VirtualBox is a powerful open-source virtualization software developed by Oracle. It allows users to run multiple operating systems simultaneously on a single physical machine. This capability is particularly useful for developers, testers, and IT professionals who need to create isolated environments for testing software, running different OS versions, or setting up a sandbox environment. In this article, we'll explore how to install VirtualBox on a Windows machine, create a virtual machine (VM), and manage it using both the graphical user interface (GUI) and command-line interface (CLI).

Examples:

Installing VirtualBox on Windows

1. Download VirtualBox:

• Visit the VirtualBox download page.


• Download the Windows installer.

2. Install VirtualBox:

• Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions.


• Accept the default settings unless you have specific requirements.

Creating a Virtual Machine via GUI

1. Open VirtualBox:

• Launch VirtualBox from the Start menu.

2. Create a New VM:

• Click on the "New" button.


• Enter a name for your VM, select the type (e.g., Linux, Windows), and choose the version.


• Allocate memory (RAM) to the VM.


• Create a virtual hard disk by selecting "Create a virtual hard disk now" and follow the prompts to set the size and type.

3. Configure the VM:

• Select the newly created VM and click on "Settings."


• Adjust settings such as system, display, storage, and network according to your needs.

4. Start the VM:

• With the VM selected, click on "Start" to boot it up.


• Follow the installation process for the operating system you are installing.

Managing VMs via Command Line (VBoxManage)

VirtualBox includes a command-line tool called VBoxManage that allows you to manage VMs without using the GUI. This can be particularly useful for automation and scripting.

1. Open Command Prompt:

• Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter.

2. Navigate to VirtualBox Directory:

• 
  

   cd "C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox"

  
  

3. Create a New VM:

• 
  

   VBoxManage createvm --name "MyVM" --register

  
  

4. Modify VM Settings:

• Allocate memory:
  

   VBoxManage modifyvm "MyVM" --memory 2048



• Set the OS type:
  

   VBoxManage modifyvm "MyVM" --ostype "Windows10_64"



• Add a virtual hard disk:
  

   VBoxManage createhd --filename "C:\Users\YourUser\VirtualBox VMs\MyVM\MyVM.vdi" --size 20000



• Attach the hard disk to the VM:
  

   VBoxManage storagectl "MyVM" --name "SATA Controller" --add sata --controller IntelAhci
  
   VBoxManage storageattach "MyVM" --storagectl "SATA Controller" --port 0 --device 0 --type hdd --medium "C:\Users\YourUser\VirtualBox VMs\MyVM\MyVM.vdi"

5. Start the VM:

• 
  

   VBoxManage startvm "MyVM"

  
  

Additional Tips

• 
  

  Snapshots: Use snapshots to save the state of a VM at a particular point in time.

  
  

  VBoxManage snapshot "MyVM" take "InitialState"

  
  


• 
  

  Networking: Configure network settings to connect VMs to the internet or a host-only network.

  
  

  VBoxManage modifyvm "MyVM" --nic1 nat