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wildbus8979 , (edited )

Who cares. Why use sub par Type 2 virtualization with DKMS modules when you can use built+in world class, industry standard, Type 1 hypervisor with Qemu+KVM and Virt-Manager? Already has clipboard sharing with qemu-guest-agent.

leo85811nardo ,

Because they are for different use cases. I use QEMU+KVM on desktop for games and 3D CAD software, because of its undeniable performance advantage. But on work laptop, I use VirtualBox to test my software on different platforms. On VirtualBox it’s relatively easy to initialize a VM, configure network, file sharing and device passthrough, and its snapshot feature allows me recreate the same environment for troubleshooting

wildbus8979 , (edited )

All this is true using Virt-Manager… Especially if you use the qemu-guest-agent.

leo85811nardo , (edited )

I just looked them up and maybe you are right. But QEMU definitely lacks a GUI config tool that is both easy to use and allows for advanced features like snapshots. So far the only ones I know is GNOME Boxes and Virt Manager, and neither is as good as providing handy ways to configure as VirtualBox. I could probably just write the XML config or QEMU command by the documentation, but next time it could be a different scenario so I have to investigate the docs and maybe a few more forum posts. In VirtualBox, the buttons that do everything for me are always there

wildbus8979 , (edited )

But QEMU definitely lacks a GUI config tool that is both easy to use and allows for advanced features like snapshots.

Let me say it louder for the people in the back: virt-manager.org

It literally does everything you mentioned, including allowing you to edit the XML files manually to reach advanced or obscure features that are not exposed. And it can do it remotely via SSH, and it managed LXC and Xen too.

leo85811nardo ,

Last time I tried Virt manager, I couldn’t figure out bridge networks and ended up corrupted the XML config for the VM. Skill issue for me I guess

wildbus8979 , (edited )

Bridge networking should be as simple as selecting “bridge” in the network interface setting and putting the name of your bridge interface… You can create a bridge interface with Network-Manager. Or use macvtap.

SomeKindaName ,

Because at least for me getting a shared folder to work was a total pain in the ass. Virtualbox just worked in that regard.

wildbus8979 ,

Again, just install qemu-guest-agent. You can even drag and drop files.

data1701d , (edited )
@data1701d@startrek.website avatar

I totally agree with you on the Linux side. However, I first got into Linux by using it in Virtualbox on Windows. In the Windows world, as far as I know, it’s the easiest-to-use free-as-in-beer^1^ hypervisor, so long as UEFI support has improved since I last used it.

1: I say this because of the non-libre extension pack.

wildbus8979 ,

I mean yeah, Qemu/KVM is Linux software. We’re talking about Linux here. Ain’t ever heard of that other thing you speak about. Think I I stalled it once in a VM to run some firmware update on some obscure device.

the_crotch ,

Hyper-v is bundled with windows now and is just as easy to use as virtualbox (slightly easier for windows guests since the drivers are bundled in the os)

data1701d ,
@data1701d@startrek.website avatar

Who would have thought? I’ve hardly touched Windows in over 2 years (mostly other people’s computers and the occasional app in my GPU-accelerated VM) so I haven’t kept up much.

sanpo ,

Because for some reason, no matter what I try, Windows 10 desktop is laggy as hell on Qemu, and smooth out of the box on VirtualBox.

wildbus8979 ,

Are you using UEFI in Qemu?

sanpo ,

Yeah, gotta have that and all that Secure Boot with TPM bullshit, because I’m visualizing a company workstation and nothing will work without those.

wildbus8979 ,

That’s all available in Qemu/OVMF yeah.

SteveTech ,

I’ve had the same experience, you’re much better off RDPing into the VM. But I’d like to know if anyone has a better solution that doesn’t require an extra GPU.

bunitor ,

vbox is easy. qemu is kinda frustrating to use sometimes, although virt-manager makes it a little easier

wildbus8979 ,

Virt-Manager provides a complete UI, with a four step wizard to creating a VM, how is vbox any easier?

bravemonkey , (edited )

Vbox will create a bridge with my wifi card (I’m a laptop user with no option for a wired nic in the host).

I’ve never been able to get kvm to do that and haven’t found any working instructions online that a simpleton like me can follow

wildbus8979 ,

Create the bridge with Network Manager advanced config, voilà!

TCB13 ,
@TCB13@lemmy.world avatar

vbox is easy until it starts saying vt-d isn’t enabled and refuses to start when it fact it is.

NotAnArdvark ,

Doesn’t VirtualBox use KVM if it’s available?

I likeVBoxManage. Any crazy thing I’ve ever imagined doing with a VM it’s already supported.

So, to answer your question - I use VirtualBox because it does everything I want and I’ve never had a reason to look elsewhere.

wildbus8979 ,

No, VBox does not use KVM unless you use some off brand backend, which is an extra layer of complexity and software you must install and manage.

Absolutely everything you might want to do with VBoxManager is going to be available via virsh and the multiple libviet utilities.

I’ve never had a reason to look elsewhere.

Not using Type 2 hypervisor would be a good one. Not being beholden to Oracle’s shitry licensing schemes is certainly another.

boredsquirrel ,
@boredsquirrel@slrpnk.net avatar

I think VBox is more user friendly? Virt-manager would need a GTK4 (?) update and a few UX improvements.

wildbus8979 ,

Certainly using a slightly dated Gtk is still more user friendly and better integrated than the god aweful stuff Oracle puts up. What UX improvements are you looking for?

boredsquirrel ,
@boredsquirrel@slrpnk.net avatar

I never got clipboard sharing working, on Fedora 40 KDE on Wayland. Probably a Wayland issue.

possiblylinux127 ,

It should work out of the box but if not you can check to see if qemu-guest-agent is running

possiblylinux127 ,

Virtual manager requires a lot less clicks. It also uses libvirt so you can run VMs in the background and on startup.

If you want a better UI look into other clients.

turkalino ,
@turkalino@lemmy.yachts avatar

Virtualizing Windows 10 for various binbows-only work stuff

Virtualizing Windows XP to run Office from before it started sucking

wildbus8979 ,

Why would these not work in KVM exactly?

themoken ,

For XP, the machine KVM presents as may be too new, but that isn’t an issue with non-virtualized QEMU.

wildbus8979 , (edited )

I think it should work with some version of the Q35 chipset, if not PC should work. But Wine might be a better option if you just want to run some old version of office (or frankly just use LibreOffice)

turkalino ,
@turkalino@lemmy.yachts avatar

Ok so I guess I am the stupid because I always assumed kernel-level virtualization meant that you were limited to guest OS’s that used the Linux kernel. I was drawing incorrect connections to Docker

TIL

wildbus8979 ,

Yeah virtualization and containers are very different things. That said virt-manager can be used with LXC as well :)

possiblylinux127 ,

Are you paying for a Virtual box commercial license? They change for every employee in the company not just active users.

Just use KVM and be done with it. You can get the Windows guest drivers and addons from the Fedora project

nightwatch_admin ,

VBox could be nice, but Oracle is on a licensing hunt for people who install the extension pack on potentially work-related systems. Technically it is free for personal use, but is like explicitly inviting the vampire into your home - nothing might happen, but you wouldn’t know until the moment you have 2 tiny holes in your neck.

TCB13 ,
@TCB13@lemmy.world avatar

Maybe it can be installed in Debian 12 now without much trouble…

wildbus8979 ,

Why would you do that?

ouch ,

Use software owned by Oracle? Fuck that, I would rather get mauled by a bear.

possiblylinux127 , (edited )

What ever you happens, do not use this for commercial purposes. Virtual box is free and libre but the guest addons are not. They will find and bill you for every single person in your company. Not per active user but per employee. This has cost companies millions

Under Linux you can just use KVM. Gnome boxes or virtual manager should work fine.

s4if ,
@s4if@lemmy.world avatar

Neat. As I am in the process of fully migrating to wayland, it is good. I only work as a teacher, so I don’t really concern about licensing, lol.

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