VirtualBox has an intriguing history. Innotek, a German software company, originally created it. In 2008, Sun Microsystems, an American technology company, acquired Innotek. In 2010 Oracle bought Sun Microsystems, took control of VirtualBox and renamed it Oracle VM VirtualBox.
You can download VirtualBox on any PC powered by one of these operating systems; Windows, Linux, macOS and Solaris – note that this only works for Intel-based Macs. It allows you to create virtual machines (opens in a new tab) running Windows, Linux, and macOS (on Apple hardware only).
Oracle has kept VirtualBox in active development since its purchase in 2010.
VirtualBox: plans and prices
Since its inception, VirtualBox has been free and open-source software (opens in a new tab). You can download and access all features of the platform without any payment. Being totally free is the main appeal of using VirtualBox over its competitors.
VirtualBox: Features
Creating and managing virtual machines is the main function of VirtualBox. A virtual machine is an operating system installed on software that emulates the functionality of a separate physical computer. It’s like having different computers, but they all run on one piece of hardware.
VirtualBox is a hypervisor – a program that runs or manages multiple virtual machines on a separate computer. It divides host hardware resources and allocates them to virtual machines to operate them as different computers (opens in a new tab).
VirtualBox is a hosted hypervisoralso called a type 2 hypervisor, which means that it requires the prior installation of an existing operating system. In contrast, bare metal Where type 1 hypervisors run directly on hardware.
To a large extent, VirtualBox is functionally identical across all host operating systems, with the same file and image formats. This way, you can run virtual machines created on one host device on another host with a different operating system. For example, you can create a virtual machine on Linux (opens in a new tab) and run it on another Windows powered device.
You can also easily import or export virtual machines using the Open Virtualization Format (OVF), an open source standard. Thanks to the OVF standard, you can even import virtual machines created with different virtualization software.
Guest additions are additional software that you can install on a virtual machine to improve its performance and functionality. They are included in any copy of VirtualBox that you download. The additional feature they provide includes;
You may want to move files between your virtual machine and your host computer. Guest additions allow you to copy items to a virtual machine and easily move them to the host. You can also drag files between the host and the virtual machine or from one virtual machine to another.
Virtual machines do not support high resolution graphics out of the box. But, you will have control over the resolution settings once you install Guest Additions. For example, you can display the virtual machine in full screen at 1080 pixels with a compatible monitor.
Seamless mode is a feature that allows you to run application windows from the virtual machine alongside applications from your actual host PC. You can make virtual machine applications appear side-by-side with your host’s windows, making them look like they’re all part of a single system.
This feature makes your host system folders accessible in a virtual machine. You can specify the exact folders you want to share from the app.
VirtualBox has a virtual USB controller that allows you to connect USB devices (opens in a new tab) to your virtual machines and exchange files seamlessly. Normally you’ll need to install device-specific drivers for this purpose, but you don’t need them on VirtualBox – it comes with the drivers out of the box.
VirtualBox fully supports the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI). ACPI is an open standard used to manage PC power consumption. It describes how the individual components of a computer consume power.
With ACPI support, VirtualBox helps you manage power when running multiple virtual machines on a PC.
You can create a snapshot (backup) of a running virtual machine. With this snapshot, you can revert the virtual machine to how it was before. It’s like a built-in backup system for your virtual machine.
VirtualBox can present up to 32 virtual CPUs to each virtual machine, regardless of the number of CPU cores physically present on the host computer.
VirtualBox: Interface and use
One of the biggest customer complaints about VirtualBox is its outdated user interface. Its interface looks like what you’d expect from archaic software – not visually appealing and lacking in interactivity. However, the simplicity makes VirtualBox quite easy to navigate.
VirtualBox: support
There is no dedicated support team for VirtualBox, which is expected of a free product. But, there is an official online forum where users interact and come up with solutions to each other’s challenges. You can also find detailed user guides on this official forum if you’re having trouble navigating VirtualBox.
VirtualBox: The competition
VMware workstation player (opens in a new tab) is the best alternative to VirtualBox that we recommend. It is free to use like VirtualBox and allows you to create an unlimited number of virtual machines. However, it has significant limitations, including not being compatible with macOS and not allowing users to create virtual machine snapshots.
VirtualBox: Final Verdict
VirtualBox is one of the best virtualization software you can get your hands on for free. Most other virtualization tools offering similar functionality charge significant amounts. We love that VirtualBox is compatible with the three most popular desktop operating systems and provides access to unique features like Guest Additions.
The main disadvantages of VirtualBox are its outdated user interface and limited technical support (community only).
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