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VMware vs Virtual Box - Comparison

Here you will find out:

what are Virtualbox and VMware

what is the difference between them

when DiskInternals can help you

Are you ready? Let's read!

What is VirtualBox?

VirtualBox is a free and open-source hosted hypervisor for x86 virtualization, developed by Oracle Corporation. Created initially by Innotek GmbH, it was later acquired by Sun Microsystems, which was then acquired by Oracle. VirtualBox allows users to run multiple operating systems on a single physical machine as virtual machines (VMs). Each VM can run its own operating system (OS), such as Windows, Linux, or macOS, independently of the host OS.

Features Of VirtualBox

Key features of VirtualBox include:

Cross-Platform Support: It runs on Windows, Linux, macOS, and Solaris hosts and supports a large number of guest operating systems.
Snapshots: Users can save the state of a VM and revert to that state later, which is useful for testing software and restoring from a known good state.
Seamless Mode: Allows users to run applications from the guest OS in a window of the host OS, making them appear as if they are running directly on the host.
Shared Folders: These allow users to share files between the host and the guest OS.
Hardware Compatibility: VirtualBox offers features like USB device support, full ACPI support, and hardware compatibility for hard disk, network card, and other peripherals.
Networking: Various networking modes allow the VM to act as if it were a real computer on a network, even bridging to the host's network adapter.
Portability: VMs in VirtualBox are stored in a portable format, so they can be moved and used on different computers.

Benefits of Using VirtualBox

Cost-Effective and Open Source: A standout benefit of VirtualBox is its cost-free, open-source status, making it available for both personal and professional use at no expense. Being open source, it welcomes enhancements and contributions from the community.
Cross-Platform Support: VirtualBox can be deployed on a variety of host operating systems, such as Windows, macOS, Linux, and Solaris. Its ability to operate across different platforms renders it exceptionally adaptable for users in diverse computing environments.
User-Friendly Interface: Designed with simplicity in mind, VirtualBox's interface eases the setup and administration of virtual machines, making it approachable for users with varying levels of technical expertise.
Satisfactory Performance: Although VirtualBox might not rival the performance of certain premium alternatives for resource-heavy tasks, it delivers commendable performance for a broad range of standard applications, particularly on well-equipped hardware.
Snapshot Capabilities: The feature to take snapshots of a virtual machine's status is invaluable for development and testing purposes, enabling users to revert to a prior state when necessary.
USB and Peripheral Integration: VirtualBox offers robust USB support, including compatibility with USB 3.0 devices, and facilitates smooth integration of external devices with virtual machines.
Network Versatility: With an array of networking features, VirtualBox allows virtual machines to interact seamlessly on a network, supporting configurations like NAT, Bridged, Internal, and Host-Only Networking.
File Sharing: The feature to share folders between the host and guest operating systems simplifies the process of file exchange across different platforms.
VM Portability: Virtual machines in VirtualBox are saved in a transportable format, allowing them to be conveniently relocated and operated on various host systems.
Supportive Community and Documentation: VirtualBox benefits from a robust user community and extensive documentation, providing valuable aid for problem-solving and educational purposes.
Consistent Updates: Oracle consistently furnishes VirtualBox with updates, which include enhancements, bug resolutions, and compatibility refinements, helping to maintain the software's relevance with evolving technological standards.

Disadvantages Of VirtualBox

Performance Overhead: VirtualBox, like all virtualization software, introduces some level of performance overhead compared to running an operating system directly on hardware. This can be particularly noticeable with resource-intensive applications or when running multiple virtual machines simultaneously.
Limited Graphics Performance: VirtualBox's virtualized graphics card is not as powerful as a physical one. Therefore, it's not ideal for graphic-intensive tasks like gaming or high-end graphic design. 3D acceleration support is available but limited compared to native performance.
Resource Intensive: Running a virtual machine requires a significant amount of system resources (CPU, RAM, storage). This can impact the performance of both the host and guest operating systems, especially on systems with limited resources.
Complex Networking Setup: While VirtualBox offers advanced networking features, setting up complex network configurations can be challenging and may require advanced networking knowledge.
USB Compatibility Issues: Some users experience issues with USB devices, especially when trying to use newer USB 3.0 devices, even though support is provided.
Limited Support for Advanced Features: Compared to more enterprise-focused solutions like VMware or Hyper-V, VirtualBox lacks some advanced features such as live migration, high availability, and extensive support for guest clustering.
No Official Support: As a free and open-source tool, VirtualBox doesn’t offer official support. Users rely on community forums and online resources for troubleshooting, which can be a downside for enterprise environments that require guaranteed support.
Security Concerns: Running multiple operating systems could potentially increase the attack surface, especially if the virtual machines are not properly secured and isolated.
Compatibility with Newer Hardware and Operating Systems: There can be delays in VirtualBox offering support for the latest hardware features or newest operating systems, which might be a limitation for users who need to stay on the cutting edge.
Not Optimal for Server Virtualization: While suitable for desktop virtualization, VirtualBox is not designed for large-scale server virtualization and lacks some of the robustness and scalability features provided by other solutions like VMware ESXi or Microsoft Hyper-V.

VirtualBox is often used for software development, testing, and demonstration purposes, allowing developers and users to run software in different environments without the need for multiple physical machines.

What is VMware?

VMware is a global leader in cloud infrastructure and digital workspace technology, known for its products and services in virtualization and cloud computing. The company was founded in 1998 and has since become a major player in the IT industry, providing solutions for businesses and individuals to create, manage, and operate virtual machines and virtualized infrastructure.

Features of VMware

VMware vSphere: This is VMware's cloud computing virtualization platform. It includes the ESXi hypervisor and the vCenter management suite, allowing users to create and manage virtual machines and infrastructure.
VMware ESXi: A bare-metal hypervisor that installs directly on the physical server, allowing for higher performance and efficiency compared to hosted hypervisors like VMware Workstation or VirtualBox.
VMware Workstation and VMware Fusion: These are desktop applications for creating and running virtual machines on personal computers. VMware Workstation is for Windows and Linux, while VMware Fusion is for macOS.
VMware Horizon: A suite of products for virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), allowing users to access a virtual desktop from any device, providing flexibility and security.
VMware NSX: A network virtualization product that provides the ability to manage network and security services in software, decoupled from the underlying hardware.
VMware vSAN: A software-defined storage solution integrated with vSphere, providing hyper-converged storage for virtual machines.
VMware Cloud on AWS: A service that allows running VMware's software stack on Amazon Web Services’ cloud infrastructure, providing a seamless hybrid cloud solution.
VMware Tanzu: A suite of products and services for building and managing modern applications, Kubernetes, and container-based workflows.

Advantages of VMware

Robust and Mature Technology: VMware is known for its stable and mature virtualization technology. It has been a pioneer in the field and continues to be a market leader, providing reliable and tested solutions.
Wide Range of Products: VMware offers a comprehensive suite of products that cover various aspects of virtualization, including server virtualization, desktop virtualization, cloud management, and network virtualization, catering to a wide array of business needs.
High Performance and Scalability: VMware's solutions, particularly its ESXi hypervisor, are known for high performance and scalability. They efficiently manage resources, making them suitable for enterprise-level deployments and high-demand environments.
Advanced Features: VMware provides advanced features like vMotion (live migration of VMs), Storage vMotion, High Availability, Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS), and Fault Tolerance, which are essential for maintaining continuous business operations and optimizing resource utilization.
Strong Security: VMware incorporates robust security features, including isolated virtual machines, secure boot, and advanced networking security through NSX. This makes it a secure platform for handling sensitive data and applications.
Large Ecosystem and Community: VMware has a vast ecosystem of partners, developers, and a large user community. This extensive network provides valuable resources, third-party solutions, plugins, and community support.
Cloud Integration and Hybrid Cloud Capabilities: With solutions like VMware Cloud on AWS, VMware offers seamless integration with cloud environments, enabling hybrid cloud and multi-cloud strategies that are increasingly important in modern IT infrastructures.
Effective Resource Management: VMware's technologies enable efficient use of physical hardware, reducing the need for additional physical servers and leading to cost savings in hardware investment and operational expenses.
Excellent Support and Services: VMware provides professional support and services, including training, certification programs, and consulting services, which is a significant advantage for enterprise customers.
Compatibility and Portability: VMware virtual machines are compatible across different VMware products and can be easily migrated or operated in different environments, offering flexibility in deployment and operation.
Comprehensive Management Tools: Tools like vCenter Server provide a centralized platform for managing VMware vSphere environments, simplifying the management of large-scale virtual infrastructure.

Disadvantages of VMware

Cost: VMware's products, especially their enterprise solutions, can be quite expensive. The licensing costs for features like vSphere, vSAN, and NSX can add up, making it a significant investment, particularly for small to medium-sized businesses.
Complexity in Setup and Management: Advanced features and functionalities come with a level of complexity in setup and management. Users often need a good level of technical expertise or training to effectively deploy and manage VMware environments.
Resource Intensive: VMware’s products, especially those providing advanced virtualization features, can be resource-intensive. They require significant system resources, which can be a concern for organizations with limited IT infrastructure.
Vendor Lock-in: Using VMware’s ecosystem can lead to vendor lock-in, making it challenging and potentially expensive to switch to alternative solutions or integrate with non-VMware products.
Steep Learning Curve: For new users, especially those without prior virtualization experience, VMware products can have a steep learning curve due to their wide range of functionalities and advanced settings.
Limited Free Version Capabilities: While VMware offers a free version of ESXi, it comes with significant limitations in features compared to the paid versions, restricting its usefulness in more complex or larger environments.
Dependence on Windows for Management Tools: Some of VMware's management tools, like vCenter Server, have traditionally been reliant on Windows, though this has been changing with the introduction of the vCenter Server Appliance.
Hardware Compatibility Issues: VMware ESXi has specific hardware compatibility requirements. Certain hardware components and servers might not be compatible or might not perform optimally if they are not on VMware's Hardware Compatibility List (HCL).
Slower to Embrace Containerization: VMware has been perceived as slower in adopting container technologies compared to other players in the field. Although recent developments like VMware Tanzu are addressing this, the company is still playing catch-up in this rapidly evolving space.
Performance Overhead: Like all virtualization platforms, VMware solutions introduce some level of performance overhead compared to running systems natively on hardware.

VMware's products are widely used in enterprise environments for data center management, virtual desktop infrastructure, network virtualization, and in the creation of private and hybrid cloud environments. The company has positioned itself as a pivotal tool for businesses undergoing digital transformations, offering solutions that increase IT agility, flexibility, and scalability.

Differences between VMware and VirtualBox:

Virtualbox vs VMware: Host and Guest OS

Host and guest operating systems for Virtualbox and VMware each have their own nuances. VirtualBox has a large selection of OSs for the host: Windows, Linux, Solaris, macOS, and FreeBSD. As for the guest OS, there are also great choices: Linux, Windows, Solaris, FreeBSD, and macOS.

VMware cannot boast of such variety, as each hypervisor supports one or two OSs. As a host, Workstation and Player can be installed on Linux or Windows, while VMware Fusion can be installed on macOS.

With guest operating systems for VMware, the range of choices is a bit wider: Linux, Windows, Solaris, FreeBSD, and macOS.

Note: macOS can only be officially installed as a guest OS on VMware Fusion or Fusion Pro. Thus, if you compare VMware Player vs Virtualbox or VMware Fusion vs Virtualbox in this regard, then by all means Virtualbox will win.

Virtualbox vs VMware: Snapshots

Snapshots are an excellent VM function that allows you to save the state of your virtual machine at a specific point in time. Quite often, they are used before testing various applications and programs. If you have any problems, you can return the state of the virtual machine to the snapshot. Virtualbox and VMware products both have this feature; in this respect, they are the same.

Here’s how snapshots work: When a snapshot is taken, a differential virtual disk is created in which all changes are subsequently recorded. The next snapshot is, in a sense, another differential virtual disk. When the snapshot is no longer needed and it is deleted, the differential virtual disk is freed and merged with the parent virtual disk. Keep in mind that snapshots significantly affect the performance of both Virtualbox and VMware.

How to recover snapshots and other VM files

You should not look for complicated solutions to this problem: you can just download and install DiskInternals VMFS Recovery. This utility restores any VM files and snapshots quickly and efficiently. The application is as automated as possible, the current status of VMFS data storages, disks, volumes can be checked within a few minutes. Recovery of possible data also occurs quickly.

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Instructions for DiskInternals VMFS Recovery:

Prepare for data recovery by downloading and installing the application.

Connect via SSH, if there is a need (if not, skip it).

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Right-click the VMDK file and browse the files to check their integrity.

The last and final stage is the export of files, which, as mentioned above, requires the purchase of a license. You can buy it on the company's website online in a few minutes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both VirtualBox and VMware offer powerful solutions for virtualization, each with its own set of strengths and weaknesses that cater to different user needs and scenarios.

VirtualBox stands out for its cost-effectiveness (being free and open-source) and cross-platform compatibility, making it an excellent choice for individuals, students, or small businesses looking to explore virtualization without significant investment. Its ease of use, good performance for standard applications, and features like snapshots and shared folders make it suitable for software development, testing, and educational purposes. However, it's important to consider its limitations in terms of performance overhead, limited graphics performance, and less suitability for large-scale enterprise use.

VMware, on the other hand, offers a more robust and comprehensive virtualization solution, especially suitable for enterprise environments. Its range of products covers extensive virtualization needs, from desktop to data center and cloud, and is known for high performance, scalability, and advanced features like live migration, high availability, and strong security. VMware's products are a great fit for organizations requiring a stable, scalable, and feature-rich virtualization environment. The trade-offs include higher costs, complexity in setup and management, and potential vendor lock-in.

In summary, the choice between VirtualBox and VMware should be based on the specific requirements, scale, and budget of the user or organization. For lightweight or entry-level virtualization needs, VirtualBox is an excellent choice, while VMware is more suited for complex, large-scale, and enterprise virtualization solutions.

FAQ

What are the advantages of VirtualBox over VMware?
- Cost-Effective: VirtualBox is completely free and open-source, making it more accessible for personal use, small businesses, or educational purposes. In contrast, VMware's advanced features come with a cost, which can be significant, especially for enterprise solutions.
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: VirtualBox runs on a wide range of host operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and Solaris. While VMware also offers cross-platform compatibility, VirtualBox is often praised for its broader support, especially among various Linux distributions.
- Ease of Use: VirtualBox is generally considered more user-friendly, especially for beginners. Its interface is straightforward, making it easier to create and manage virtual machines without a steep learning curve.
- Portable Virtual Machines: VirtualBox uses a standard open format for virtual machines (OVF - Open Virtualization Format), which makes its VMs portable and easy to import/export between different VirtualBox installations or even other virtualization software.
- Lightweight: VirtualBox is lighter and less resource-intensive compared to some of VMware's offerings, especially its enterprise-level solutions. This can be an advantage on systems with limited resources.
- Rapid Development and Updates: Being open-source, VirtualBox often has more frequent updates and a rapid development cycle, which can be advantageous for users who want the latest features and fixes.
- Community Support: As an open-source project, VirtualBox has a strong community support system. Users can access a wide range of community-driven resources and forums for troubleshooting and advice.
Is VirtualBox faster than VMware?
The question of whether VirtualBox is faster than VMware is not straightforward and depends on various factors, including the specific use case, system configuration, and the particular VMware product being compared. Here's a breakdown of how they generally compare in terms of performance:
- Type of Virtualization: VMware offers both Type 1 (bare-metal) and Type 2 (hosted) hypervisors. Its Type 1 hypervisor, ESXi, typically offers better performance than VirtualBox, as it runs directly on the hardware rather than on top of an operating system. However, when comparing Type 2 hypervisors like VMware Workstation or VMware Fusion with VirtualBox, the performance differences may not be as significant and can vary based on the workload.
- Resource Allocation and Management: VMware products, particularly the ESXi, are known for efficient resource management, which can lead to better performance, especially in environments with multiple virtual machines and high-demand applications.
- Graphics and 3D Support: VMware generally has better support and performance for 3D graphics and graphically intensive applications compared to VirtualBox. This can be a critical factor for use cases involving graphics rendering or gaming.
- Optimization and Customization: VirtualBox can be faster for certain lightweight applications or when running on systems with limited resources, as it's a lighter solution overall. It's also quite customizable, which can be optimized for performance in specific scenarios.
- Workload Type: The performance can also depend on the type of workload. For instance, for basic development environments or testing platforms, the difference in performance might not be noticeable. However, for more resource-intensive applications, VMware's solutions might provide better performance.
- System Configuration: The underlying hardware and system configuration can significantly impact the performance of virtual machines. A system with a high-performance CPU, plenty of RAM, and fast storage (like SSDs) will minimize the performance gap between VirtualBox and VMware.
Can I have both VMware and VirtualBox?
Yes, you can have both VMware and VirtualBox installed on the same host machine, but there are important considerations and potential issues to be aware of:
- Resource Allocation: Running two different virtualization applications on the same machine can be resource-intensive. Ensure your system has enough processing power, memory, and storage to handle multiple virtual machines efficiently.
- Conflict with Hypervisor Extensions: Both VMware and VirtualBox utilize the same CPU extensions (like Intel VT-x or AMD-V) for hardware-assisted virtualization. Running both simultaneously could potentially lead to conflicts or performance issues. Typically, only one hypervisor can use these extensions at a time.
- Potential for Driver Conflicts: Since both VMware and VirtualBox install their own set of drivers and services on the host system, there could be a risk of driver conflicts, though this is less common with modern versions of these applications.
- Networking Conflicts: Both applications configure network interfaces for virtual machines, which could lead to conflicts or confusion, particularly if you're setting up complex network configurations.
- Performance Considerations: Running virtual machines in both environments simultaneously will divide your system's resources between them, potentially leading to degraded performance in both.
- Software Updates and Compatibility: Ensure that both applications are kept up-to-date, as updates might affect compatibility or performance when both are installed.
- Use Cases: Consider the reasons for running both. For example, you might prefer VMware for certain tasks (like a professional work environment) and VirtualBox for others (like personal projects or testing open-source OS).
- Virtual Machine Compatibility: While both VMware and VirtualBox can export and import virtual machines in common formats like OVF (Open Virtualization Format), there might be some compatibility issues or additional steps required when moving VMs between the two environments.
Is VMware free for personal use?
VMware offers several products, some of which are available for free but with limitations, primarily targeted towards personal use, evaluation, or smaller-scale deployments:
- VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi): VMware provides a free version of its ESXi hypervisor. This version is suitable for basic server virtualization and is often used for personal projects, learning purposes, or small business environments. However, it lacks many of the advanced features found in the paid versions, such as vMotion, High Availability, and Distributed Resource Scheduler.
- VMware Workstation Player: This is a free version of VMware's desktop virtualization software for Windows and Linux. VMware Workstation Player is available for non-commercial, personal, and home use. It's a good option for running a second operating system on your personal computer for tasks such as testing, development, or running software not available on your main operating system. However, it has fewer features compared to the paid version, VMware Workstation Pro.
- VMware Fusion Player: Similar to Workstation Player but for macOS, Fusion Player is free for personal use. It allows users to run Windows and other operating systems on a Mac. Like Workstation Player, it lacks some of the advanced features of its paid counterpart, VMware Fusion Pro.
For commercial use or to access the full range of features offered by VMware products, you would need to purchase the relevant licenses. The free versions are an excellent way to get familiar with VMware's virtualization technology, but they are limited in terms of functionality compared to the full, paid versions. Always check the latest licensing terms and conditions on VMware's official website, as these can change over time.
Which is better VMware or VirtualBox?
- For Personal or Educational Use: VirtualBox is often the better choice due to its cost-effectiveness and ease of use.
- For Enterprise or Professional Use: VMware is typically preferred for its performance, advanced features, and robustness, especially in larger and more complex IT environments.
- Specific Requirements: Consider your specific needs, such as the types of applications you'll be running, your budget, and the level of complexity you're comfortable managing.