Tired of Microsoft’s Limitations? VirtualBox is for you!
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This entry is about VirtualBox! This is open source virtual systems on a single computer! If you have no idea what I am talking about then you don’t need this software! Instead I suggest SandBoxie, which is not Open Source, and costs $30 for a lifetime personal license. For the rest of my audience that understands why we want virtualization, and has a dual core, or even a quad core computer, then we have a new toy!
The list of capabilities of VirtualBox is totally awesome!
- Cross Platform : Runs on Windows XP, Vista x86, AMD , Linux, Max OS X, and Open Solaris.
- Guest OS: Windows NT, 2K, XP, Vista, DOS/Windows3.1 , Linux 2.4 and 2.6, and Open BSD.
- Support for SATA which goes well beyond Microsoft VPC 2007 Unfortunately the USB support has been moved to the Editions version which requires payments, so they have taken a step backward there!
- VirtualBox can load existing VMWare machines, as well save its own virtual machines using the Manager which is somewhat non-intuitve. But hey it’s free; it’s Open Source!
- VirtualBox will even load Acronis True Image and R-Drive Image bootdiscs as virtual machines!
So say thank you to innotek, who released this software as an Open Source edition, and when you start using this software to provide a server with virtual machines, so you can test, host, and or use multiple operating systems on a single computer. Have fun!
4 Comments
Matt McCarty
July 4th, 2008
at 10:26pm
Since Sun bought VirtualBox it has gotten so much better. I use it on OS X to run Ubuntu.
Paul
July 7th, 2008
at 7:47pm
If there’s no USB support, that means I’ll have no use of the mouse and keyboard, right?
I have no trouble using my USB based mouse, but the keyboard is still PS2 on my system.
The documentation is not clear on this point, but simply states that all USB devices are supported, with no special drivers.
My suggestion is to take an hour, and download and install this software and give it a try !!
Paul
October 13th, 2008
at 11:56pm
Do you have a pointer to how I can load a disk image (using r-tt drive image) into a virtualbox virtual drive?
microface
October 14th, 2008
at 12:40pm
http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?t=10107&sid=c0cf95b84324c97f638069e020b71a59
Describes using Norton Ghost, and CloneZilla to restore virtuakl backups.
http://keznews.com/4778_Virtualbox_-_How_To_Test_and_Boot_an_ISO_Image_Without_Burning_to_CD_or_DVD
Describes the process to use VirtualBox to mount and unmount iso images
The first step is to actual create a Windows Based Virtual Box environment.
http://klikit.pbwiki.com/How+to+install+Windows+in+VirtualBox
Describes the process of installing Windows into a Linux Based Virtual Box environment, which should be similar to the process of creating a Windows Virtual Box on a Windows System.
Good Luck, good Hunting and start your geeking.