Home > Articles > Operating Systems, Server > Linux/UNIX/Open Source

VirtualBox: Making the Most of Any Operating System You Choose

Mar 7, 2012

␡

⎙ Print

Page 1 of 4 Next >

Hardware is a commodity; everyone knows that. In this article, technology specialist John “Tränk” Traenkenschuh demonstrates how a free tool like VirtualBox can allow you to run multiple Operating Systems (OS) on a lot of PCs — including his MacBook Pro.

Like this article? We recommend 

VMware ESX and ESXi in the Enterprise: Planning Deployment of Virtualization Servers, 2nd Edition

Learn More Buy

Don't get me wrong; I like my Macs. At one time, my lab had more than a dozen old Macs, an Apple ][e (still have), an iPod or three, and a few dozen SCSI accessories. And I like my Mac OS X (for which I have install media going back to Classic 9) to this copy of Lion I use. As a passionate IT security professional, though, I must maintain familiarity with lots of technologies, especially operating systems. To keep track of the latest Linux and BSD developments, I dug deeply into virtualization tools years ago. These allow me to multiplex basic hardware into interlinked subnets, full of computers running various operating systems and technologies.

Whether you are an IT support professional, a gifted programmer, or someone wanting to do security research in a setting that won't spill a virus onto your home or Internet network, virtualization tools can help. In fact, if you like running an “odd” operating system and need to run special applications, free tools like VirtualBox can help you maximize your hardware investment.

NOTE

Please note that many OSes now include licensing terms that limit your use of virtualization. Additionally, the same terms may limit you to one or a limited number of installations with a single set of media. This article can't hope to cover the licensing terms for popular OSes like Windows or Mac OS X. It will focus on open-source operating systems that seem to have less onerous terms. This being written, it is up to you to examine and comply with all licensing terms. In this article, we will install openSUSE on a MacBook Pro. The technical licensing terms may change tomorrow. Please review all terms and restrictions before you attempt to use VirtualBox, Mac OS X, and/or openSUSE.

(If you decide to install a different operating system, most of the principles discussed in this article apply to those as well.)

Installing and Upgrading VirtualBox

I like VirtualBox. It has enough features to be useful, yet provides a simple administrative interface. It's open source, which means it seems to have licensing terms that can accommodate most needs[md]well, my needs. You should review the terms for yourself.

I like VirtualBox most because it has versions for Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows. This allows me to create test machines that have the right mix of OS and technologies needed to create a model network (important when editing books, writing articles, or just keeping up with new IT releases.). This means the system image files and configurations I make on one system can be moved or copied to another hosting computer. Need more reasons to download this tool? The Oracle Tech Network offers pre-built virtual machines for us developers. Sweet!

The left-hand navigation pane provides a link to the Downloads page, once you rocket out to http://www.virtualbox.org/.

Once at the Download page, click the link for the relevant version to download it. What about upgrades and security patching? Each time you start the tool, it will check and alert for new version availability. Install the new version, and you're updated. If you want to check for updates manually, click the VirtualBox menu item and then select Check for Updates.

While you wait for the code to download, download the User Manual as well. It will provide step-by-step details for installing. We Mac owners must double-click the .mpkg file to start the installation process. The installer package is about 80MB, and the final installation can be more than 200MB.

Page 1 of 4 Next >

🔖 Save To Your Account

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Privacy Notice

Overview

Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information

To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information

Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security

Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children

This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing

Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information

If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out

Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information

Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents

California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure

Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

As required by law.
With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links

This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact

Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice

We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020

Email Address