Sun Microsystems has updated VirtualBox xVM, a powerful Open Source virtualization solution for Mac OS X. The new release brings both the VirtualBox app, as well as the SDK to version 2.2.0 (Build 45846), and is “a major update,” according to the folks behind Java.

Sun Microsystems' xVM VirtualBox software lets users create virtual machines in which they can install their operating system of choice. The solution is similar to those advertised and sold by VMware (VMware Fusion), or Parallels (Parallels Desktop). VirtualBox is a feature rich, high performance product for enterprise customers, which (as surprising as it may sound) is freely available as Open Source Software under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL).

According to Sun, the following major new features were added in VirtualBox 2.2.0 (Build 45846):

· OVF (Open Virtualization Format) appliance import and export (see chapter 3.8, Importing and exporting virtual machines, User Manual page 55)
· Host-only networking mode (see chapter 6.7, Host-only networking, User Manual page 88)
· Hypervisor optimizations with significant performance gains for high context switching rates
· Raised the memory limit for VMs on 64-bit hosts to 16GB
· VT-x/AMD-V are enabled by default for newly created virtual machines
· USB (OHCI & EHCI) is enabled by default for newly created virtual machines (Qt GUI only)
· Experimental USB support for OpenSolaris hosts
· Shared folders for Solaris and OpenSolaris guests
· OpenGL 3D acceleration for Linux and Solaris guests (see chapter 4.8, Hardware 3D acceleration (OpenGL), User Manual page 70)
· Added C API in addition to C++, Java, Python and Web Services.

Dozens of other new features and enhancements were added, including the Mac OS X specific fix, “GUI/Mac OS X: fixed disabled close button.”

"Virtual desktops, such as those provided by the xVM VirtualBox software, are the future of business desktops because they are more flexible, manageable and secure than traditional PC architectures," said Steve Wilson, vice president, xVM, Sun Microsystems. "Enterprises will be thrilled with the xVM VirtualBox platform because it provides them an easier way to deliver a standard operating environment across their enterprises."

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