What is VirtualBox?
VirtualBox is a powerful, open-source virtualization platform that allows users to run multiple operating systems on a single machine. It is a self-hosted platform that provides a secure environment for testing, development, and deployment of various operating systems. With its robust features, including immutable storage and rollbacks, VirtualBox has become a popular choice for developers, testers, and system administrators.
As a free and open-source platform, VirtualBox can be downloaded and installed on various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. Its versatility, ease of use, and extensive feature set make it an ideal solution for those looking to automate their virtualization workflow.
Main Features
VirtualBox offers a range of features that make it an attractive solution for virtualization needs. Some of its key features include:
- Support for multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and more
- Immutable storage, which ensures that the virtual machine’s state is preserved and can be easily restored in case of errors or crashes
- Rollbacks, which enable users to easily revert to a previous state of the virtual machine
- Image repositories, which allow users to store and manage multiple virtual machine images
- Support for various networking modes, including NAT, bridged, and host-only
Installation Guide
Prerequisites
Before installing VirtualBox, ensure that your system meets the following requirements:
- A 64-bit operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux)
- A minimum of 4 GB RAM (8 GB or more recommended)
- A minimum of 2 GB free disk space (more recommended for storing virtual machine images)
Downloading and Installing VirtualBox
To download and install VirtualBox, follow these steps:
- Visit the official VirtualBox website and click on the