VirtualBox

Free virtualization software to run different operating systems in a virtual machine with advanced features, hardware dedication, 3D virtualization and support for Windows and Linux distributions.

VirtualBox is a powerful virtualization product that offers an array of features for both enterprise and home use. It is designed to run multiple operating systems on a single PC and provides a completely isolated environment for each OS. With VirtualBox, you can seamlessly switch between operating systems, including macOS on Intel hardware.

It's totally free and a professional, high performance virtualization software

It's the only professional virtualization solution that is freely available as Open Source Software under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2. As such, it is an extremely feature-rich, high-performance product that is ideal for enterprise customers, as well as personal, educational, or evaluation use.

Run endless multiple operating systems on your Windows machine

VirtualBox allows you to run multiple x86 operating systems such as Windows, macOS, Linux distributions, FreeBSD, and OpenBSD on your host machine. It uses your computer's file system and creates files that map to a virtual machine's disk drives, eliminating the need to create a partition for each operating system. You can also run both operating systems simultaneously without dual booting, and seamlessly switch from one operating system to another with a click of your mouse.

One of the great things about VirtualBox is its modularity. It has an extremely modular design with well-defined internal programming interfaces and a client/server design. This makes it easy to control it from several interfaces at once. It also comes with a full Software Development Kit that makes it easy to write a new interface for VirtualBox.

Configuration can easily be shared between systems

VirtualBox uses XML to store the configuration settings of virtual machines, making it easy to port virtual machine definitions to other computers. It has special software that can be installed inside Windows, Linux, and Solaris virtual machines to improve performance and make integration much more seamless. It provides shared folders for easy data exchange between hosts and guests.

Active community of developers

VirtualBox is actively developed, with frequent releases and an ever-growing list of features, supported guest operating systems, and platforms it runs on. It is a community effort backed by a dedicated company, and everyone is encouraged to contribute while Oracle ensures the product always meets professional quality criteria.

In closing

In summary, VirtualBox is a free and open source virtual machine platform that provides a powerful, flexible, and seamless solution for virtualization. Whether you're an enterprise customer or a personal user, VirtualBox is the ultimate solution for virtualization.

Features of VirtualBox

3D acceleration: Enable 3D graphics support on guest operating systems.
Automation: Automate virtual machine and host operations using scripts.
CPU/RAM control: Customize the amount of RAM and CPUs for each virtual machine.
Clone and template: Clone virtual machines and save as templates.
Command line interface: Manage virtual machines from the command line.
Extension packs: Enhance VirtualBox with additional features.
Hard disk support: Create and attach virtual hard disks of various formats.
Networking: Create and manage virtual networks for your virtual machines.
Remote displays: View virtual machines remotely.
Seamless mode: Run multiple operating systems simultaneously without rebooting.
Shared folders: Create and share folders between host and guest operating systems.
Snapshots: Capture the state of a virtual machine at any given time.
USB support: Connect USB devices to virtual machines.
Virtual media manager: Manage ISO files, disk images and other virtual media.

Compatibility and License

VirtualBox is available for free and released under the open source GPLv2 license on Windows from PC utilities. The license provides the options to freely download, install, run and share this program without any restrictions. The source code for VirtualBox should be freely available and modifications are certainly permitted as well as the option to inspect the software.

Is VirtualBox for Windows 10 or Windows 11?

Yes. It can run on a PC with Windows 11 or Windows 10. Previous versions of the OS shouldn't be a problem with Windows 8 and Windows 7 having been tested. It comes in both 32-bit and 64-bit downloads.

Other operating systems: The latest VirtualBox version from 2024 is also available for Mac.

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