http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/User_HOWTOS

http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Linux_Downloads

http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/server-storage/virtualbox/downloads

Virtualbox is an excellent workstation virtualization solution.

If you need server virtualization, see:

XenServer

Proxmox Virtualization Environment

• Two versions
  • Open Source Edition

    • sudo apt-get install virtualbox-ose

  • Commercial Edition
    • add repo to sources.list

    • sudo apt-get install virtualbox-4.1

• Install Extension Pack for USB 2.0 support in VM
• Both versions free for personal use.
• No hardware virtualization support needed, similar to VMware Server
• Can be run headless and accessed via VRDP protocol
• Can use VMware virtual disks
• Doing so will require Windows XP re-activation
• It's best to uninstall VMware Tools first
• Most VMware drivers will work under VB
• Had network problems
• default 'host key' to release keyboard is Right Ctrl
• Didn't work out too well on Fedora 11

Well organized manual/brochure/quick-start guide: http://www.virtualbox.org/manual/UserManual.html

• You probably don't need more than 1 vCPU and 512MB RAM
• You can get by with as ittle as 8GB of disk space

Mount Windows Tools ISO and run:

d:\setup.exe /c

Install Guest Additions (tools), then view the “Entire Network”, or browse or search to:

\\vboxsvr

If it won't boot, edit the System setting to “Enable IO APIC”.

Using network installation, you are assured of installing a Xen PV kernel.

CentOS Network Install

http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=15679

sudo yum install binutils gcc make patch libgomp glibc-headers glibc-devel kernel-headers kernel-devel

Devices → Install Guest Additions

In VM:

mount /media/cdrom

cd /media/cdrom

sudo sh ./VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.run

or

sh sudo sh ./VboxLinuxAdditions-amd64.run

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/VirtualBox

sudo apt-get install dkms build-essential linux-headers-`uname -r`

Download and install .deb from http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Linux_Downloads.

Add your user to the 'vboxusers' group:

sudo usermod -a -G vboxusers yourusername

Log out and back in to gain permissions.

http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=15679

sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-`uname -r`

Network configuration defaults to DHCP and NAT, which should give you Internet access and a 10.0.x.x IP address, but no access to the VM from the local network. It's easy to set to bridged in Network settings and restart VM.

Rebuild the kernel module:

sudo /etc/init.d/vboxdrv setup

http://novemberechoromeodelta.com/20081220-shrinking-virtualbox-vdi-files

http://download.sysinternals.com/Files/SDelete.zip

Defrag the disk within the VM.

I'm not convinced moving VMs from one virtualization platform to another is a “good idea”. I have generally found it faster to reinstall a VM clean. It's analogous to doing upgrades to host operationg systems…it can be done, but it's probably not going to work as well as you might hope.

http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Migrate_Windows

• You will have to reactivate Windows
• You will probably have to Enable IO APIC to get the VM to boot
• You may need to set the Network Adapter to Bridged mode
• You will need to uninstall the VMware Tools
• You will need to install the Virtualbox Guest Additions
• You will need to get USB working in the VM
• There is a VMware cleaner utility to help
  • http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1308
  • Use a USB memory key to transfer the utility
• You may still have problems with the NIC

If your VMware virtual disk is comprised of multiple .vmdk files, you have to reorganize it into a single file. We use a tool from VMware Server and one from Qemu:

vmware-vdiskmanager -r vm-name.vmdk -t 0 temp.vmdk 
sudo apt-get install qemu
qemu-img convert temp.vmdk temp.bin
VBoxManage convertdd temp.bin new-hardive-name.vdi

Device Manager → Right-Click VMware NIC → Update Driver → Install From List → Don't Search → AMD PCNET Family PCI Ethernet Adapter

http://www.amd.com/us-en/ConnectivitySolutions/ProductInformation/0,,50_2330_6629_2403%5E2415%5E2454%5E2486,00.html

http://www.liucougar.net/blog/archives/118

File → Import File → Export

http://www.clearfoundation.com/component/option,com_kunena/Itemid,232/catid,40/func,view/id,2834/