Special Report: Running Windows on a Mac with VMware

Introduction

Sun Microsystems' xVM VirtualBox for Mac OS X is virtualization software for running Windows and Linux on Intel-based Macs. VirtualBox is free software based on GPL open-source code. VirtualBox was original from a German company called Innotek, which Sun acquired in February 2008. Like Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion, the VirtualBox Beta can run Windows Vista, supports USB, and can be scripted from the command line. VirtualBox also supports VMDK virtual disk format used by VMware. Innotek shipped its first commercial versions of VirtualBox for Windows and Linux this in January 2007.

For more on Sun's plans for VirtualBox see Sun Hopes to Take VirtualBox Mainstream.

For more MacWindows coverage of running Windows on Macs, including Parallels and VMware, click here.

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Version History

Sun to do commercial version of VirtualBox; says new version 2.1 faster than Parallels, VMware

Wednesday, December 17, 2008 -- A Sun Microsystems spokesperson told us that it will partner with a third party to release a commercial version of its xVM VirtualBox virtualization software in the US during the first quarter of next year. At the same time, the company today released the open source xVM VirtualBox 2.1, which includes performance enhancements that make it faster than Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion, according to the spokesperson. xVM VirtualBox is currently a free download for Mac OS X, Windows, Linux, and other...

Read entire story here

Sun releases VirtualBox 2.0 with 64-bit guest OS support, offers enterprise tech support

Monday, September 8, 2008 -- Last week Sun released xVM VirtualBox 2.0, a major new version of its free open source virtualization software for multiple host platforms, including Mac OS X, Windows, Linux, Solaris, and OpenSolaris. The new version adds support for 64-bit guest OS's, including Windows Vista 64-bit and RedHat Enterprise Linux, running on 64-bit hosts. Mac users get a new Leopard-native user interface and improved networking. (Sun has a complete list of major new features here.)

Sun also introduced a paid tech support plan called the Sun xVM VirtualBox Software Enterprise Subscription, starting at US$30 per users per year. The plan provides 24/7 tech support and a Right-to-Use License, which allows customers to deploy xVM VirtualBox using their own software deployment tools.

For more on Sun xVM VirtualBox, see our VirtualBox Tips and Reports page.

For more on Sun's plans for VirtualBox click here.

Sun posts VirtualBox 1.6.4 maintenance update

Friday, August 15, 2008 -- Sun has released VirtualBox 1.6.4, a bug-fix update for the free virtualization software for Mac OS X, Windows, Linux, and Solaris. The update fixes a number of bugs in networking and other areas, including issues with shared folders and with rdesktop RDP client and RDP server. It also fixes a bug that caused crashes when a USB device was unplugged in certain circumstances.

Sun releases maintenance update to VirtualBox VM software

Tuesday, June 24, 2008 -- Sun has released VirtualBox 1.6.2, an update to its free virtualization software for Mac OS X and other operating systems. The update fixes a number of bugs, including network issues and crashing in Mac OS X under certain conditions.

VirtualBox can run Windows, Linux, Solaris, and other Unix operating systems. VirtualBox does not have the more advanced features of Parallels Desktop or VMware Fusion, such as being able to use the copy of Windows installed in a Boot Camp partition.

If you've tried VirtualBox what you think of it.

First Sun release of VirtualBox virtualization for Mac

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 -- Sun Microsystems has released xVM VirtualBox 1.6 for Mac OS X, Windows, Sun Solaris, and Linux. This is the first Sun release of the open source virtualization environment since the company acquired VirtualBox and its developer, a German company called Innotek.

xVM VirtualBox 1.6 is available as a free download. The previous version from Innotek was called Beta 3; though Sun didn't indicate if it considers version 1.6 a "beta" or a finished release. xVM VirtualBox can run a variety of Windows and Unix/Linux releases on a Mac. Sun says that it will run anything from Windows 98 to Windows Vista, though drivers need to be installed manually in Vista.

Sun lists some features found in Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion, such as the ability to display on application windows of the guest OS instead of the entire desktop. Also like other virtualization software, xVM VirtualBox 1.6 lets you move files between Mac OS X and Windows (or other guest OSs).

If you've tried xVM VirtualBox 1.6

VirtualBox Mac Beta 3 adds Leopard support. Wednesday, February 20, 2008 -- Innotek has released VirtualBox Mac Beta 3 (also called version 1.5.51), a new prerelease version of the virtualization software for running Windows and Linux on Intel-based Macs. The main new feature is that VirtualBox now runs in Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. The previous betas were incompatible in Leopard and would crash. Also new is the addition of SoundBlaster 16 emulation. Previous betas did not have audio. The new beta also includes several dozen bug fixes.

For previous reports, see our VirtualBox Beta Tips and Reports page.

If you've tried VirtualBox Beta 3

VirtualBox Mac Beta 2 available. July 23, 2007 -- Last week Innotek released VirtualBox for Mac OS X Beta 2, a new version of the pre-release virtualization software for running Windows and Linux on Intel-based Macs. The company did not indicate what changes were in the new version. The company did note, however, that the beta does not yet support flash memory from inside the virtual machine. no audio input.

VirtualBox is commercial software based on GPL open-source code. The company said that VirtualBox can run Windows Vista, supports USB, and can be scripted from the command line. VirtualBox also supports VMDK virtual disk format used by VMware. Innotek shipped its first commercial versions of VirtualBox for Windows and Linux this past January. Innotek released the first Beta for Mac OS X in April.

If you've tried the VirtualBox Beta 2 what you think of it.

VirtualBox, new virtual machine for Mac, goes beta. April 26, 2007 -- A German company called Innotek has released a free public beta version of VirtualBox for Mac OS X, new virtualization software for running Windows and Linux on Intel-based Macs.

VirtualBox is commercial software based on GPL open-source code. The company said that this first beta release of VirtualBox can run Windows Vista, supports USB, and can be scripted from the command line. VirtualBox also supports VMDK virtual disk format used by VMware. Innotek shipped its first commercial versions of VirtualBox for Windows and Linux this past January.

If you've tried the VirtualBox beta what you think of it.

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Reader Reports and Tips

First reports of VirtualBox are guardedly optimistic | Top of Page |

April 30, 2007
A pair of readers sent reports on the VirtualBox beta, a new vitualization product for running Windows on Mac OS X on Intel Macs.

Nik Sands compared it to Parallels Desktop:

I've been trying out the new VirtualBox beta for Mac OS X and found it to be quite polished for a pre-release product. Its performance is vastly superior to that of Parallels (at least on my MacBook), particularly when switching between the virtual machine and any other Mac OS X applications. This is instant with VirtualBox, but usually requires some waiting with Parallels. It sure boots Windows a lot faster than Parallels, too.

There appears to be a few features that are not working or limited in this beta version (such as the folder sharing doesn't seem to work and requires command line to set up, networking restricted to NAT). But it promises to be an excellent means of running Windows applications on Mac OS X when the final version is released.

John Melby said USB doesn't work yet:

I installed Windows 2000 Pro on the Virtual Box Mac beta yesterday and was surprised at how well it works, especially for a first beta. It's missing several important things, such as USB support (although the blurb suggests that there is USB support, there appears not to be) and audio support, but it seems to be a great start. I'm looking forward to future releases.

Reader report on VirtualBox Beta 2 | Top of Page |

August 21, 2007
Eric Cooper shared his thoughts on the most current VirtualBox Beta 2, an open source virtualization program for running Windows on Intel Macs:

VirtualBox works pretty well. I just installed it on a MacBook and installed Windows XP. It is pretty responsive. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of Parallels and VMWare, but it does a decent job.

If you've tried the VirtualBox Beta 2 what you think of it.

Reader notes VirtualBox Beta 2 lack of audio/video I/O

August 22, 2007
Domenico Ceglia points out a flaw in the current beta of the VirtualBox virtual machine software:

I am using the Virtual Box Beta 2 on my MacBook for to use Windows XP, it works well, only audio in and video in/out doesn't supported at the moment, I hope in the future that they are supported.

If you've tried the VirtualBox Beta 2 what you think of it.

Reader says VirtualBox Beta incompatible with Leopard

Monday, November 26, 2007

Irving Kanefsky reports the current beta of VirtualBox, a virtualization environment for running Windows on Mac OS X, doesn't work in Mac OS X 10.5:

VirtualBox Beta 2 ran very well on Tiger. It was fast and very polished for a beta. It of course was incomplete. Now that I upgraded to Leopard, it does not work at all on my MacBook Pro. It seemed to run faster than VMware Fusion and Parallels and probably would be my choice if it could work in Leopard.

If you've seen this problem

Another report of VirtualBox crashing in Leopard

Monday, December 10, 2007

Simone Zoffoli in Bologna, Italy, is a second reader to report VirtualBox Beta 2 crashing in Leopard:

When I'm lucky it crash on the boot of the virtual machine, if not it crashes when it starts up.

VirtualBox is prerelease virtualization software that can run Windows on Macs.

For more on this topic, see our VirtualBox beta Tips and Reports page.

More reports of VirtualBox Beta2 and Leopard

Monday, December 17, 2007

Two more readers report that VirtualBox Beta2 virtual machine software is incompatible with Leopard:

Sekou Abodunrin notes that the guest OS doesn't matter:

I have just upgraded my tiger to leopard. VirtualBox keeps crashing irrespective of the guest OS I try to install on it.

Glenn Dixon:

VirtualBox and Leopard -- no go. Had the same problem here: turned off all extra services, no audio, no network, etc. Could not get XP virtual machine to finish loading before crashing.

VirtualBox still silent on Leopard; more incompatibility reports

Friday, January 4, 2008

Two more fans of VirtualBox for Mac OS X Beta report that it doesn't work in Leopard. VirtualBox is virtual machine software for Mac OS X. (See our VirtualBox Tips and Reports page for more.) The VirtualBox web site still doesn't mention Leopard, though there was a recent update for the Windows version.

Markus Müller describes the symptoms:

I just updated to Leopard 10.5. VirtualBox 1.4.1 Beta2 ran under Tiger with hardly any crashes, now I get unexpected quitting.

In more detail: First start of VirtualBox after booting. It "Quits unexpectedly." Selecting "relaunch" brings up the main VirtualBox window.

Starting one of the virtual machines brings the black screen, then the message "starting the virtual machine," then unexpected quit of the VM Selecting "relaunch" shows no visible result. However, now there are two instances of VirtualBox shown running. But the virtual machines do not start.

Sometimes, VirtualBox doesn't even start (hangs before displaying the main window).

Nevertheless: VirtualBox is a great product!

Eduard Prats Molner in Berlin, Germany:

Hello, mine crashes too. I would like to know if someone has actually a positive experience. Really sad, I love VirtualBox!

Linux/VirtualBox Beta 3 networking problem in Leopard

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Botond Orbán has a problem with the last version of the VirtualBox running Linux. Virtual Box is an open source virtualization environment. Orbán said:

I have tried Virtual Box 1.5.51 on Leopard. I struggled a lot to make the network working on an Ubuntu guest OS without any success.

If you have a suggestion

TIP: fix for Virtual Box Linux networking in Mac OS X

Friday, March 7, 2008

Botond Orbán sent in the solution for a problem he was having with networking in Ubuntu Linux running in VirtualBox Beta3 in Mac OS X 10.5.x:

I figured out what happened. The DNS was set incorrectly by the Ubuntu guest on Virtual Box. I found this spread across on different Ubuntu and VB forums.

Report on VirtualBox and secure Linux

Monday, August 4, 2008

Thomas Wantz doesn't use Macs, but does use the Linux version of VirtualBox to run another Linux in a virtual machine:

I have been using VirtualBox for a year now. I use 64-bit SuSE 10.1 as a host, and 32-bit SuSE 10.1 as a guest. I do all of this for security purposes, as I put the entire VBox application inside an Apparmor MAC [mandatory access control] profile, which provides me with superb security.

(Apparmor is security software for Linux.) If you've used VirtualBox for Mac what you think of it.

Reader report on VirtualBox 1.6.2 and 1.6.4: speed good, but not with graphics

Friday, August 15, 2008

Mars Sjoden is happy with Sun's free VirtualBox virtualization software. It runs Windows quickly on his Mac, though not with 3D graphics. He also had some problems with shared folders and bridged networking:

I have been watching VirtualBox for a few months now, and decided to jump in at Version 1.6.2. I have used Parallels and VMWare Fusion extensively for 3 years now on my Mac's in production scenarios.

Initial impressions of VirtualBox 1.6.2 running an XP SP3 Guest, was, "Wow, this is fast!" VirtualBox is by far and away the most efficient Virtualization software on the Macintosh, and feels very close to native performance. (Parallels advertises native performance but comparably feels like a slug, VMWare is only slightly better IMO.)

However, that speed does not carry over to 3D performance as there is still no virtualization/pass-through to the graphics card.

There were certainly some problems with shared folders in version 1.6.2 which required installing the Guest Additions, (like Parallels Tools and VMWare Tools) numerous times.

As of version 1.6.4 the Virtual Machine is rock solid and I have been working hard, with GIS, databases, spreadsheets for 10 days now with no issues at all.

It should be noted that at this time there is no support for Bridged Networking however from what I understand it will be rolled out soon in version 1.6.6.

The community is very active and helpful, support is very knowledgeable as is the case in most Open Source projects.

At this point VirtualBox meets my production needs, and is the best choice for my lab versus Boot Camp, Parallels, and VMWare Fusion solely on performance needs, and stability issues have been met nicely.

Reader is optimistic about VirtualBox

Monday, September 15, 2008

Terry Hunt has tried Sun's free xVM VirtualBox virtualization software for Mac and other host platforms. He sent a report:

I have found VirtualBox to be both easy on system resources and relatively easy to use. The shared folders not found in VMware server is also a plus. I look forward to a "VMotion" type feature in the future which should drive down the cost ESX server which my company also utilizes. I use it on Ferdora 9 and have Solaris, and Windows XP running in virtual machines.

Xinerama support for multiple desktops in seemless mode and automatic bridge networking will also be a welcome relief of some minor though greatly annoying tasks.

Time will tell if Virtual Box will be stable enough for mission critical CPU and Memory intensive applications though it seems well on it's way.

For more, see our VirtualBox Reports page.

Reader reports on VirtualBox, mixed success

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Ian Orchard in New Zealand reports that Sun's free VirtualBox virtualization software isn't as easy to use as other virtualization packages might be. He describes his successes and failures:

I've installed Win XP on VirtualBox and Leopard on my MacBook, twice. Both times with only a few stumbles and fiddles. It's not something I'd expect Granny to undertake, or 95 percent of the population in general. It is working well although I haven't figured out how to share files between XP and OS X. I've created documents in XP and saved them to all the likely locations, but neither Spotlight or EasyFind have been able to trace them. I've also been unable to connect to a printer, in spite of installing Bonjour for Windows. To be fair, it's asking a bit much to track down an AppleTalking HP Laserjet 2200 on the network or a shared Canon 750 that is connected to an elderly iMac, both via Airport Extreme. I'll try connecting directly via USB.

VirtualBox had no problems at all finding the WiFi connection, that part was spooky. I downloaded and installed Firefox, Avast antivirus, Service Pack 3 and Adobe Reader without any particular problems, but OMG, XP is a dog of an OS?

If you've tried the latest version of VirtualBox

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