Performance Limitations
One of the main disadvantages of using VirtualBox is that virtual machines running on it will have slower performance compared to native setups running on bare metal. This is because the virtualization layer adds overhead that can negatively impact speed. According to Super User, virtual machines using hardware virtualization extensions can get close to native speeds for CPU-bound workloads, but will still be slower overall.
In addition, VirtualBox guests are limited in the amount of RAM and CPU cores they can be allocated. As noted on Quora, running an OS in a VM will always incur overhead compared to native. So performance-critical applications may suffer under VirtualBox.
Therefore, while VirtualBox can work well for basic needs, users requiring maximum speed and resources for intensive workloads may find the performance limitations too restrictive.
Limited Features
Compared to other virtualization platforms like VMware and Hyper-V, VirtualBox lacks some advanced features. Two notable missing features are live migration and snapshots.
Live migration allows you to move a running virtual machine from one host to another with no downtime. This can be useful for load balancing, performing host maintenance without interrupting VMs, and improving fault tolerance. However, live migration is not supported in VirtualBox.
VirtualBox also does not allow you to create snapshots of VMs. Snapshots let you save the state of a VM at a point in time, which you can then revert to later. Snapshots are helpful for testing software changes, creating checkpoints to roll back to, and more. But this capability is not offered in VirtualBox.
The lack of live migration and snapshots may limit VirtualBox’s usefulness for some advanced use cases. Those needing these features may want to consider alternative virtualization platforms.
Graphical Issues
One disadvantage of VirtualBox is occasional graphical glitches and limited 3D support. VirtualBox relies on virtualized graphics drivers which can sometimes have compatibility issues or bugs leading to graphical artifacts, screen tearing, flickering or other glitches [1]. The virtualized graphics stack also has limited 3D acceleration support compared to native hardware drivers. This can make running graphically intensive 3D games or applications under VirtualBox challenging or impossible. Overall, while VirtualBox works well for basic 2D graphics, users may experience occasional graphical issues or limitations when running advanced 3D applications due to the virtualized graphics drivers.
Networking Restrictions
VirtualBox places certain limitations on networking capabilities that can impact functionality.
The default NAT networking setup provides internet access to VMs but does not allow them to be reached from the host or external network, only outbound connections are possible (VirtualBox Manual). This prevents bridging networking connections directly from the VM to the host machine or wider network.
Additionally, VirtualBox does not have the capability to create an internal virtual network switch to connect multiple VMs (Nakivo). The only options are NAT, bridged, and host-only networking.
These limitations can make it difficult to configure more complex networking needs between virtual machines, the host system, and external networks. Relying solely on VirtualBox’s NAT approach restricts traffic flow and connectivity.
Steep Learning Curve
One of the main disadvantages of VirtualBox is that it has a steep learning curve, especially for less technical users. VirtualBox is not the most intuitive or user-friendly virtualization software and requires digging into technical details to configure properly[1]. The many settings and options can be overwhelming for someone without a technical background. As one user put it, “Sorry, but I’m not going to try to coach you through the entire VirtualBox learning curve on a user forum”[1]. Successfully installing guest operating systems and networking between host and guest machines involves complex configuration steps that may prove challenging for beginners.
Since VirtualBox is aimed at developers and power users, the documentation assumes a higher level of existing technical knowledge. The software lacks some of the wizards and helpers that make options accessible to novice users. The learning curve may be too difficult or frustrating for some casual home users who just want an easy way to run a secondary OS. While VirtualBox is a powerful tool, utilizing its full potential requires patience and dedication to learn all of its ins and outs.
Limited Platform Support
One of the primary disadvantages of VirtualBox is its limited platform support. VirtualBox only officially supports host installations on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems (Oracle, 2020). This precludes usage on other platforms like Solaris or FreeBSD. If you need to run virtual machines on another host OS, you’ll have to use alternative virtualization software with wider platform support.
The restricted platform support also creates limitations if you want to create virtual machines for lesser used guest operating systems. While Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X guests are fully supported, other operating systems have limited or experimental support in VirtualBox (VirtualBox, 2020). So if you need to run an obscure OS virtually, you may encounter issues with VirtualBox.
No Commercial Support
One disadvantage of VirtualBox is that there are limited commercial support options since it is free and open source software. Unlike paid solutions like VMware and Parallels, VirtualBox does not offer enterprise support services or service-level agreements. While Oracle provides basic community support through forums, there are no guaranteed response times or dedicated technical support representatives available for VirtualBox.
This lack of commercial support can make it more challenging for larger organizations to adopt VirtualBox, as they may require the additional assistance and accountability that comes with paid support models. Teams that rely heavily on virtual machines for business-critical systems are likely to need more rapid troubleshooting, expert configuration guidance, and software updates than the VirtualBox community can provide.
For personal users and smaller companies, the free community support may be sufficient. But those running enterprise operations with little tolerance for downtime will find the absence of commercial support offerings a drawback compared to paid alternatives like VMware Workstation and Parallels Desktop.
Compatibility Issues
One of the main disadvantages of VirtualBox is that it can have compatibility issues with certain guest operating systems and hardware configurations [1]. For example, VirtualBox may not work properly with newer versions of Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux unless specific VirtualBox builds are used. There have been reports of issues running Windows 11 and macOS Monterey as guests in VirtualBox [2].
VirtualBox also requires hardware virtualization support on the host computer’s CPU. So it may not work on older hardware lacking this feature. There can also be conflicts with hypervisors like Hyper-V. VirtualBox may need to be configured properly alongside other virtualization programs [3].
Overall, lack of guest OS and hardware compatibility can make it challenging to get VirtualBox running properly. Users may need to tweak settings, update VirtualBox versions, or modify system configurations to resolve these types of issues.
Lack of Snapshots
One disadvantage of using VirtualBox is the lack of snapshots compared to other virtualization platforms like VMWare and Hyper-V. VirtualBox does not have the same snapshot capabilities that allow you to easily save a VM state and roll back to that point if needed [1]. With VirtualBox, snapshots are less robust and can sometimes become corrupted leading to problems restoring VMs [2]. The snapshot feature in VirtualBox is limited compared to VMWare and Hyper-V which both offer full snapshots to revert VMs to previous states [3]. This lack of snapshot functionality can make testing and experimenting more difficult in VirtualBox.
Security Concerns
VirtualBox has had some significant security vulnerabilities in the past that allowed attackers to escape the virtual machine sandbox and gain access to the host system. Some of the more severe issues include:
CVE-2014-6595, CVE-2014-6590, CVE-2014-6589, CVE-2014-6588 – Multiple vulnerabilities allowed guest systems to crash the host or execute arbitrary code on the host system [1].
CVE-2015-0427, CVE-2015-3456 – Flaws in USB and graphics drivers permitted escape from the virtual machine sandbox to the host system [2].
While patches have been released to address past vulnerabilities, new issues are frequently discovered. The complexity of emulating hardware makes VirtualBox susceptible to sandbox escapes. Using an isolated VM for untrusted activities is recommended.