes.
5. If you see Missing Dependencies (Python Core / win32api), click Yes to continue. RepairAmigo does not need them.
6. Click Install. When Windows asks to install device software from Oracle, click Install each time.
7. Click Finish. The VirtualBox Manager opens.

If the installer says the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable is missing, install the latest x64 version from Microsoft’s website and run the VirtualBox installer again.

macOS (Intel only)

Open the .dmg, double-click VirtualBox.pkg and follow the installer. If macOS blocks the installation, open System Settings → Privacy & Security, click Allow next to the message about Oracle, and run the installer again.

Linux

Install the package you downloaded, for example on Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt install ./virtualbox-7.*.deb
sudo usermod -aG vboxusers $USER

Log out and back in after the second command. If your computer uses Secure Boot, the installer may ask you to sign the VirtualBox kernel modules.

Turn on virtualization in the BIOS (VT-x / AMD-V)

Most computers have it on already. If VirtualBox later says “VT-x is disabled in the BIOS” or “AMD-V is disabled”:

1. Restart the computer and open the BIOS/UEFI setup (usually by pressing Del, F2, F10 or Esc right after power on).
2. Find Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x) or SVM Mode (AMD-V), often under Advanced, CPU Configuration or Security, and set it to Enabled.
3. Save and exit (often F10).

Import the RepairAmigo virtual machine

RepairAmigo comes as one file, RepairAmigo.ova, which you import into VirtualBox.

1. Open VirtualBox and click File → Import Appliance… (or press Ctrl+I).

   

2. Leave Source on Local File System. Click the folder icon next to File, choose RepairAmigo.ova and click Next.

   

3. Check the Appliance settings:
   • RAM: 8192 MB (8 GB). Double-click the value to change it.
   • CPU: 8. Double-click the value to change it.
   • MAC Address Policy: Generate new MAC addresses for all network adapters.
   • Leave Import hard drives as VDI checked.

   

4. Click Finish (called Import in older versions) and wait for the progress bar to complete. This can take a few minutes.
5. RepairAmigo now appears in the list on the left.

   

To change memory or processors later, shut the VM down, select it, click Settings → System and adjust Base Memory (and the Processor tab).

Connect it to your shop network (Bridged Adapter)

Why: by default VirtualBox hides a VM behind your computer (NAT), so other computers, tablets and phones in the shop cannot reach it. With a Bridged Adapter, the VM joins your shop network like any other computer and gets its own IP address from your router, so every device in the shop can open RepairAmigo.

1. Make sure the VM is powered off. Select RepairAmigo and click Settings.
2. Click Network. On Adapter 1, check Enable Network Adapter.
3. Set Attached to to Bridged Adapter.
4. In Name, pick the network card this computer uses for your shop network: the Ethernet adapter (recommended) or the Wi-Fi adapter. On Windows it is usually called something like “Intel(R) Ethernet…” or “Realtek PCIe GbE…”.
5. Click OK.

Start and stop the VM

1. Select RepairAmigo and click the small arrow next to Start:
   • Normal Start opens a window with the VM’s screen. Use this the first time, so you can see the IP address.
   • Headless Start runs the VM in the background with no window. Good for everyday use.

   

2. Wait 1 to 2 minutes until the VM’s screen shows the RepairAmigo banner with the address to open, for example open http://192.168.1.50/ in your browser, followed by a login prompt. You don’t log in there: open that address in a web browser on any computer in the shop (step 7).
3. To shut down, right-click the VM and choose Stop → ACPI Shutdown (in the VM window: Machine → ACPI Shutdown). This closes the database cleanly.

Start RepairAmigo automatically

• Windows: create a file named RepairAmigo.bat containing the line below, and put it in your Startup folder (press Win+R, type shell:startup, press Enter).

  "C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\VBoxManage.exe" startvm "RepairAmigo" --type headless

• Linux: add @reboot VBoxManage startvm "RepairAmigo" --type headless to your user’s crontab (crontab -e).
• macOS: run the same VBoxManage startvm command from a Login Item.
• Turn off sleep on the host computer (Windows: Settings → System → Power → Sleep: Never). A sleeping computer pauses RepairAmigo for everyone.

Find the VM’s IP address

1. Look at the VM’s screen. After it starts, RepairAmigo shows the shop’s LAN IP address and the setup address, for example http://192.168.1.50/repairs/inshop2/setup/. If you used Headless Start, right-click the VM and choose Show.
2. Or check your router. Open your router’s admin page and look at the DHCP client list (also called Attached devices or Connected clients). Look for a device named repairamigo, or a MAC address starting with 08:00:27 (VirtualBox).

Use RepairAmigo

RepairAmigo is used from a web browser on any computer, tablet or phone connected to the same shop network. Everything, including your data, is managed inside the app.

First time: Setup and the Owner account

1. On any device in the shop, open http://<VM-IP>/repairs/inshop2/setup/, for example http://192.168.1.50/repairs/inshop2/setup/.
2. Enter your shop name and time zone, and create the Owner account and password.
3. Keep the Owner password safe. The Owner is the most powerful account: it manages users, settings and your data.

Every day: sign in

1. Open http://<VM-IP>/repairs/inshop2/ and sign in with your user.
2. Bookmark it (or “Add to Home Screen” on a phone or tablet) on every device the shop uses.
3. The Owner can add Managers and Technicians from the Management menu.

Your data: export and import

Only the Owner can do this. Go to Main menu → Management → Owner Only.

Export Data lets you download:

• Backup SQL (.sql.gz): the whole database. Good for your own records.
• Tables as CSV (.zip): one spreadsheet file per table, for Excel.
• Migration package (.ramig, encrypted): everything needed to move your shop to a new RepairAmigo version or computer. You choose a passphrase.

For security, the SQL and CSV exports leave out user password hashes and the texting (Twilio) credentials.

Import Data loads a migration package (.ramig) and replaces all data in this RepairAmigo:

1. Choose the .ramig file, enter its passphrase and your Owner password.
2. Leave Check only ticked and click Import first. This tests the package without changing anything.
3. To really replace the data, untick Check only, type IMPORT and click Import. A safety backup of the current data is taken first, and Restore previous puts it back if needed.

Need help?

Use Request Support inside RepairAmigo (Management → Settings → Support). An Owner or a Manager types a message, and RepairAmigo’s replies appear on the same page. You can also email support@repairamigo.com. Never send customer information or passwords.

Common questions