What is VirtualBox?
VirtualBox is a free and open-source virtualization software program developed by Oracle. It allows users to run multiple virtual machines on a single physical machine, each with its own operating system and applications. VirtualBox enables users to test new operating systems, run software written for different OSes, and consolidate hardware resources.
As an open source software, VirtualBox source code is available for anyone to inspect, modify, and enhance. This allows the VirtualBox community to contribute features and fixes. VirtualBox runs on Windows, Linux, Macintosh, and Solaris hosts and supports a large number of guest operating systems including Windows, Linux, BSD, Solaris, and others.
Some key features of VirtualBox include:
- Hardware virtualization support for improved performance
- 3D virtual graphics support
- Virtual hard disk support
- Shared folder allowing host/guest file system integration
- Snapshotting to save VM state
Reasons VirtualBox May Be Installed
One of the most common reasons VirtualBox ends up on a computer is because the user downloaded and installed it intentionally for virtualization purposes. As described by Oracle, “Oracle VM VirtualBox enables you to run more than one OS at a time. This way, you can run software written for one OS on another, such as Windows software on Linux or a Mac at the same time” (source). VirtualBox creates a virtual environment within the host computer, allowing users to install and run guest operating systems alongside the native OS.
There are many practical reasons a user may want to install VirtualBox for virtualization, including trying out new operating systems, running old or incompatible software, developing software for other platforms, safely handling potential malware, and more (source). VirtualBox provides an easy way for users to have multiple isolated environments without needing dedicated hardware.
Uses for VirtualBox
One of the main uses of VirtualBox is to allow you to run different operating systems on your existing computer. With VirtualBox, you can install operating systems like Linux, Windows, macOS, etc. as virtual machines on your current OS without dual booting. This allows you to access the software, tools, and features of multiple operating systems on one computer.
For example, a Linux developer working on a Windows machine can run Ubuntu as a virtual machine with VirtualBox. This provides access to all the Linux tools and terminal commands without having to wipe the Windows installation. Similarly, a macOS user can install a Windows VM to run Windows-only software. The virtual machines act like independent PCs even though they share hardware resources with the host computer.
VirtualBox makes it easy to switch between virtual machines and the host OS. The VMs can run in windowed mode or full screen. You can even share files and peripherals between host and virtual machines. Overall, VirtualBox enables running different OS environments conveniently on a single physical computer.
Source: https://infosec-jobs.com/insights/virtualbox-explained/
Checking if VirtualBox is Installed
To check if VirtualBox is already installed on your computer, you can look in your program list or search on your computer.
On Windows, click the Start menu and look for VirtualBox in the program list. You can also use the search bar to type “VirtualBox” and see if it comes up in the search results.
On Mac, click the Apple menu and select “Applications” to view your installed programs. Search for VirtualBox in the applications list. You can also use Spotlight search by typing “VirtualBox” to see if it is detected on your system.
On Linux, you can search for VirtualBox from your app launcher or use the terminal to check. For example, on Ubuntu you can run apt list virtualbox to see if the VirtualBox package is installed (source: https://iqcode.com/code/shell/check-if-virtualbox-is-installed-ubuntu).
If VirtualBox shows up in your installed programs or search results, then it is present on your system. If not, it likely means VirtualBox is not yet installed.
Uninstalling VirtualBox
If you want to uninstall VirtualBox from your Windows computer, the easiest way is to use the Windows control panel. Open the control panel and go to Programs > Programs and Features. Find Oracle VM VirtualBox in the list of installed programs, click on it, and select Uninstall. This will launch the VirtualBox uninstall utility, which will guide you through fully removing VirtualBox from your system.
You can also launch the VirtualBox uninstall utility directly. Go to Start and type “VirtualBox” to search for the Oracle VM VirtualBox application. Right-click on it and select Uninstall. The uninstall utility will open and walk you through the process of removing all VirtualBox components and files from your computer.
Be sure to follow all prompts during the uninstall process. The utility will ask you to confirm removing certain components like network adapters. Click Yes to all prompts to fully erase VirtualBox. After it completes, restart your computer to finalize the uninstallation. Once your system reboots, VirtualBox will be completely removed.
For more details, refer to the VirtualBox user manual: https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch01.html#uninstall
Benefits of VirtualBox
One of the main benefits of VirtualBox is the ability to run programs designed for different operating systems without having to reboot your computer or set up dual boot. For example, if you are running Windows 10 as your host OS, you can set up a virtual machine running Linux or macOS in order to use software designed for those platforms (VirtualBox Reviews, 2023). This allows you to access programs you normally couldn’t on your main OS.
Another key benefit is testing new operating systems or OS versions without impacting your main system. You can install the OS you want to try out in VirtualBox and evaluate it before deciding whether to upgrade your actual computer. This is useful for previewing new Windows releases or experimenting with different Linux distros (The PC Insider, 2023). Overall, VirtualBox provides a safe sandbox to try out software and OS configurations.
Drawbacks of VirtualBox
While VirtualBox offers many benefits, it also comes with some downsides to consider before installing and using it.
First, VirtualBox can take up a significant amount of disk space on your computer. Each virtual machine you create requires its own virtual hard disk file, which can be multiple gigabytes in size depending on the operating system and applications you install in the virtual machine. Storing and running multiple VMs can quickly eat up free disk space.
Second, properly setting up and managing VirtualBox and virtual machines requires some technical knowledge and comfort with advanced computer tasks. You’ll need to understand concepts like virtual networking, disk partitions, CPU/RAM allocation, and more. Less tech-savvy users may find VirtualBox confusing or frustrating to work with.
As noted in this VirtualBox forum post, challenges with backups and complex VM storage were downsides in earlier versions of VirtualBox. While the software continues to improve, it still requires decent technical skills to master VirtualBox.
Alternatives to VirtualBox
There are several alternatives to VirtualBox available that provide similar virtualization capabilities:
VMware Workstation is a popular commercial alternative to VirtualBox. It allows users to run multiple operating systems on the same computer through virtual machines. VMware offers more powerful virtualization features for enterprise use. However, it is not free like VirtualBox.
Parallels Desktop is virtualization software for Mac users as an alternative to VirtualBox. It has optimizations for a Mac host computer and integrates with macOS features. Parallels allows running Windows, Linux, and other operating systems virtually on a Mac.
Microsoft Hyper-V is the native virtualization technology built into Windows. For Windows users, Hyper-V provides an alternative to VirtualBox that may offer better integration and performance with Windows host computers.
These alternatives provide more advanced features and performance optimizations compared to VirtualBox. However, VirtualBox remains a good free and open source option for basic virtualization needs.
VirtualBox Advanced Usage
VirtualBox has several advanced features that enable more complex and flexible virtual machine configurations. Here are some of the key advanced capabilities:
Snapshots
Snapshots allow you to save the state of a VM at a particular point in time. You can then revert back to that snapshot later, which rolls the VM back to the exact state it was in when you took the snapshot. Snapshots are useful for experimenting, testing software installs, and recovering from errors (VirtualBox 1.9: Advanced Features and Practical Use).
Shared Folders
Shared folders allow you to easily share files between the host and guest OS. You can configure shared folders when setting up a VM and then access those folders from within the VM. This provides an easy way to transfer files between the host and VM (VirtualBox 1.9: Advanced Features and Practical Use).
Remote Desktop
VirtualBox has built-in remote desktop support that allows you to access a VM’s desktop remotely. This enables working with the VM’s OS and applications from your main host OS. Remote desktop can be enabled on Windows, Linux, and some other guest OSes.
Conclusion
In summary, VirtualBox is a useful virtualization software that allows you to run operating systems within other operating systems. The main reasons VirtualBox may be installed on your computer include trying out new operating systems, running software built for certain operating systems, and sandboxing untrusted software.
Some of the benefits of VirtualBox are that it’s free, open source, and works on Windows, Linux, and macOS. However, drawbacks include reduced performance compared to native systems, more complex setup, and lack of official support. Options like VMware and Parallels can provide simpler workflows and better integration at the cost of being paid software.
Overall, VirtualBox can be a handy tool for developers, IT professionals, and tech enthusiasts looking to expand the capabilities of their main operating system. But it also may get installed unintentionally through third party software bundles. If you find VirtualBox on your system but don’t use it, uninstalling is straightforward. Just be sure to delete any virtual machines first if you want to remove them as well.