VirtualBox is a virtualization software that enables users to run multiple operating systems on a single machine. It is one of the most popular virtualization software available in the market, and it is widely used by developers, system administrators, and IT professionals. One of the most frequently asked questions about VirtualBox is whether it is free for Linux or not.
In this article, we will discuss the answer to this question and provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to install VirtualBox on Linux.
Is VirtualBox for Linux Free?
Yes, VirtualBox is completely free for Linux. Oracle Corporation, the company behind VirtualBox, offers the software under the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2. This license grants users the freedom to use, modify, and distribute the software without any restrictions.
How to Install VirtualBox on Linux
Installing VirtualBox on Linux is a straightforward process. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to install VirtualBox on Ubuntu, one of the most popular Linux distributions.
Step 1: Update the system
Before installing VirtualBox, it's essential to update the system's repositories to ensure that you have the latest packages. To update the system, open the terminal and run the following command:
sudo apt update
Step 2: Install dependencies
Next, you need to install some dependencies that VirtualBox requires to run correctly. Run the following command in the terminal:
sudo apt install build-essential dkms linux-headers-$(uname -r)
Step 3: Add the VirtualBox repository
To install VirtualBox on Ubuntu, you need to add the official VirtualBox repository to the system. Run the following command to add the repository:
sudo add-apt-repository "deb [arch=amd64] https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian $(lsb_release -cs) contrib"
Step 4: Install VirtualBox
Now that you have added the VirtualBox repository to the system, you can install VirtualBox using the following command:
sudo apt install virtualbox-6.1
Step 5: Verify the installation
After installing VirtualBox, you can verify the installation by running the following command in the terminal:
virtualbox --version
This command will display the version of VirtualBox that you have installed on your system.
More Examples
Here are some additional commands that you can use to manage VirtualBox on Linux:
- To start VirtualBox, run the following command in the terminal:
virtualbox
To create a new virtual machine, click on the "New" button in the VirtualBox Manager window.
To add a virtual machine to VirtualBox, click on the "Settings" button in the VirtualBox Manager window, and then click on the "Storage" tab.
To remove a virtual machine from VirtualBox, select the virtual machine in the VirtualBox Manager window, and then click on the "Remove" button.
We hope that this article has answered your question about whether VirtualBox is free for Linux or not. VirtualBox is an excellent virtualization software that can help you run multiple operating systems on a single machine. If you have any further questions or comments, please feel free to leave them in the comment section below.
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That's it for this post. Keep practicing and have fun. Leave your comments if any.