Pic source: sxc.hu

I started using VirtualBox a few weeks ago and recently updated to version 2.2. The cool new feature is the ability to get OpenGL 3D acceleration for Linux and Solaris virtual machines. I have done some tests with Ubuntu 9.04 Desktop beta and I have to say it works much better than I expected. My setup includes 2 monitors one of which I used for the Ubuntu VM and the other one for the Win2008Srv host. I have previously used VMWare Workstation to do the same, but under VirtualBox Ubuntu seems to be much more responsive and stable. Especially when you’re using Compiz

Another cool feature that has been added to 2.2 is the support for OVF (Open Virtualization Format). This way it makes it quite trivial to migrate from VMWare…. in theory. Practice shows that you will experience some issues challenges. Here is what I did today to make it work. Lets start from the beginning:

1. Converted my VMWare machine to OVF format using VMWare OVF Tool Technology Preview (Download)

The syntax is quite obvious and it is:

ovfTool.exe <path/name.vmx> <path/name.ovh>

The tool does quite a good job at converting the virtual disk in my case it became more than 60% lighter in terms of size

2. Imported the converted OVH machine to VirtualBox using the Import feature, changes some machine params and it failed to start :/Actually the whole VirtualBox machine crashed at the beginning before it even started booting. Tried changing parameters etc, but all my efforts failed.

3. Created a clean machine (with same params and settings that the imported one), attached it to the converted virtual disk and…. it magically worked like a charm.

The fact that VirtualBox and VMware both support OVF is quite exciting, because it makes it very easy to share, migrate and reuse virtual machines. Now I am waiting to learn about a big online repository of virtual appliances. Well - there is this VMWare Virtual Applicance Marketplace, but IMHO it lacks a lot in terms of functionality and I would like to see a completely independent site exposing a proper repository (like with versioning etc) for virtual machines.

Oh. And one more piece of advice for VirtualBox 2.2 users (probably only who upgraded from previous editions):
We (me and my friend Patryk) had problems setting bridged networking - the application couldn’t recognize hosts hardware network interfaces. As Patryk discovered a simple Repair option for the VirtualBox installation and clicking Install on all unsigned drivers install prompts + host restart helped.