Any Virtualbox users here?

Genesis

Administrator
Staff member
Any Virtualbox users here? I created my first virtualbox on a "cheap" new laptop of mine as a precusor fo working with Linux over the holidays. It was almost too easy to install. For every question I had so far all I had to do was fire up a question in Google, and then realized there are a large number of Virtualbox users out there.

This tutorial was specifically very useful in setting Virtualbox up:
http://teaching.idallen.com/cst8207/14f/notes/000_centos_virtualbox_install.html

This tutorial provided plenty of insights, particularly after my first attempt at loading CentOS 7.0 to my Virtualbox failed:

[video=youtube]

The Virtualbox is teaching me a little more about the new laptop I have. For example, when I was trying to download a CentOS 7.0 ISO image, it wouldn't allow me to do it. The "cheap" laptop is 64-bit, but then discovered that one has to get stuck into the Bios to enable the 64-bit capability. That added a new challenge as to how to get into the Lenovo BIOS as the way it has been set up to boot up fast, means that one can't log out properly enough for F1 or F12 to work. Then after firing off some new questions in my Google search box, discovered my Lenovo G50 Laptop has a little secret button that works with a pencil tip. One has to poke it while the laptop is turned off, and it will then get the BIOS up. Neat! Then finally was able to enable the 64-bit and that worked. Next stage tomorrow is to hopefully finally be able to install CentOS 7.0 image.

Anyone else using Virtualbox, and what have your experiences been like? I'm thinking of creating more partitions, like I can definitely visualize at least one for Windows XP. The bigger one for Linux.
 
I have tried to use VirtualBox before. I didn't like it much. I used VMware to do the samething. I found it was easier to install Linux images.

Either one of them is great to install a second O/S like linux. It gives you a chance to play around and learn without having to partition your hard drive. A lot of devs use them to test with and to download files. This way, if there is a trojan or virus contained in them, it doesn't infect the whole drive. Some call this a sandbox. They can run the program without loosing data. One of the sites I am on, has a couple of images for Vbox and VMware that are loading with some testing tools.
 

Genesis

Administrator
Staff member
strokerace said:
I have tried to use VirtualBox before. I didn't like it much. I used VMware to do the samething. I found it was easier to install Linux images.

Either one of them is great to install a second O/S like linux. It gives you a chance to play around and learn without having to partition your hard drive. A lot of devs use them to test with and to download files. This way, if there is a trojan or virus contained in them, it doesn't infect the whole drive. Some call this a sandbox. They can run the program without loosing data. One of the sites I am on, has a couple of images for Vbox and VMware that are loading with some testing tools.
Thanks. I haven't investigated VMware. Think I got as far as it comes with 8.1 Professional only.

But yes, that's the objective. I'd like to install a second O/S Linux. I finally managed to download the full version of Centos 7.0. So will start playing with it tomorrow.
 

Peter

Member
I have used it for testing if programs that I have written work with different versions of Linux and on Windows. I have also used it for installing different versions of web browsers so that I can test my website in many different versions of the same browser, and because I use Linux this is how I have to do in order to test Internet Explorer.

VirtualBox has a useful feature that allow you to take snapshots that you can restore later. This can be very useful sometimes. You don't have to worry too much about making mistakes.
 

Genesis

Administrator
Staff member
Peter said:
VirtualBox has a useful feature that allow you to take snapshots that you can restore later. This can be very useful sometimes. You don't have to worry too much about making mistakes.
I've avoided using Virtual Box for many years because of worrying about making mistakes as well as security issues. If I had known how easy it is and all of the side benefits to having it, I'd have used it a long time ago. I picked up a very cheap laptop - Lenovo GA50 i7 and bought it specifically for using it for experimental development work I wouldn't have wanted to use my more expensive desktop computer for. Almost like an anti-climax to discover how effortless it really is and obviously thousands of developers must be using it if one checks out all the documentation and tutorials that are available.
 

agentsky

New member
Well virtualbox is good for testing or simulating server but if you want more configuration you can use VMware instead.
Been using virtual box for simulating simple server setup.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk
 

Genesis

Administrator
Staff member
agentsky said:
Well virtualbox is good for testing or simulating server but if you want more configuration you can use VMware instead.
Been using virtual box for simulating simple server setup.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk
I did some research on VMware. Apparently it comes with Windows 8.1 Professional and all one needs to do is enable it. I'm considering getting Windows 8.1 Professional. For now I've got the basic version on my cheap laptop.
 

kvsjxd

New member
Virtual Box is good application to run VMs but I found VMware better at emulating VMs. They run better on VMware because of better compatibility
 

Pzixchu

New member
I use Virtualbox quite a bit for testing and demo's. It pretty easy to use and it does have a large user community in case you need support. I usually test new Linux distro's on it when i find one :cool:

I really like the command line options as well, give you a lot of flexiblity to edit/change settings of your VM. Especially if you have some compatility issue. But will take some time to figure out though..

It's also true that VMWare is a bit more stable when it comes to run VM's.
 

BungBung

New member
I actually do use VirtualBox. Well I don't use it constantly but since I use Ubuntu Ultimate as my main OS, sometimes it's easier to use VB with an XP partition and run PalTalk, Sim games and a few other old-school programs rather than reboot into my Win7 partition.
 

GeekGuy

New member
I use both VirtualBox and VMware, but mostly the second one. I'm Using VMware since a long time and have tried almost every operating system in it.
But why you want to buy Windows 8.1 when Windows 10 is out ?
 

zihadeasin

New member
I like VirtualBox a lot, Since it lets me use all kind of OS I want beside my Windows. But since it eats RAM I am I bit low on RAM, so I can't give it over 512mb :rolleyes: But why isn't the Drag'n'Drop working ( I have Guest Additions )
 

fouadChk

Member
zihadeasin said:
I like VirtualBox a lot, Since it lets me use all kind of OS I want beside my Windows. But since it eats RAM I am I bit low on RAM, so I can't give it over 512mb :rolleyes: But why isn't the Drag'n'Drop working ( I have Guest Additions )

With 512MB of RAM you are in fact slowing things down (a lot of paging) if you're adding GUIs, which apparently you do since you're asking about the Drag'n'Drop.

Drag'n'Drop between the host/guest is possible if you enable it.
 

Coder-256

New member
I find that VirtualBox is a lot slower than VMware. But VirtualBox is free and VMware is too expensive. But VirtualBox supports more OS'es. But VMware is more integrated. They both take up a lot of space and have many pros and cons. There's also Parallels, which I haven't tried but is supposed to be good.
 

fouadChk

Member
Coder-256 said:
I find that VirtualBox is a lot slower than VMware. But VirtualBox is free and VMware is too expensive. But VirtualBox supports more OS'es. But VMware is more integrated. They both take up a lot of space and have many pros and cons. There's also Parallels, which I haven't tried but is supposed to be good.

If I have to chose between the two, I would certainly chose VMware. VMware, as far as I know, is the pioneer in the hardware virtualization arena, so it's no wonder why VMware Tech. is the better one.

I still remember my bewilderment when I first made my first VM machine with VMware Tech a decade+ ago.

VirtualBox is generally fine especially since its 4.x.x iterations although not always reliable especially on certain hardware config. It's widespread use is certainly due to it being free and many automation tools rely on it....

Side Note:
Just remember that nowadays there is M$$'s own hypervisor (Hyper-V) in Windows 8.1/Windows10. On the server-side, it's available since Windows Server 2008 R2-64bits.
 

Barnum4000

Moderator
I do not use VirtuaBox because I don't really need it and I would prefer to have a separate HDD with an OS installed on it than just running it through a piece of software. But I may use it to test an Operating system out before I actually install it on a HDD. I am planning to install a Linux OS on my computer that currently has Windows 10 installed on it so maybe I will try it out VirtualBox then.
 

tornado

New member
I usually use VMware but considering the hype arounf Virtual Box I am wondering about switching. What'd you suggest, I mean is VMware really that bad?
 

Barnum4000

Moderator
tornado said:
I usually use VMware but considering the hype arounf Virtual Box I am wondering about switching. What'd you suggest, I mean is VMware really that bad?

The two pieces of software are similar I've never personally used any virtualisation software before only at a business which set it up all for me. I would only suggest changing if there will be significant improvement to the one you are currently using. If VMware is currently working fine for you then it may not be worth changing but because I have not used it a lot I am not too knowledgeable with the software I tend to just install the OS and keep it.