Sun VirtualBox 3.1.0 (Free) — Run an OS inside an OS

I’m writing from Ubuntu 9.10 inside of Windows 7 using Sun’s VirtualBox 3.1.0, which was released about two weeks ago. VirtualBox is open source software that enables computers to virtualize computers within an operating system.  So, for example, you can run Windows in Linux and vice versa.

The primary operating system is referred to as a “host” and the virtualized computers are referred to as “guests.” Windows, Linux, Macs and OpenSolaris can host VirtualBox.  Guest operating systems include Windows, Linux and a variety of others unknown to me. Guest OSs can intergrate with USB ports, drives and even shared folders.

So, what’s the point?  Why run VirtualBox? Here are some reasons…

1. Before you upgrade to a new OS, you can try out a new OS with minimal effort. Just load up an ISO of the OS and you can check it out. Maybe you’re thinking of buying a netbook with Ubuntu Netbook Remix, try it out on your PC first.
2. You might want to run Windows apps but prefer to work in a Linux environment. For me, I can load up Photoshop, Blackberry Desktop Manager and Microsoft Office in Windows (on my host) but work in Google Chrome and other Linux apps in Ubuntu (on my guest).
3. No need to partition your drive to run two OSs. VirtualBox can create an OS on a virtual drive that exists within your existing drive and dynamically expands as needed.
4. Dual boot can be a real drag. If you need to restart your computer often, it can be very annoying. Also, with some virtualizations, you can cut and paste from one OS to another OS.
5. With reasonable computing power, the host and guest run at very good speeds.  I’m running on a dual core AMD Turion with 4 gigs of RAM… not state of the art by any means… and both host and guest are very responsive. With VirtualBox, you can allocate RAM and graphics memory between the two OSs and even adjust them after installing the guest. VirtualBox suggests the optimal settings for you.

If you’re thinking about taking VirtualBox for a spin, here are some tips:

1. Be sure to load the guest enhancements ISO on the guest. This will provide for better integration between the host and the guest. For example, it adds the ability to move your cursor seamlessly between the host and guest windows.
2. Learn keyboard shortcuts. Guests can be run in full screen mode (almost identical to running the OS as a primary OS). Right Control-F toggles between full screen and window modes.
3. Be patient. If you encounter a problem, there will likely be a solution. There’s tons of support out there for VirtualBox, just Google for solutions.

Highly recommended.  Check it out at http://www.virtualbox.org/.

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