According to Zdnet UK (http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,39412998,00.htm):
"Sun has released a major update to its open-source desktop virtualisation tool xVM VirtualBox, adding support for Mac OS X and Solaris host operating systems, in addition to other improvements."
The enterprise version is actually free to non-commercial and education users. I scanned the manual and this virtualizer seems to enable most if not all of the host integration features of VMware Fusion and Parallels Desktop through its own set of tools, and the versions of Linux Sun claims to support are newer than those currently supported by either of the two better-known virtualizers. Has anyone tried this on a Mac with any guest OS?

Yep tried the 1.6 release, it works fairly well. Much better than the previous Virtualbox OSX betas did. Sun recently acquired this project, they didn't build it from the ground up or anything, but it seems they have injected some money/time/coders into the pipeline.

It's pretty snappy for most things. OSX doesn't support a few of the things that are supported on other platforms, like bridged networking. Side-by-side VMware outperforms it, but all-in-all for free it's nothing to complain about!

I saw that it doesn't do bridged networking in OS X yet; this was noted in the User Manual. But this doesn't mean that the guest OS can't connect through the internet via the settings of the host, does it?

Is it as easy to set up as VMware/Parallels? What OS did you try it with?

I just downloaded it to try it out with XP (since I need to install it anyway for web testing). I'd like to try it but it's not playing nice with my Wacom tablet mouse.

A7

Aside from you Wacom table mouse, does it seem to work well. Does your Wacom mouse work with either Parallels or VMware Fusion?

This raises the question, I am sure I already know the answer but running OS X on a VM is still illegal right? (As it's not on Apple hardware?) I wonder if Apple would ever go after Sun on this one...

This raises the question, I am sure I already know the answer but running OS X on a VM is still illegal right? (As it's not on Apple hardware?) I wonder if Apple would ever go after Sun on this one...

I don't think xVM allows you to run OS X in a VM.
I think the press release meant that xVM ran on OS X (with OS X as a host OS).

I went to their site... When you try to dl it you only get 4 options as your current running platform so I don't see how it's useable in Mac OS X. The four options are all Linux versions.

Maybe I went to the wrong thing.

https://cds.sun.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/CDS-CDS_SMI-Site/en_US/-/USD/ViewProductDetail-Start?ProductRef=SunVDI-2.0-M-G-F@CDS-CDS_SMI

Because my 30 day trial of VMWare Fusion will run out soon, I downloaded and installed this latest version of VirtualBox soon after it was announced.

I have not tried Parallels yet, as I was turned off by their short 15 day trial period.

I am very impressed by both Fusion and VirtualBox (both running XP Pro SP2). I find both work great for my needs, the installs were seemless, both run fine.

My favorite feature is where you can make the Windows desktop disappear and the Windows Apps get parked in the Mac Dock.

My only problem, and this could be me doing something wrong, is under VirtualBox, the Start menu remains at the bottom of the screen, unlike Fusion where the Start menu (aka task bar) disappears, but can be accessed under the Fusion menu's at the top.

I have about 7 more days to decide if buying Fusion will be worth it for me or not. More testing is needed, but if the Start menu thing as I described above is my only issue, then I may stick to VirtualBox. My only real use for Windows at this point, is testing sites I develop using IE and Firefox on Windows.

Cheers,

Try here (https://cds.sun.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/CDS-CDS_SMI-Site/en_US/-/USD/ViewProductDetail-Start?ProductRef=innotek-1.6-G-F@CDS-CDS_SMI) for the download

It's probably help had I not assumed Iknew what the article was about :rolleyes: It mentions OS X is not supported as a guest; I think that "guest" refers to an OS that installs as a VM; this would be illegal.

Try here (https://cds.sun.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/CDS-CDS_SMI-Site/en_US/-/USD/ViewProductDetail-Start?ProductRef=innotek-1.6-G-F@CDS-CDS_SMI) for the download


Well OS X is listed there but it's Intel only... Meh... wasn't in too big a hurry to get XP on my machine. When I go MBP I may think of that.

Aside from you Wacom table mouse, does it seem to work well. Does your Wacom mouse work with either Parallels or VMware Fusion?

Yes, my tablet worked out of the box with Parallels. I did manage to finally get it working in VirtualBox. Once I installed the "Guest Additions" it allowed me to use my OSX mouse pointer instead of taking over control of my mouse, so the issue went away (though it was tricky to install the software using only my keyboard).

Now that I have it fully running, it seems to work fine. It's not as "slick" as Parallels, but it is free, and works well for my needs.

A7

I'm an idiot.

I looked at VirtualBox two nights ago thinking that it would only run Solaris! So I went and got VMWare's Fusion beta for version 3 and installed XP on it. Should have just tried VirtualBox. When VMWare's beta dies I'll try Sun solution. Does anyone have an idea how it compares to the other 'free' emulators?

Has anyone upgraded to VirtualBox 1.6.2 from 1.6? I have 1.6 and have no complaints about it.

I worry about what will happen to the virtual machine (runs XP on my MB under Leopard) if I upgrade.

I'm reminded of the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" dictum!!

RunTheWorldOnMac - The EULA for Mac OS X prohibits from being run on anything but an actual Macintosh (doesn't mean you can't but legally by the EULA you aren't supposed to). The EULA for Mac OS X Server however does allow you to run in just such a product as VMWare, VirtualBox or Parallels Server.

lol someone deleted my post. I wasn't THAT rude.