Optimizing the Desktop Using Sun xVM VirtualBox

Optimizing the Desktop Using Sun xVM VirtualBox

by Ulrich Möller
December 2008

Often users must access applications in operating system (OS) environments other than the native OS on their personal laptop or desktop system. Companies that undertake migration initiatives to open source desktop platforms, for example, sometimes need to provide users with access to critical legacy applications. In other cases, when a user desktop platform is upgraded to state-of-the-art hardware, older operating environments may be no longer supported as the native OS on the new hardware platform. In these cases, desktop virtualization can be a cost-effective answer. Sun xVM VirtualBox is an especially compelling desktop virtualization solution since it is available as a no-cost download for personal use and as open source code. For OEMs and product developers, VirtualBox also provides a comprehensive set of development tools to integrate customized functionality. Some developers use these tools to build a complete, patched, virtualized OS instance and simplify deployment of a precise execution environment for their device and application.

Contents

• Optimizing the Desktop Using Sun™ xVM VirtualBox
• Sun xVM VirtualBox and Desktop Virtualization
  • Easy-to-use GUI and Comprehensive Tools
• Usability Features
  • Advanced Features
• Flexible Deployment Options
• VirtualBox Architecture and Tools
  • Management Layer
• Creating a Virtual Machine on a Remote Server
• Summary
• About the Author
• References
• Ordering Sun Documents
• Accessing Sun Documentation Online
  About the Authors

  Ulrich Möller is both a lawyer and developer. He was part of the VirtualBox team that was acquired by Sun Microsystems in February 2008, holds a Ph.D. in copyright law from the Humboldt University in Berlin and has executed much of the original open sourcing of VirtualBox back in 2007. At the same time, he has been part of the VirtualBox developer team for years and has written most of the developer tools and documentation as well as the Sun xVM VirtualBox User Manual. He has been living in Berlin, Germany since 1996.

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