Oracle free software VirtualBox 7.0 is finally released after 4 years

Oracle free software VirtualBox 7.0 is finally released after 4 years

Oracle free software VirtualBox 7.0 is finally released after 4 years.

VirtualBox is a well-known cross-platform virtual machine software.

On October 10, VirtualBox version 7.0 was officially released. It has been 4 years since the last major version 6.0 was released.

The new release brings updates to fully encrypted virtual machines, new vm wizard, performance statistics, new notification center, new icons, 3D support for DirectX 11, TPM 1.2/2.0 support, and more. 

VirtualBox 7.0

VirtualBox 7.0 runs on Windows, macOS (Intel, M1/M2), Linux, Solaris devices and is free to use.

Major updates of the new version:

• Virtual machines can now be fully encrypted, including VM configuration logs and save state (currently CLI only)
• OCI: Cloud virtual machines can be added to the hypervisor and controlled as local virtual machines
• OCI: Cloud networking can now be configured through the Network Manager tool just like host-only and NAT networks
• GUI: Added a new utility similar to “Top” or “Resource Monitor” that lists performance statistics for running guests (CPU usage, RAM usage, disk I/O rate, etc.)
• GUI: New vm wizard redesigned to integrate unattended guest OS installations and enable a more streamlined workflow
• GUI: Added a new help viewer widget that enables the user manual to be navigated and searched
• GUI: Added a new notification center, unifying most of the running progress and error reporting in the GUI
• GUI: Improved theme support on all platforms. Linux and macOS use the native engine, while for Windows hosts it is implemented separately.
• Interface: Large icons updated.
• Audio recording: Vorbis is now used as the default audio format for WebM containers. The work is no longer used.
• Audio: Added “default” host driver type to move VMs (devices) between different platforms without explicitly changing the audio driver. When the “default” driver is selected, the platform’s best audio backend option will be used. This is the default for newly created VMs.
• Guest Control: Implemented initial support for guest additions that automatically update Linux guest guests
• Guest Control: Implemented the ability to wait and/or restart the guest when updating guest additions via VBoxManage
• VBoxManage: Added guest control “wait level” subcommand that can wait for the guest to reach a certain runlevel
• Windows hosts: Added experimental support for running autostarted virtual machines in session 0 to allow running VMS without user logged in (disabled by default, see manual)
• macOS host: Removed all kernel extensions. It now relies entirely on the hypervisor and virtual machine networking framework provided by Apple. Currently, the implementation lacks the “internal network” feature. This will be provided at a later date.
• macOS hosts: Provides a developer preview package for systems with Apple silicon CPUs. This is unsupported work in progress and is known to have very modest performance.
• Linux guest additions: Redesigned guest screen resizing functionality, added basic integration with some guest desktop environments
• Devices: New 3D support based on DirectX 11 (and DXVK on non-windowing hosts)
• Devices: Added virtual IOMMU device (Intel and AMD variants)
• Devices: Added virtual TPM 1.2 and 2.0 devices
• Devices: EHCI and XHCI USB controller devices are now part of the open source base package
• EFI: Added support for Secure Boot
• Debugging: Added experimental support for guest debugging via GDB, and highly experimental support for guest debugging via KD/WinDbg

Additionally, the following items have been fixed and/or added:

• OCI: Enhanced cloud networking capabilities for on-premises virtual machines, now on-premises virtual machines can connect to the cloud network
• GUI: Improved behavior of the virtual machine list and various VM-related tools when multiple items are selected
• GUI: On available platforms, added a new option to disable the host screen saver
• GUI: Global preferences, machine settings and wizards have been redesigned to improve stability and usability
• GUI: Improve mouse handling in case of multiple monitors on X11 platforms
• GUI: Redesigned medium enumeration engine to improve performance
• GUI: NAT network content moved from global preferences to global network manager tool
• GUI: Extension Package Manager moved from Global Preferences to Global Tools
• GUI: Improved overall accessibility
• UI: Migrate to the latest Qt version.

• Official website download page