When one system is not enough: an overview of virtual machines. Overview of virtual machines Overview of programs virtual machine

A huge number of programs that appear every day make downloading and installing unknown software on a computer more and more dangerous for the system and important files on the computer. In addition, many programs that have the functions necessary for the work of programmers, artists and other PC users are available only for a small number of operating systems. If earlier you had to take a lot of risk, downloading a suspicious file from the Internet, or reinstall the system just for the sake of one necessary program, now there is such an OS for this as a virtual machine.

What is a virtual machine

Virtual machine - a special program that is installed on the user's native operating system and, when launched, begins to emulate, that is, reproduce, the functions of any other operating system specified in the settings. The main convenience of such programs is that there is no need to switch between OS and access to all the functions of the reproduced system. In addition, all actions performed inside the virtual machine will not affect the operation of the main system, which prevents possible computer failures.

At the moment, the developers of virtual machines have created programs that allow you to emulate any operating system, from early versions of Windows to Ubuntu, OS X and lesser known axes, and also work with ready-made servers, for example, bitrix virtual machine.

There is one more, narrower, understanding of the term "virtual machine", which is widespread among musicians - virtual drum machinethat plays the sounds of the drum kit. Such a program allows you to record parts of percussion instruments without using a live setup, but in special recording programs or "animating" a pre-recorded midi-track, placing the recorded samples of each beat under the electronic sound.

What is a virtual machine for?

The range of actions that can be performed using a virtual machine is actually very large.

The simplest thing you can do with it is to use programs that are not available for the user's operating system or even for a PC in principle. For example, the emulator of the Android operating system is essentially a virtual machine that people use to run applications or games.

In addition, virtual machines are often used by programmers to test written programs. For example, to check how correctly a written algorithm works in different versions of Windows. The same applies to the developers of applications for iOS and Android, who check the functionality of the development inside the emulators. For this, there is a virtual machine on a flash drive, so that you can always check the functionality of the written code.

For such checks, machines are also used by less advanced users. The fact is that when emulating related operating systems, the machine can reproduce all the information that is contained on the computer. Therefore, if a user has to download a file from the Internet that may contain viruses, then he should first check it in a virtual machine. If it plays normally on it, then you can safely open it on your native OS.

In addition, they help in corporate work, say, Bitrix virtual machines.

If we talk about virtual drum machines, then they are used in order to record drum parts with high quality in conditions of a lack of funds, for example, for renting a studio. Of all the instruments, the drums are the most sensitive to recording, and it is on them that the most time is spent. In addition, the drummer may not have enough skill to play them exactly, which significantly increases the amount of rent money. In such a situation, the best way out is to record the part in the program and then play it back.

What are virtual machines

Virtual Machine for Windows 10

Especially for advanced users familiar with the concept of "virtual machine", Microsoft made built-in emulation of other operating systems -. Initially, its functionality is blocked, but its components are easily enabled through the Control Panel.

Go to the Control Panel and go to the subsection " Programs and Features". There in the window " Turning components on and off»Tick the Hyper-V service name. After that, the virtual machine will be installed on the PC, and in the future it will be possible to start it through the menu “ Start».

Key benefits of Hyper-V:

  • built into the system, no need to download and search;
  • has full functionality for emulating different versions of Windows, for example, 98 and other operating systems;
  • supports Windows versions of different bit sizes;
  • simple and intuitive interface.

In general, thanks to the presence of Hyper-V on Windows 10, users do not need other similar programs. Although the utility does not require special configuration skills, you can read more about it in a related article.

Virtual machine for Windows 7

The most popular virtual machine for Windows 7 users is Windows Virtual PC... Initially, its main functionality was intended to emulate Windows XP, so that developers could comfortably transfer programs developed for this OS to the new seven, which was just coming out at that time. In the future, its capabilities have expanded, and now Virtual PC is a separate platform that can reproduce almost all existing operating systems.

Like Hyper-V, this service is built into the system from the start. In order to install it, you need to go to " Start"And the submenu" Programs". There you need to find a line with the name of the program, click on it. A window will open in which you can freely create, delete and perform other manipulations with the emulator of operating systems.

Virtual machines for Mac and other operating systems

In addition to the virtual machines built into the seventh and tenth Windows, third-party developers have created many other, independent utilities that have approximately the same capabilities, but differ in details. The most popular one is Oracle VirtualBox, which will be discussed in this part of the article.

This virtual machine can emulate all current operating systems, and is also available for the most popular operating systems at the moment - Windows, OS X, Linux and Solaris. You can download it from the developer's website, having previously selected which system you need it for.

This Oracle program differs from the rest of its counterparts in its wide functionality, which includes support for USB ports and their launch from an emulated machine, the ability to save the state of the system for its instant rollback in case a critical error occurs. In fact, from the huge list of all supported features, we can conclude that by downloading Oracle VirtualBox, you can comfortably work with any operating system without any restrictions at all.

For most users, the VirtualBox utility is a very good choice due to its practicality, reliability and functionality.

After the distribution kit with the application is on your computer, double-click on it. This will launch the installer. In it, you will need to choose which features, in addition to the Oracle machine itself, are installed with it. The list includes: internal Python programming, customized Internet support, and USB port integration. After that, it is enough to follow the instructions of the installation file until the installation of Oracle VirtualBox is complete.

Virtual drum machines

Virtual drum machines are present in the form of additional plug-ins that are installed and run through the program for recording or writing music - FL Studio, Ableton, Cubase and others. The most popular drum machine emulators are Ez drummer and Addictive drums... In the free access to them there are large libraries of samples for every taste, recorded by famous drummers.

Creating your own virtual machine

In addition, there is also a company VMWare, which also offers users programs to create their own virtual machines. The most famous of them is called Workstation and is distributed on a paid basis. However, there are tons of resources that offer free use of this virtual machine, both for Windows, Mac and Ubuntu. It's worth noting that the company offers a ton of additional utilities that expand the capabilities of the base program, adding desktop management, streaming, and more. Let's consider why this virtual machine is needed.

Workstation allows you to create virtual machines that will be managed from a single center. For the most part, this tool is of interest to large companies that need to configure the same functionality of devices on a large number of computers.

One of the most important features of the VMWare virtual machine, the so-called vSphere, which allows not only to create and configure a virtual machine, but also to implement a whole infrastructure of such devices, interconnected. And if you have to choose, then such functionality will be very useful for large companies whose employees need to exchange data and information with each other.

All the functionality of the developed VMWare programs is based not on a single use of a virtual machine, but on the formation of a grid from them and a single place from where this network is controlled.

1C-Bitrix virtualization

Another program created for comfortable work with 1C-Bitrix products is bitrix virtual machine, this time from domestic developers, which can also work with any PHP applications... In fact, this program is an emulation of the site server, which contains all settings for comfortable work... The finished machine can be opened at VMWare Player or other applications from this developer (there are also versions for VirtualBox and HyperV).

The program allows you to save time and get started immediately after the main platform is ready for use. At the same time, the Bitrix virtual machine is installed directly into the main emulation system, integrating into its functionality and operation, which allows you to start interacting with 1C projects immediately after installation and launch.

Which virtual machine to choose

There is no clear comparison here. It all depends on the user and his needs. To emulate games and check third-party software, the usual Hyper-V services and the like, built into the operating system itself, are quite enough. A well tested, reliable and free option is VirtualBox.For organizations, the best virtual machines are definitely VMWare products or the Bitrix virtual machine, since they simplify business and employee interactions.

Related Videos

Virtual machine is a program that allows you to get a computer into a computer. That is, your real computer is able to emulate another computer (with a different hardware, operating system,BIOS, etc.).

main destinationserver virtualization (invirtual machines) is the installation and testing of programs on different operating systems, which helps to determine where the program runs faster, where the interface is more convenient, etc.

Advantages of modern virtual machines:

  • You can install any OS without messing up or cluttering your own hard drive;
  • You can test different applications by comparing their performance on different operating systems;
  • You can check files for infection by running them in an artificial shell that you create in a virtual machine;
  • You can create and administer networks in various operating systems, which will help you study the architecture of corporate networks in more depth;
  • You can run programs that are not available for your operating system.

Today there are many options for emulators that are able to reproduce different operating systems: from the popular (Windows ) to little-known (Calibri ), from oldest to newest. And now we will take a short tour of the most famous virtual machines, making a detailed overview of them.

Virtual machines overview

1 - VirtualBox . Perhaps the most famous user emulator program provided by the companyOracle ... The program has a simple user interface and built-in russification, which is already suitable for novice users.

Installation is also not difficult, because there is an installation wizard. You will be immediately prompted to create a virtual machine, select an OS, and give it a name. Then you have to give the "new" computer a certain supply of RAM and internal memory (no more than half of real hardware). Then comes the choice of the type of disk and further configuration of the system. By following the recommendations, you will be able to keep two OSes on your computer without causing damage to the main system.

VirtualBox program has a simple and precise structure and a number of interesting options. For example, you can record screen video for software demonstration on another OS. You can import any virtual disks into this program, you can follow the indicators of the I / O controllers, besides, there is a sharing of clipboard access, which is also very convenient.

2 - VirtManager . The program, which is also easy to operate, but still somewhat more complicated than the previous version. A beginner can easily get confused here, and just listing all 86-bit operating systems can be overwhelming.

Here, the installation is somewhat more complicated, because to create a virtual machine you need to create a storage pool, and for this you need to assign a specific directory. However, the complex installation is due to the good capabilities of this virtual machine.

For example, you can add equipment and constantly monitor them, detailed statistics are displayed, the performance of the entire system, you can control the machine through the command line and many more useful properties.

You just need to understand it a little, and then you can get a convenient tool for emulating a new OS.

3 - GnomeBoxes . If the previous program required from users certain knowledge and time to study, and it was more suitable for system administrators, then the utilityGnome boxes much simpler and suitable for an ordinary user to familiarize themselves.

In a couple of clicks, you can set up a full-fledged virtual machine, besides, the program has a simple, colorful interface. Yes, the program's capabilities are greatly reduced in comparison with the previous alternative, but it provides the main base of capabilities.

A great option for a novice user who will show what virtual machines are capable of.

4 - VMware Player. Do not be embarrassed by the word "Player", because today it is no longer a player, but a program for creating a full-fledged virtual machine, and of a fairly high quality.

If you are not developing your own software, thenVMware Player is perfect for you, otherwise it is better to choose another emulator, because there is not even a full-fledged configuration of network adapters.

For most users, however, this is an excellent program in which you can configure network configurations, monitor the number of malicious programs, and installWindows XP , which literally will be "rubber", i.e. powerful enough.

5 - WmwareWorkstation . But here the emulator, on the contrary, is perfect for software developers. That is one possibility of grouping virtual machines. Those. you can simultaneously run the program on all operating systems and carry out thorough analytics.

Now it is possible to create machines with a central processor, memory size up to 16 GB, which allows you to test powerful enough software tools on other OSs. However, it is much more convenient to purchase the entire packageW M ware and use this package to its fullest.

What do you think is the most?

I will not invent a bicycle and retell others. I'd rather suggest you read an article from the Linux Format magazine. In which experts made a comparative review of five popular virtual machines in the hope of finding the very ..., the best virtual machine. By the way, I highly recommend subscribing to the magazine for those who abdicated and managed to escape from the captivity of Windows.

  • What is a virtual machine
  • Why do you need a virtual machine
  • How we tested the virtual machines
  • Performance
  • Functionality
  • Compatibility and snapshots
  • Desktop integration
  • Graphics acceleration
  • Verdict

What is a virtual machine

In simple terms, without tediousness, a virtual machine is an operating system within an operating system.

Why do I need a virtual machine

In our case, a virtual machine is primarily a platform for checking programs. Among which, as you understand, there may be. Another virtual machine is used by hackers to test their own and others' Trojans, and other miracle files. Whichever group you belong to, you will still be interested in learning more about virtual machines and how they work.

How we tested virtual machines

First, we took a dual-core machine (due to budget constraints) with fresh Arc Linux. In addition to proprietary VMware (version 7.1.0 of Plauer and a 30-day trial period of Workstation 11), we used the official Arch packages, which closely follow the developer releases. Each machine had 2 GB of system RAM and 128 MB of video memory (256 MB if necessary).

We tested each candidate on a different guest OS: Mint 17.1 and Kubuntu 15.04 beta, as well as a different non-Linux OS called Windows. To measure performance, we compiled the main Mint core, ran the SunSpider JavaScript benchmark, and played different games from our Steam library. To test the actual options, we ran them on an 8-core machine with 16GB of RAM and 4GB Nvidia GTX, but then we were forced to return it.

Virtualization technology has fundamentally changed the computing landscape. We'd be embarrassed to say that this is a new invention (early mainframes used it as a means of providing resources), but ten years ago CPU innovations mean that you can get near-native performance with x86 code. And now we manage to cram dozens of machines (easily copied and restored) into one building, and the work of data centers has become much more efficient. It is also possible to simulate another architecture, say ARM, which is convenient for embedded developers.

It's also a boon for casual users: getting to know a new OS doesn't have to be such a time-consuming exercise in constant fear of ruining your system. Even if you just want to test a new program, it's much safer to do it in a virtual machine instead of risking your current setup. Support for in-kernel virtualization (via KVM) and Qemu emulator means Linux users no longer need to resort to proprietary tools.

In the olden days, Sun's VirtualBox (once owned by Innotek and now Oracle) was the only real option. But times have changed, so let's look at other virtualization applications as well.

Both VMware and VirtualBox use kernel-dependent modules that load to do their magic. VMware will need to compile them, which will require installing the kernel header packages and all the compiler stuff. You will then get an init script to load the specified modules, although it will be useless for Systemd users. If this is your case, you might want to create your own init file instead of running this script as root all the time (or seeing all the same error messages). At the time of this writing, the 3.19 series kernels required patching the VMware sources, but I hope this will be fixed by the time the magazine is published. VirtualBox packages are available in most distributions, and if you have a standard kernel you don't have to worry about anything.

Virt-Manager requires the libvirtd service to be running on your system before starting it, which will notify you with a kind message, and if you are using a fully functional desktop environment, it will do it for you; all you have to do is enter the root password.

Both VirtualBox and VMware Workstation are pretty straightforward, unless you want to be distracted by every option. However, VMware Player doesn't have that many options, and you can get your machine up and running very quickly. But if you are determined to make the most of these options, you will need to install Guest Additions.

Linux Guest Additions for VirtualBox are much easier to install (the CD will start automatically) than VMware add-ons that require copying programs from an imaginary CD, changing permissions, and then running a script. Is it really 1999? But, having done all this, you will be rewarded with improved graphics and a number of additional features, which we will discuss next.

Boxes is the easiest to use in our collection, even if it only provides the bare minimum of Qemu / libvirt functions. VMware Player and VirtualBox come in second, followed by their paid rival (nominally, they are more difficult due to more options). Virt-Manager isn't particularly difficult to use, but it has enough of Qemu's maze of settings to overwhelm a beginner. Besides, the mechanism for managing storage is rather convoluted, especially if you are going to store your virtual disk in a non-standard location: then you first need to add the required directory as a "storage pool". However, all the necessary exotic modules will be provided by your own distribution, and in this case, why not take the risk.

Performance

Will they create a slow or nimble VM for you?

Hardware enhancements and paravirtualization technologies have made it possible to perform some tasks at speeds close to those of real hardware.

However, as it is, there is usually a definite drop in performance. Almost every configuration we tested on the guest desktop showed some sort of lag. But you get used to it, and you can turn off all sorts of beautiful things or turn on the appropriate neutralization mode, if it bothers you.

We're not taking 3D performance into account here - that wouldn't be entirely fair, and it has its own category through the page. However, for day-to-day tasks using Terminal, you are unlikely to notice much of a difference between our candidates. Experiments with kernel compilation have shown that VirtualBox lags far behind in the competition. The SunSpider JavaScript benchmark test confirmed this conclusion: both tasks completed 20% slower than the others. Disk I / O (especially if you have an SSD) and network traffic were fast for all of our candidates. Ultimately, VMware secured the edge with support for newer Intel processors.

Functionality

What does each candidate have to offer?

All of our candidates target different use cases, and therefore each has its own, individual benefits. Of course, the presence of some standard features is certainly implied: for example, it is customary to include the ability to create snapshots, support for Intel VT-x and AMD-V processor extensions, and flexible configuration of virtual hardware. All of this is offered by everyone, but some applications are capable of more heroic feats.

It should be noted here that Gnome Boxes and Virt-Manager are only interfaces to Qemu (via the libvirt abstraction layer). And Qemu is essentially a processor emulator that can provide virtualization over KVM, but it is a whole world nonetheless.

So, let's consider our candidates separately.

Gnome Boxes ★★

When called from the command line, Qemu supports a ton of options, most of which are missing from Gnome Boxes: its goal (implemented) is to keep it simple and clear in appearance and operation. Through its user-friendly wizard interface, you can set up a virtual machine in literally three clicks - just point it to the appropriate ISO. Boxes abstracts the difference between a virtual machine and a remote machine, and you can connect to both via VNC, SPICE (which allows audio to work over the network), or OVirt.


Gnome boxes

Boxes doesn't offer much control over your virtual machine over the network, but at least it does provide all the NAT wizardry you need to keep your virtual machine communicating with the world. Other candidates successfully set up NAT, network bridges, or host-only networks, and all this can be very convenient in certain circumstances.

Virt-Manager ★★★★

Virt-Manager (aka Virtual Machine Manager) offers significantly more Qemu features (but again, not all). He seems to have gone overboard with his list of supported x86 operating systems, in particular the Linux family.


Virt-Manager

Leaving that aside, Virt-Manager makes it relatively easy to configure a machine of any complexity - you can add any equipment, including several network interfaces. In addition to KVM VMs, Virt-Man-ager is able to leverage Qemu / libvirt support for Xen guests and LXC containers. Optionally, it can also poll guest resources and thus provide very nice graphs (like the ones in the Performance section on page 25, which takes about 30 seconds after Windows 10 starts up). In addition, Virt-Manager leverages Qemu's recently added USB 3.0 support.

Compatibility and snapshots

Can virtual machines be moved between real ones?

Sometimes you need to move VMs between hypervisors. All our programs can import machines stored in the Open Virtual Appliance (OVA) format, which is simply a tar archive with a VMDK (VMware) disk image, and virtual hardware data. VirtualBox allows export to this format, but also has its own - Virtual Disk Image (VDI), and also copes with all the others.

The qemu-img command can be used to convert formats. Of particular note is his beloved QCOW2 format, which allows multiple system snapshots to be stored internally using the excellent Copy On Write (COW) trick.

Boxes, Virt-Manager, VirtualBox, and VMware Workstation support system snapshots, keeping different states of their VMs. VMware Player allows you to have only one snapshot per machine, in addition to its current state. So deep regression testing is ruled out.

VirtualBox and VMware Workstation are also capable of "cloning" VMs, and this is an effective method of taking system snapshots: data is written to the corresponding clone only if its state is different from that of the parent. VMware allows the VMDK guest image to be mounted to the host, which is also convenient, although the same trick can be done by converting to a raw disk image and using standard Linux tools and arithmetic to calculate the partition offset.

VirtualBox ★★★★

Originally a desktop virtualization client, VirtualBox is still probably the main tool for many. This program has a clear structure that makes it easy to set up a virtual machine, and many useful options. In addition to limiting the number of CPU cores that the guest OS has access to, VirtualBox allows you to specify a limit on the guest's CPU utilization as a percentage. VirtualBox also supports video recording, so you can record a Windows tutorial for your YouTube channel overnight.


VirtualBox

It can import any virtual disks, but only offers USB 2.0 host controller support, and then only if you install the proprietary Oracle Extension Pack. The distributed clipboard and drag-and-drop options (in one or both directions, as you wish) are quite handy. VirtualBox provides convenient indicators for network and disk I / O and for CPU utilization.

By the way, in the article "" we talked in detail about how to install and properly configure the VirtualBox virtual machine.

VMware Player ★★★

The free offering from VMware has come a long way since its introduction in 2008. The most remarkable thing is that this is no longer a player: it is more than capable of creating a quality virtual machine for you.


VMware Player

In addition to supporting a number of network configurations (NAT, bridged, host-only, etc.), it offers very nice options for shaping network traffic, which is quite handy if you are testing the latest version of, say, a DDoS client or looking at how much malware you can hang Windows XP on your virtual machine until it bursts. VMware also supports USB 3.0 devices, and installing guest tools will allow for brilliant graphics, shared clipboard, and shared directories. Player is somewhat inferior when it comes to snapshots (it only allows you to take one), but we criticized it in the previous section.

VMware Workstation ★★★★★

A non-free version of VMware Player (VMware Player Pro) is available, but we decided that for this Comparison it would be more appropriate to use a higher quality Workstation instead. This app provides many additional features for developers, including the ability to group virtual machines into a kind of virtual phalanx so that you can make them go live simultaneously with one click.

VMware Workstation also offers support for new instructions for modern Intel processors, and also allows you to configure machines with virtual CPUs up to 16 and 64 GB of RAM. However, Workstation is heavily focused on integrating with the rest of the (rather weighty) VMware suite, and will therefore look more appropriate in an enterprise environment.

Desktop integration

Will they clash with your color scheme?

Some users love the perfect harmony of the interfaces of the virtual machines and their corresponding hypervisors with the host desktop, while others are only confused.

VirtualBox uses Qt4, which is especially infuriating on the Qt-based Arch Linux desktop where Qt5 is used all over the place, but that's kind of a niche flaw. Boxes pairs perfectly with Gnome 3, which is to be expected; Virt-Manager and VMware use GTK3 and are also perfectly compatible with it.

All of our candidates allow us to switch the virtual machine to full screen mode, and luckily, they all allowed us to switch back with the appropriate keyboard shortcut.

The Unity modes in VMware (no, this is not a way to make everything ubuntu-like) and Seamless in Virtual-Box stand out especially - both display application windows directly from the guest on the host desktop. This is very good for Linux VMs (excluding potential confusion between guest and host windows), however trying to run
the preview was not very successful; Windows 7 with the Aero interface turned on was also not a pleasant experience.

All of our candidates support running a guest in full screen mode and can be configured to change resolution when the window is resized. Suitable hotkeys are provided to exit this script. The drag-and-drop capability on VMware machines is very convenient, which is why VMware wins this category.

Graphics acceleration

Can software rendering problems be avoided?

Any of our candidates would serve you well if you just wanted to set up a virtual machine without going to do anything graphics intensive.

But if you need 3D acceleration, you need to take VMware or VirtualBox. Once you get the hang of installing the Guest Additions (including the side-by-side VirtualBox double-negation question that tries to turn you away from its experimental WDDM support, like the Windows 7 Aero interface you need), you can enjoy 3D acceleration in VirtualBox and in two VMware clients.


Boom boom, Maxwell's silver hammer hit the, uh, hive. He died shortly after this screenshot was taken in Don’t Starve.

VirtualBox allows you to allocate up to 256 MB of system RAM to a virtual video card, and VMware up to 2 GB. Note that these gigabytes are not taken from your actual graphics card, so often you won't see much improvement over 256MB. VirtualBox also provides 2D acceleration for Windows guest, which should help speed up video rendering, screen enlargement and color correction, although this depends a lot on the host configuration - this setting will not have much effect on a fast machine. The Windows VM probably won't run Battlefield 4 or Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (so we're very lucky to be ported to Linux) when it's all down to 11, but more older or less demanding games will do just fine: we spent a good hour on the popular indie game Don't Starve, completely forgetting our Comparison.

Everything worked better on VMware than on VirtualBox, but perhaps it was a more advantageous configuration - on Arch Linux we used the latest proprietary Nvidia driver, which could lead to the advantage of one over the other.

Verdict

Virtualization is a long and complex topic for Comparisons. When you want to run 3D games, you won't even look at Gnome Boxes or Virt-Manager, and unless you do better in VirtualBox than we do, you will choose VMware as your hypervisor. But then again, this technology is by no means as mature as the native DirectX 11 format. You might even have better luck with games in Wine [Ed .: - Or not.] With some experimental performance patches. We're not really crazy about VMware licenses, especially the one that makes you pay after a 30-day trial, but for some, the enterprise-level features in Workstation will be a blessing. In particular, when using vCenter Converter from VMware, you virtualize the machine with one click - ideal if you want to test something new on your current system.

We haven't covered the ton of command line tools that come with all of our candidates, but they are, along with more than abundant documentation. You can use them in your scripts when you go all the way with virtualization by pushing a host of virtual machines out of a secure command line environment. Perhaps hackers will prefer to work directly with Qemu, while those looking for a simple free open source solution will be happy with Gnome Boxes.


Bubbles look good if you don't see the effort involved in rendering them.

But there is only one winner (a draw is a rare exception), and this time it's Virt-Manager - well, we couldn't afford to win VMware. Virt-Manager lets you harness most of Qemu's power without resorting to lengthy command line spells. Virtual machines can be paused, reconfigured, moved, and cloned — all without much hassle. The only thing it lacks is support for graphics acceleration, but who knows, perhaps it will appear. VMware Player and Gnome Boxes tied for second place as they both scored high for their simplicity, and we love the Boxes icon, which depicts a tesseract (or hypercube, or cube cube - whatever you like).

Virt-Manager ★★★★
All managers would do so well.

VirtualBox ★★
Once the only solution, now on the sidelines.

VMware Player ★★★
Fast and convenient, but the license failed.

VMware Workstation ★★
Fast and full featured, but not free.

Boxes ★★★
The easiest way to install and configure a VM.

At times it becomes necessary to use several operating systems on one computer. The difficulties here are usually predictable. Firstly, this is a mandatory reboot of the PC to run a new OS, and secondly, if we are dealing with different families, for example Windows and Unix, then each OS will require at least one partition on the hard disk. In addition, due to the different format of file systems, it is difficult to access files from another OS from one OS. These and other problems can be solved with a "virtual machine". In fact, it is a regular program that emulates the operation of the main components of a PC, from the processor and video card to the floppy drive. As a result, we can run multiple OSes at the same time and easily switch between them. The main disadvantage of this approach is the relatively low performance of emulated systems.

Sun VirtualBox 2.0.6

Freeware (for home use)

Developer Sun Microsystems

The size 33 MB

Verdict

Rich functionality; a large list of supported systems; a number of unique features

Some instability in work

VirtualBox is a software product of the German company innotek. It is a relatively young platform, first publicly released in January 2007. Supported guest systems include Windows, Linux, OS / 2 Warp, OpenBSD, and FreeBSD. In February 2008, innotek was acquired by Sun Micro-systems, and further development is underway with its participation. The distribution model for VirtualBox has not changed.

In addition to standard devices (processor, video adapter, hard disk) required for the operating system, the program also emulates an audio controller and a network adapter. The latter is presented as an AMD PCNet interface. In addition, it should be noted that by default the video card is emulated as a standard VESA adapter with 8 MB of video memory and 800 × 600 resolution; if this is not enough, you can use Guest VM Additions to increase the performance of the virtual video accelerator and dynamically resize the window. Guest VM Additions is a set of tools supplied with the program to optimize performance and facilitate interaction between the guest and host OS. Among other things, USB controllers are also emulated in VirtualBox, while devices connected to USB connectors in the host system are automatically picked up in the guest.

One of the key features is support for RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol), which allows VirtualBox to act as an RDP server and be controlled by any client that uses the protocol. Note that before the release of the VMware Workstation 6 platform, this feature was available only in VirtualBox. Also implemented function USB over RDP (if the virtual machine acts as an RDP server, then the connected USB devices will also be visible in the client).

The second key feature is the iSCSI initiator component. It allows external devices via iSCSI protocol to be used as virtual disks in the guest system without additional support from the guest.

The process of creating a virtual machine is extremely simple: you need to select the type of operating system and set the amount of RAM and hard disk. The latter can be either fixed size or dynamically resized as it fills. After installing the guest system, it is recommended to install the already mentioned Guest VM Additions - they will greatly facilitate the work in the future.

VirtualBox supports networking between virtual machines, and the user is free to choose one of three types. The first one is NAT, in which case the virtual machine is hidden behind the host's NAT server and can initiate connections to a network external to it, but it is impossible to connect to such a virtual machine from the external network. The second type, Host Interface Networking, allows the guest system to use the resources of the host's physical network adapter, while the guest machine itself becomes available from the external network as a regular independent computer. And finally, the third type - Internal Networking - can be used when there is no need to access an external network; in this case, the virtual network will be built within the host. If the user only needs to establish file exchange between the guest system and the host, then it is better to use the function Shared Folders, which allows you to create shared folders available on any of the systems.

Those who use virtual machines to test various software will appreciate the support of a tree of saved states of the virtual machine (the so-called snapshots), to which can be rolled back from any state of the guest system in case of an unforeseen situation or the need to restart it from scratch.

For developers, innotek provides an excellent Software Development Kit, and since the platform's code is open source, no extra effort is required to write extensions to the system. Besides Windows, stable versions of VirtualBox also exist for Linux and Mac OS. In addition, a lot of work is currently underway to port the product to other host platforms, and developers are provided with all the necessary tools and interfaces for modifying VirtualBox.

Summarizing all of the above, we can confidently call VirtualBox the best free program in its field and a serious competitor for paid counterparts.

VMware Workstation 6.5

VMware Workstation 6.5

Shareware, $ 189

Developer VMware

The size 500 MB

Verdict

The greatest functionality among all programs

High price; huge distribution size

VMware Workstation is perhaps the most famous product for creating virtual machines, and today VMware is one of the leaders in the production of virtualization systems. The list of compatible guest operating systems is enormous, with everything from Solaris and Novell NetWare to Linux, FreeBSD and Windows Vista x64 Edition. The platform perfectly emulates all the necessary computer systems. The number of supported devices is good news - VMware Workstation can work with installed CD / DVD drives, drives, smart card readers, and can mount disk images. In addition, all external devices connected via COM, LPT or USB ports will be available in the guest system (however, it was not possible to configure USB 2.0 support). There is full integration with ACE (Assured Computing Environment - the ability to run another copy of Windows on the computer, intended for sharing) and the so-called unity mode - the execution of virtualized applications on the desktop of the host machine. As for the traditionally weak point - the video accelerator, - starting from the current version, it supports hardware acceleration of 3D graphics. However, with a small caveat - so far this function is available only when using Windows XP as a guest operating system. Also, only DirectX 9.0 and Shader Model 2.0 are currently supported. Among the latest innovations, it is worth noting the ability to stream playback of a virtual machine, for example, when downloading an image from the Internet.

Data exchange can be organized through a virtual local area network or using drag-n-drop from the virtual system towards the host. In the case of a local area network, there are three standard options: the first using NAT (Network Address Translation), the second directly to the existing network, and the third is a virtual network within the host. Of course, the ability to create shared folders has not been forgotten either.

For testing software, VMware Workstation implements a mechanism for creating snapshots of the operating system and disks, which can later be used to roll back to one of the previous states. There is also support for trees of such pictures, which is incredibly convenient when configuring a system with various add-ons (for example, different versions of the Internet Explorer browser). In addition, in the new version, the debugging tools have been significantly improved, which allow you to record in real time all the work of the machine, including the activity of applications, processor and other hardware, as well as play back the saved data.

Included with the program comes another truly indispensable utility - P2V Assistant, which allows you to convert a physical system into a virtual one in just a couple of clicks.

It should be noted that it was WMware that demonstrated the highest performance, although the download speed leaves much to be desired. Another disadvantage of the program is its price. True, there is a free version - VMware Player, which allows you to run previously saved virtual systems, but does not know how to create them.

Microsoft Virtual PC 2007

Freeware
Developer Microsoft
Website microsoft.com/windows/downloads/virtualpc/default.mspx

Microsoft Virtual PC could become a worthy competitor to the programs presented in the review, if not for one "but" - support as guest systems only related to the Windows family, which significantly limits the scope of this emulator. If you wish, you can install an unsupported OS by selecting the item during installation Otherhowever, correct operation is not guaranteed in this case. Like all programs considered in the review, Virtual PC contains a set of applications designed to make life easier for the user. In this case, these are Virtual Machine Additions - their installation will not increase the performance of the guest system, but will make the following useful and convenient functions available:

  • the ability to drag and drop files and folders from the host system to the guest system using drag-n-drop technology and back;
  • when resizing the window with the guest system, the resolution inside it will be automatically adjusted to the new size;
  • improved virtual video adapter driver will allow you to set arbitrary resolution and color depth;
  • the mouse focus will be automatically transferred to the guest system when the cursor enters the console window and returned to the host when leaving this zone. This will eliminate the need to press the right Alt in order to transfer focus to the guest system, and will allow you to work with the console window of the guest system as with a normal application;
  • shared Folders can be used to exchange files with the host operating system;
  • the clipboard for the guest and host systems will also become common, which will simplify the interaction of host and guest applications;
  • there will be time synchronization between the host and guest systems.

Considering that the product is completely free, it can be safely recommended for home use.

Parallels Workstation 2.2

Parallels Workstation 2.2

Shareware, $ 50

Developer Parallels

The size 21 MB

Verdict

Large list of supported systems; work with Intel-VT and AMD-V

In terms of functionality, inferior to analogs

Parallels is another fairly large player in the virtualization software market. Its Parallels Workstation product offers almost all the functionality you need to work. First of all, this platform virtualizes a full set of standard computer hardware, such as a processor that matches a real one, a motherboard based on the Intel i815 chipset, up to 1.5 GB RAM, a VGA and SVGA video card with VESA 3.0 support. In addition, a 1.44 MB floppy drive is supported with the ability to connect a real device or a floppy image and two IDE controllers with either virtual HDD (from 20 MB to 128 GB each) or CD / DVD-ROM (in direct access mode real computer drive can be used directly). In addition, there is support for various peripheral equipment (printers, scanners, as well as various PDAs based on Windows Mobile 2005 and cameras).

Compatible guest systems: the entire Microsoft Windows family from version 3.1 to Vista, various builds of Linux, FreeBSD, Syllable, Solaris, OS / 2 and MS-DOS.

Installing and configuring the program is not difficult. To make life easier, a set of Parallels Tools applications is available to the user, which optimizes the interaction of the guest OS with the host, for example, improves the work with the mouse, video mode, the interaction of clipboards (you can synchronize the clipboard of the guest and host operating systems, which simplifies data transfer). In addition, the created machines can be easily combined into a VLAN or added to an existing one, but for some unknown reason they cannot be connected using NAT. It is also possible to set up shared folders for information exchange. If desired, Parallels Workstation can create exact copies of virtual machines (clone them), plus the new version of the program works with both hardware virtualization technologies - Intel-VT and AMD-V. It also adds support for USB and sound. Another interesting feature that appeared in the new version is the ability to stop the guest system without unloading it. In this case, the resources allocated to the guest system are returned to the host system, and it will not take long to restart the Linux or FreeBSD guest.

If necessary, you can connect a second monitor to the guest machine or work with a Wi-Fi network (although Wi-Fi is available for some reason only when using a Linux system as a host).

In general, Parallels Workstation can be a good alternative to VMware Workstation, given its price and stability in work, but in terms of functionality it is still inferior to the free VirtualBox.

How we tested

Several main parameters were chosen for comparative testing of virtual machines. Firstly, this is the number of supported operating systems and architectures (both guest and host), while both official and unofficial support were taken into account. Secondly, performance is considered, and both the performance of the guest system and the host with the running virtual machine were taken into account. And finally, the third defining parameter is support for a variety of equipment and additional capabilities.

In the first category, VMware and VirtualBox took the lead. They both support Intel x86 and AMD64 architectures as a host, however VirtualBox does not allow 64-bit systems to be used as guests, but it can work with Intel VT and AMD-V technologies (enabled in the settings). Parallels Workstation lacks support for 64-bit systems as a host, however, like VirtualBox, it is compatible with Intel VT and AMD-V technologies. Free VirtualBox has the largest list of officially supported guest systems, unofficially, all three programs support any OS.

Three identical virtual systems based on Windows XP SP2 were created for performance testing. Performance was measured using PCMark05, which was run on the guest and host systems simultaneously. The settings of all programs were left by default. VMware showed itself the best, followed by VirtualBox, the last place was taken by Parallels Workstation, which, however, least of all loaded the system during operation. But it is worth noting that the difference between these three programs is minimal, and in all cases the performance of the guest system is close to that of the host.

In the last, third category, VMware won by a large margin, literally stuffed with all sorts of additional functions, from copying a ready-made system to support for a video accelerator. Apparently, for this reason, the size of its installation package is several times larger than that of competitors.

Let's take a closer look at what virtual machines for Windows are and what they are for. Learn all about the best OS simulators and how to get started using them.

A virtual machine (VM) is a computer application with which a user can create an imitation of an operating system. An OS image is installed on the machine for use inside the existing system. Very convenient, isn't it? But there are also pitfalls. Read what you will encounter during installation and which virtual machine for Windows versions 7.8 and 10 is better to choose.

Why are PC virtual machines needed?

In most cases, VMs are used to test software in. To work with several operating systems, you need only one computer, which significantly speeds up the work.

Several virtual machines can be run simultaneously on one computer. Their number depends on the available RAM and the space on the children's disk, since the virtual OS consumes exactly the same memory resource as a regular copy installed on the computer.

With the help of virtual machines, you can work with programs, functions that are not available in the main OS. Also, it is possible to create backup copies of VMs, with their subsequent movement and use on other computers.

Viruses, errors and other failures of the virtual OS do not affect the operation of the main system. After the machine is closed, the additional OS stops working and the RAM is freed.

During the operation of the VM, the device may slow down, because the increased consumption of storage resources leads to an increase in the processing time of requests.

Reasons for installing VM:

  • You want to familiarize yourself with the work of other operating systems without fully installing them. If there is a need to replace an existing OS, first use the virtual simulator to test other software options. This will save you from possible bugs and incompatibilities with the hardware;
  • You are a developer and want to create a comprehensive testing system for your applications.

VirtualBox

VirtualBox is a virtual machine for Windows 7,8,10. The virtualization environment is distributed free of charge and can be installed both for working with operating systems and for deploying network infrastructure and hosting sites.

VirtualBox main window:

The main feature of this virtual machine is cross-platform. It works fine on all versions of Windows. Also, from the developer's site you can download installers for Mac OS, Debian. In the virtualization environment itself, you can install any desktop OS.

With VirtualBox, you can familiarize yourself with the functionality of the OS or test the program in safe mode without harming the main system. Users often prefer to install old games on virtual machines that are incompatible with modern operating systems.

After the simulator is finished, all data and changes will be saved. The next time you turn it on, you will be returned to your desktop and can continue to perform tasks.

Advantages and disadvantages

VirtualBox advantages:

  • Free distribution. 90% of similar software is paid, while VirtualBox is completely free. The functions and capabilities of the program are not limited to the developer;
  • The ability to create screenshots - screenshots of the virtual system. The resulting image will only display the secondary OS window. Taking screenshots with the main OS degrades the resolution and also hijacks your regular desktop;
  • Creation of an exact copy of an existing virtual machine;
  • Ability to drag folders, shortcuts and other objects inside the simulator;
  • Unified file system - from a virtual machine, you can access directories that are stored on a PC, and vice versa;
  • Simultaneous work with several machines.

Also, a distinctive feature of the new VirtualBox 4 is a convenient virtualization management system and an intuitive workspace of the program. Also, in the new assembly, the ability to capture video from the screen of an additional OS is available.

VirtualBox supports working with USB drives connected to the computer.

Disadvantages of the program:

  • Slow down your computer. Even if your PC has good technical specifications, sufficient RAM and permanent memory, when using a virtual machine, you will experience slower performance of all functions. If in the process of creating a VM you have allocated too much memory, the computer will freeze or shut down;
  • Insufficient video memory. If you need to achieve the best possible image quality, this will be difficult with VirtualBox. The program allows you to configure the settings for using the video card only at a basic level.
How to install

To install the VirtualBox program, download the installer from the official developer site - the Oracle company. The installation process is standard and does not require additional settings:

  • Run the EXE file;
  • Select the Hard disk, which will contain the root folder with the program;
  • Wait for the installation to complete. If necessary, the user can view hard disk usage statistics during the installation process.

In the field "Custom Setup" it is possible to disable support for USB, network services. This reduces the overall size of the application.

Video tutorial on how to install two OSes using VirtualBox

After installing the program, you can start creating your first virtual machine. Click on the "Create" button in the upper left corner of the window. The VM settings tab will open:

In the setup wizard window, select the type of virtual OS (Windows, Linux, Debian, MacOS) and its version. Enter a name for the simulator to be created and click on the "Next" button.

Then, the program will provide you with the opportunity to independently specify the size of the RAM that will be allocated for the additional OS. For newbie users, we recommend that you set the value that is indicated in the "Recommended size of main memory" field.

The size of the RAM for the VM should be determined depending on the specifications of your PC. If you have 4 GB of RAM available on your computer, 512 MB-1 GB will be enough for the simulator to work properly.

Next, the program will ask you to select an OS image in the file system (which corresponds to the previously specified family and version). After completing the configuration, a window appears with a brief listing of all parameters. Click on "Finish".

After the installation of virtual Windows is complete, an icon for starting the OS will appear in the main window of VirtualBox. Click on it and wait for the desktop to load. Install the drivers if necessary.

To automatically update drivers, open the Devices tab in the virtual machine toolbar. Then click on the desired media type and in the new window follow the instructions to get the new software.

Done. Now you can start working with the virtual operating system. To exit the program, first shut down the OS and then close VirtualBox.

VMware

VMWare Workstation is the best virtual machine for Windows 10. The developer positions the program as a convenient platform for creating. Compared to other popular counterparts, VMWare supports more functions for customizing the virtual machine and allows you to synchronize the simulator with software development tools.

This virtualization environment is popular among programmers, web designers and other professionals who often have to test the work of their projects for cross-platform.

Advantages and disadvantages

Among the advantages of VMWare are:

  • Convenient toolbar;
  • Synchronization with Microsoft development tools, in particular the .NET platform and the Visual Studio software environment;
  • Safety system. Built-in VMWare tools provide a high level of protection for your files in the secondary OS. The simulator can detect attempts of malicious activity to eliminate them;
  • Operation of encryption services for the created virtual machines.

Disadvantages of the application:

  • Paid distribution. The user can download a free trial version of the utility, but to get the full version of the application with all available functions, you will need to pay for an annual or monthly subscription;
  • Not suitable for beginners. If you have not used operating system simulators before, we recommend starting with the simpler options. For example, VirtualBox and the standard Windows Hyper V. VMWare is suitable for advanced users who prefer to manually configure the system.
How to install

You can download a virtual machine for Windows from the official developer site VMWare.com.

It is recommended that you turn off Windows Defender or another running antivirus during the installation process. This is only necessary for the correct installation of all files and encryption algorithms used by the program for virtual machines. There will be no harm to your main OS since the product is downloaded from an official source.

Functionality overview and first program setup

To create the first virtual machine in VMWare, you need to download the OS distribution kit that you want to use in the emulator. Then open the window of the installed application and click on the field "Create a new virtual machine"

Note! The user can create a group of virtual machines, instead of several simulators. This allows you to reduce the resource of the consumed RAM and speed up the operation of the computer and the OS simulator.

In the VM Setup Wizard window, specify the path to the operating system image (this can be a file in the computer's memory or a boot disk). Also, it is possible to configure a virtual machine without installing an OS (it can be installed later).

  • In the window that appears, specify the OS name, username and password for accessing the account;
  • Specify on which disk of your computer the virtual machine will be stored;
  • Allocate the amount of RAM for the VM to work;
  • Configure hardware (automatically or manually).

After completing the configuration of the virtual machine, wait for the OS image to install and start working:

Microsoft Virtual PC

Microsoft Virtual PC is another popular virtual machine emulator. The program is well compatible with all versions of OS Windows. If you use a Microsoft product as your main OS, we recommend choosing Microsoft Virtual PC for emulation.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of the emulator:

  • Excellent compatibility with all versions of Windows OS. In most cases, the user does not need to install any additional drivers for the virtual OS. All of them are synchronized with the main system;
  • File system sharing. Access files stored on your PC hard drive through the VM window;
  • Support for 64-bit Windows OS in "Guest host" and "Guest environment" operating modes;
  • Support for hardware virtualization.

Disadvantages:

  • There are paid features. The program is distributed free of charge, but you will have to buy a subscription to support setting up a group of virtual operating systems;
  • There is no support for Linux-like systems.
Functionality overview and first program setup

To install a virtual OS, first load its image into the computer memory, and then open the Microsoft Virtual PC application. Click on the "Create a virtual machine" button and configure the following parameters in a new window:

  • Set the name of the new OS;
  • Allocate space for her hard drive and the size of her RAM;
  • Select which devices the VM will support (networked environment, flash drives, and so on).
Outcome

We've told you about the best virtual machines for Windows, but not all. If you think these are not the best ones - write in the comments! Help novice readers decide which emulator to start with.