Ubuntu server guest, on Mac OS host.
instructions
http://www.lecloud.net/post/52224625343/the-ultimate-setup-guide-ubuntu-13-04-in-virtualbox
Skipped the SSH for now, also the shared folders are in /media/sf[folder-name] on the guest – will be trying again shortly.
In the meantime I installed a desktop version of Linux and the install was much easier – copy and paste works fine – and we were able to get sounds. now installing pd.
linux instructions for Pd: http://puredata.info/docs/faq/debian
After running into huge problems with copy/paste – and no audio, I was able to install 32 bit version of Ubuntu Studio. Audio works fine, but Jack doesn’t run – after a few hours, I’m abandoning this approach and will probably try running linux natively on something.