VirtualBox - An Open Source Virtual Machine

[Eóin]

Hi, I know it's not usually the done thing the report on every little update to an app but VirtualBox has added so much since it was last mentioned here that I felt it deserved a bump.

Specifically version 1.5 has added support for Vista x64 as a host OS and with new features like clipboard sharing and seamless window it is now really easy to use it as a safe place to test an application while still working primarily from the host OS. Check it out.

[attachthumb=#]

[Tekzel]

I have used VMWare pretty extensively since they made it free, and also Microsoft VirtualPC.  This is a class of software that the average computer user doesn't really need often, but maybe they should.  I like the Browser Appliances that people make up for VMWare for browsing questionable sites.  It really does protect the host PC unlike anything else. There are many other uses, I use VMs for testing software I don't really trust.

VirtualBox, I almost passed over today thinking "Eh, I have VMWare".  I am glad I didn't.  First, its very light weight compared to the others.  Second, it has some features the others don't.  Nice ones too!  Like the arbitrary sizing of the window and guest display settings.  Really detailed USB support is another.  Also, folder sharing with the host without setting up networking.

I am very impressed with this application.


Edit: Oh, I forgot to mention one of the best features.  The ability to do multiple snapshots of the guest and restore any of them independent of the others.  THIS feature I intend to test this weekend.  If it works as advertised, that would be great.

[Gothi[c]]

Awesome! thanks for sharing this, I didn't know about this one

[Lusher]

I know of this one. But is the snapshot manager as good as the one in vmware workstation?

[sword]

Discussions online in the last month suggest that ReactOS [ 0.3.3 alpha] can work in VirtualBox.

[masu]

Is VirtualBox better than VirtualPC 2007?

[jgpaiva]

On earlier versions, i prefered VirtualBox, because VirtualPC had the "home" key hardcoded, thus, i've been using VirtualBox ever since.
There's a big BUT, though.. I still counldn't make the "shared folders" feature work (windows 64 host OS and linux guest OS here, not sure if that makes any difference). But USB works well, and i've been using that instead.

[Curt]

Here is a cousin, so to speak - though still BETA:

Ulteo Virtual Desktop: your Linux applications on Windows

Enjoy the power of your Linux applications on Windows without the need to reboot!

With Ulteo Virtual Desktop, you just have to run the application you need to use from the Ulteo panel and its window will show up like any other Windows application.

Ulteo Virtual Desktop is free.

Download now
A full Linux system that integrates nicely into Windows

You save time because you can have both Windows and Linux applications integrated into a single desktop. Additionally, the Ulteo Virtual Desktop is a safe and virus-free place. It will even self-upgrade regularly with latest version of the system and its applications.

It's been designed for individuals and corporate users who need to use both Linux and Windows applications within the same desktop environement.
Which applications are supported?

A full range of Linux applications are supported in the standard version.

At the moment, you will find a selection of applications that include:

    * Firefox web browser enabled with Flash & Java
    * The full OpenOffice.org office suite that can deal with your MS Office documents
    * KPdf to deal with your PDF documents
    * Kopete: the multi-Instant Messaging software that supports MSN and other protocols
    * Skype
    * Thunderbird + Enigmail (so you can encrypt your emails!)
    * Gimp and Digikam to manage your pictures
    * Inkscape and Scribus to create great graphics and newspapers
    * and... many others!

From the Ulteo "My Digital Life" panel, you can add new "application balls", such as additional desktop application, games and soon development applications! It's very easy to add or remove and always leave a clean system.

http://www.ulteo.com/home/en/virtualdesktop
http://www.freewaregenius.com/2008/06/25/ulteo-virtual-desktop-run-a-virtual-linux-environment-inside-windows/

[y0himba]

I use this daily.  The maker's name always reminds me of the company in "Office Space".  I like this much better than VMware or Microsoft's VM.

[kartal]

I have tried Ulteo andit really worked very well inside Xp.

[SectorSeven]

Hey guys,

I know this is a relatively old thread, but I was searching here to get some insight in regards to virtual machine software, and this looks like a good thread.

I just looked at some videos of the VirtualBox, and it looks great.
I was wondering, from your experience, is VirtualBox the better choice among the competing products?

Personally, I am looking for a lightweight way to test other operating systems.

Another question that bothers me a little - is this completely isolated from my host PC?
I mean, I dont want to mess things on my host - I want to be able to easily remove the virtual machine without having to clean my host after it.

TIA.

[masu]

Now I tried Virtual Box with Windows 7 and I must say, it is definitive much faster than Virtual PC due to its experimental Direct3D Support. 

[y0himba]

@SectorSeven:  Yes, to me it is the easiest, most stable, and best VM I have used.  I absolutely love it and have been using it for a couple of years.

[SectorSeven]

Thanks guys.
Looks like it is getting good feedback across the board.