4 ms·

I do not understand, Virtual Box is free software, the versions distributed through most common Linux distributions does not contain any non-free components and

I do not understand, Virtual Box is free software, the versions distributed through most common Linux distributions does not contain any non-free components and the binaries on the site are released under the GPLv2. The extensions you mention are a separate download that you explicitly have to download and it is mentioned around the download that they are under a different license. How exactly are you trapped by using GPL software?

NullPrefix 8y ago
Without the extension VirtualBox VMs are pretty much shit.
- rbanffy 8y ago
  For tools like Vagrant, not at all. They are very useful if you want to attach USB devices directly to the VM, use the built-in webcam and so on, but I've used VirtualBox for years without installing the extension once.
  - torstenvl 8y ago
    USB 2.0 and 3.0 are not fully supported without the extension pack.
    - koolba 8y ago
      Which again are irrelevant for the common “just for Vagrant” use case.
      - rbanffy 8y ago
        I have used it for testing on different Windows browsers, to check whether https://github.com/rbanffy/3270font https://github.com/rbanffy/3270font would install correctly, and running some Windows software from my bank. The only time I needed the extensions was when I needed to reflash my Blackberry 10 DevAlpha (whose battery, sadly, is dead - I loved that phone)
- noselasd 8y ago
  How so ? (don't confuse the extension pack with the guest addons though)
- jstarfish 8y ago
  Extensions add "support for USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 devices, VirtualBox RDP, disk encryption, NVMe and PXE boot for Intel cards." I'd argue the added features themselves are mostly shit. If you need hypervisor RDP or FDE there are much better solutions than VirtualBox.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
  - Drdrdrq 8y ago
    I don't care much about other features either, but accessing USB devices is often invaluable.
    - Dylan16807 8y ago
      Often? For what kind of device? Input devices don't need to be fast, and storage is usually better off with a shared folder anyway.
      - tsomctl 8y ago
        There’s lots of other hardware that people use. For example, the usb cable to connect to my BMW needs usb 2.0, and the software only works under Windows XP, so I have a virtual machine for that.
tlrobinson 8y ago
From another comment it sounds like it's the Extension Pack they're going after. > The VirtualBox Extension Pack is available under the VirtualBox Extension Pack Personal Use and Evaluation License, which is a free license for personal, educational or evaluation use, or an Enterprise License, which is a for-fee license that allows most commercial, non-distribution uses restricted by the PUEL.

NullPrefix 8y ago

Without the extension VirtualBox VMs are pretty much shit.

rbanffy 8y ago
For tools like Vagrant, not at all. They are very useful if you want to attach USB devices directly to the VM, use the built-in webcam and so on, but I've used VirtualBox for years without installing the extension once.
- torstenvl 8y ago
  USB 2.0 and 3.0 are not fully supported without the extension pack.
  - koolba 8y ago
    Which again are irrelevant for the common “just for Vagrant” use case.
    - rbanffy 8y ago
      I have used it for testing on different Windows browsers, to check whether https://github.com/rbanffy/3270font https://github.com/rbanffy/3270font would install correctly, and running some Windows software from my bank. The only time I needed the extensions was when I needed to reflash my Blackberry 10 DevAlpha (whose battery, sadly, is dead - I loved that phone)
noselasd 8y ago
How so ? (don't confuse the extension pack with the guest addons though)
jstarfish 8y ago
Extensions add "support for USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 devices, VirtualBox RDP, disk encryption, NVMe and PXE boot for Intel cards." I'd argue the added features themselves are mostly shit. If you need hypervisor RDP or FDE there are much better solutions than VirtualBox.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- Drdrdrq 8y ago
  I don't care much about other features either, but accessing USB devices is often invaluable.
  - Dylan16807 8y ago
    Often? For what kind of device? Input devices don't need to be fast, and storage is usually better off with a shared folder anyway.
    - tsomctl 8y ago
      There’s lots of other hardware that people use. For example, the usb cable to connect to my BMW needs usb 2.0, and the software only works under Windows XP, so I have a virtual machine for that.

tlrobinson 8y ago

From another comment it sounds like it's the Extension Pack they're going after. > The VirtualBox Extension Pack is available under the VirtualBox Extension Pack Personal Use and Evaluation License, which is a free license for personal, educational or evaluation use, or an Enterprise License, which is a for-fee license that allows most commercial, non-distribution uses restricted by the PUEL.