VirtualBox - Free virtualisation software
VirtualBox is described as a 'general-purpose full virtualizer for x86 hardware' similiar to VMWare.
What this means is you can run another, or multiple, operating systems as guests on one host computer. It is designed for use on servers, desktops or embedded in devices like mobile phones and PDA's embedded use. VirtualBox is also to date the only professional virtualiser available as open source released under the GPL license.
VirtualBox allows you to test out operating systems by installing into a virtual drive in your existing operating system. Currently their are editions for Windows, Linux and an OS X Intel version is being tested.
An example of this would be to test out Linux of you have never tried it. You could download a distribution of Linux and install it inside a window in Windows! Alternatively if you have switched to Linux and still need to run some Windows based software then VirtualBox will let you do this.
Currently guest operating systems that are able to be installed and include Windows (NT 4.0, 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista), DOS/Windows 3.x, Linux (2.4 and 2.6), and OpenBSD.
Another cool feature of VirtualBox is the ability to run images made for VMWare's VMPlayer. You can find images for various operating systems over at the VMWare Technology Network website
VirtualBox is actually distributed as two versions. There is the open source GPL version and the Personal Use and Evaluation License (PUEL) edition. The differences are quite simply that there are certain features excluded from the GPL version such as USB support and shared folder support.
If you require the extra features and are using VirtualBox for personal use, at home for isntance, then the PUEL edition should suit you fine. However if you are in a business then you would need to purchase a license or use the GPL'd version.
VirtualBox Articles
VirtualBox 3.1 has been released. This version has a few new features and the usual bug fixes and improvements to the running performance of virtual guests. Of interest are what Sun have dubbed Teleporting where a live virtual machine can be sent from one host to another host over a network whilst the virtual machine is running. Also included is support for 2D accleration for Windows guests which now uses the hosts video hardware.
For more information view the VirtualBox changelog
A new beta for the major release of VirtualBox 3.1 was announced
Sun Microsystems have announced the release of VirtualBox 3.1. This is a major release and does have quite a few new fetaures and fixes as well as performance improvements. In particular is the on going improvement of the 3D features and 2D acceleration for Windows guests.
ComputerWorld have posted a review of VirtualBox 3.0
ComputerWorld have reviewed VirtualBox 3.0 and overall give it a thumbs up and comparable VMWare.
Discussed in this review are the new DirectX and OpenGL support as well as the SMP support new to VirtualBox 3.0
A major update of Virtual Box 3 has been released
After a couple of weeks in beta VirtualBox 3 has been released.
VirtualBox 3 introduces some interesting features. With the introduction of OpenGL support in previous releases for Linux guests, Windows guests can now take advantage of OpenGL. And because of this, by using the components of the Wine project DirectX 8 and 9 have been added for Windows guests. Although it is worth bearing in mind that DirectX is experimental and may have undesired effects.
Also new in VirtualBox 3.0 is support for up to 32 (SMP) CPU cores for each virtual machine.
A beta release of VirtualBox 3.0 is available for testing
A Beta release for VirtualBox 3.0 has been announced.
Version 3.0 of VirtualBox is a major release and has some quite interesting new features. For a start DirectX 8/9 support has been added as well as improvements to OpenGL within a virtual guests. Although the DirectX is experimental it will make a good start to getting games and applications that require it running withing a virtual environment.
For more information follow VirtualBox 3.0 Beta release notes.
A maintenance release of VirtualBox version 2.2.2 has been released.
VirtualBox 2.2.2 has been updated to version 2.2.2. This is a maintenance release which fixes a few problems and improves the overall performance.
The full change log for this can be found on the VirtualBox Changelog page.
eWeek review Sun's version 2.2 of VirtualBox free virtualization application
eWeek have a in depth review of Sun's latest version 2.2 of VirtualBox, a free multiplatform virtualization application.
This review also touches on the new 3D functionality providing openGL support in VirtualBox guests.
Sun MicroSystems announce the release of VirtualBox 2.2
Version 2.2 of the free virtualisation software, VirtualBox, has been released.
This is a major release with new features as well as fixes and improvements. Some of the major new features include the raising of the memory limit on 64bit machines to 16Gb and OpenGL support for Linux and Solaris guests allowing 3D applications to run inside a virtual machine.
A mainentaince release of VirtualBox has been released
Sun Microsystems have announced a maintenance release of VirtualBox version 2.1.4.
This released comprises mainly bug fixes and performance and stability issues.
VirtualBox Information
- Company/Developer:
-
Innotek
- Website:
- VirtualBox website
- Category:
- Utility Software
- Platforms:
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News
- VirtualBox 2.1.4 Released
- VirtualBox Version 2.2 released
- VirtualBox 2.2.2 released
- VirtalBox 3.0 Beta released
- VirtualBox 3.0 Released
- Sun Microsystems. announce new VirtualBox beta test
- Sun announce major release of VirtualBox 3.1