Special Report: Running Windows on a Mac with VMware Beta

Introduction

Sun Microsystems' xVM VirtualBox for Mac OS X is virtualization software for running Windows and Linux on Intel-based Macs. VirtualBox is commercial 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 MacWindows coverage of running Windows on Macs, including Parallels and VMware, click here.

Version History

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.

Other MacWindows Departments

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Tips and issues running Windows with VirtualBox Beta on a Mac