3 Configuring virtual machines Whereas chapter 1, First steps, page 9 gave you a quick introduction to VirtualBox and how to get your first virtual machine running, the following chapter describes in detail how to configure virtual machines. You have considerable latitude in deciding what virtual hardware will be provided to the guest. The virtual hardware can be used for communicating with the host system or with other guests. For instance, if you provide VirtualBox with the image of a CD-ROM in an ISO file, VirtualBox can present this image to a guest system as if it were a physical CD-ROM. Similarly, you can give a guest system access to the real network via its virtual network card, and, if you so choose, give the host system, other guests, or computers on the Internet access to the guest system. 3.1 Supported guest operating systems Since VirtualBox is designed to provide a generic virtualization environment for x86 systems, it may run operating systems of any kind, even those not listed here. However, the focus is to optimize VirtualBox for the following guest systems: Windows NT 4.0 All versions, editions and service packs are fully supported however, there are some issues with older service packs. We recommend to install service pack 6a. Guest Additions are available with a limited feature set. Windows 2000 / XP / Server 2003 / Vista / Server 2008 / Windows 7 All versions, editions and service packs are fully supported (including 64-bit versions, under the preconditions listed below). Guest Additions are available. DOS / Windows 3.x / 95 / 98 / ME Limited testing has been performed. Use beyond legacy in- stallation mechanisms not recommended. No Guest Additions available. Linux 2.4 Limited support. Linux 2.6 All versions/editions are fully supported (32 bits and 64 bits). Guest Additions are available. We strongly recommend using a Linux kernel version 2.6.13 or higher for better perfor- mance. Note: Certain Linux kernel releases have bugs that prevent them from executing in a virtual environment please see chapter 12.4.3, Buggy Linux 2.6 kernel versions, page 172 for details. Solaris 10, OpenSolaris Fully supported (32 bits and 64 bits). Guest Additions are available. FreeBSD Requires hardware virtualization to be enabled. Limited support. Guest Additions are not available yet. OpenBSD Requires hardware virtualization to be enabled. Versions 3.7 and later are supported. Guest Additions are not available yet. 39