Oracle VM VirtualBox is an open source and cross-platform virtualization utility that makes it possible to extend your computer’s capabilities so that it can be used to run a large number of operating systems (inside multiple virtual machines), using the same hardware you use for your daily tasks.
Operating system virtualization solution for multiple-platforms
Thus, with the help of Oracle VM VirtualBox, users can easily have Windows and Linux applications running on a Mac, have Windows Server 2008 running on a Linux server, run Linux programs on a Windows based PC, and so on.
Moreover, Oracle VM VirtualBox is designed to enable you to install and run as many operating systems on as many virtual machines as you need.
The only physical and practical limitations in the number of virtualized OSs and virtual machines that you can run at the same time, is your computer’s limited memory and disk space.
Virtualize any OS on embedded, desktop or cloud-based environments
More importantly, the Oracle VM VirtualBox virtualization app is very simple to use, yet it also packs a vast selection of powerful tools and features, making it easy for one to run it on almost any platform, from small desktop class machines and embedded systems, all the way up to massive data centers and even Cloud-based environments.
Oracle VM VirtualBox’s most important advantage is that it can be used to run software belonging other operating systems on Mac OS X, Windows, Linux, and Solaris hosts.
Support for a diverse range of OSs and a large variety of virtualization uses
Thus, Oracle VM VirtualBox comes with extensive support for a substantial number of guest operating systems including, but absolutely not limited to, Mac OS X (10.5 or later), DOS/Windows 3.x, Linux (2.4 and 2.6), Windows (NT 4.0, 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista, Windows 7), Solaris and OpenSolaris, OpenBSD, and OS/2.
Besides effortlessly virtualizing a large assortment of operating systems on any platform, Oracle VM VirtualBox can also be employed for installing and configuring a virtual appliance, test software within a controlled and easy to alter platform.
As an added bonus, if needed, Oracle VM VirtualBox can also be used to drastically reduce energy and hardware costs by using the same computers to run multiple computing platforms on the same physical hardware platforms.
Powerful and open source virtualization solution
On the whole, Oracle VM VirtualBox should be the virtualization software of choice to anyone with a focus on open source solutions.
Furthermore, although it is a community-driven project, Oracle VM VirtualBox is designed to provide you with any tool you may need to successfully virtualize almost any operating system on a vast array of hardware.
What’s New:
Version 6.1.16:
VMM: Fixed random memory corruption and XMM register state corruption inside the VM when Hyper-V is used
VMM: Fixed VMSVGA 3D support with Linux guests when Hyper-V is used
GUI: Fixed some Qt related crashes on macOS Big Sur
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure integration: Fixed network integration not working behind some proxies
USB: Mask out remote wake capability to avoid unresponsive devices
Audio: Fixed issues with audio playback after host goes to sleep
Serial: Keep transferring data if the status line monitoring fails
Serial: Fixed blocking a re-connect when TCP mode is used
HPET: Fixed inability of guests to use the last timer
VBoxManage: Fixed detection of system locale when running ‘VBoxManage unattended install’ without –locale
macOS host: Installer on Big Sur is now reminding user that system has to be rebooted to load the installed KEXTs
Linux host and guest: Support kernel version 5.9
Linux guest: Workaround to improve resizing of 32-bit VMs with VMSVGA graphics controller, and do not try to use RandR version 1.3 due
to bugs causing the X server to hang
Linux guest: Fixed VBoxService crashing in the CPU hot-plug service under certain circumstances during a CPU hot-unplug event
Linux guest: Fixed Guest additions build for RHEL 8.3 beta
Compatibility: macOS 10.12 or later, 64-bit processor