VirtualBox vs bhyve

Overview

VirtualBox

Stacks31.1K

Followers25.6K

Votes1.1K

bhyve

Stacks2

Followers1

Votes0

VirtualBox vs bhyve: What are the differences?

Introduction: VirtualBox and bhyve are both virtualization platforms that allow users to run multiple operating systems on a single physical machine. However, there are key differences between the two that make them suitable for different use cases.

Host Operating System Support: One major difference between VirtualBox and bhyve is the host operating system support. VirtualBox can run on Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it a versatile option for users on different platforms. In contrast, bhyve is mainly supported on FreeBSD and some limited support on other Unix-like systems.
Performance: When it comes to performance, bhyve is known for its lightweight and efficient virtualization, making it a preferred choice for enterprise-level applications where performance is crucial. On the other hand, VirtualBox may not offer the same level of performance optimization, especially in high-demand scenarios.
Hardware Virtualization Support: Bhyve utilizes hardware virtualization technology such as Intel VT-x and AMD-V, which allows for better resource utilization and efficiency. VirtualBox, although it also supports hardware virtualization, may not be as optimized for this as bhyve, leading to potential performance differences in certain scenarios.
Networking Capabilities: VirtualBox comes with a variety of networking options and configurations, making it easier for users to set up complex networking environments for their virtual machines. Bhyve, while also offering networking capabilities, may not have the same level of flexibility and ease of configuration as VirtualBox.
User Interface: VirtualBox has a user-friendly graphical interface that allows users to manage their virtual machines easily. On the other hand, bhyve is primarily command-line based, requiring users to have a certain level of technical proficiency to operate and manage virtual machines effectively.
Community Support: VirtualBox has a large and active community of users and developers, making it easier to find resources, tutorials, and troubleshoot issues. Bhyve, being more niche and focused on FreeBSD, may have a smaller community and fewer resources available for support.

In Summary, VirtualBox and bhyve differ in host operating system support, performance, hardware virtualization support, networking capabilities, user interface, and community support, making each platform suitable for different use cases.

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Detailed Comparison

VirtualBox	bhyve
VirtualBox is a powerful x86 and AMD64/Intel64 virtualization product for enterprise as well as home use. Not only is VirtualBox an extremely feature rich, high performance product for enterprise customers, it is also the only professional solution that is freely available as Open Source Software under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2.	bhyve, the "BSD hypervisor", pronounced "beehive" is a hypervisor/virtual machine manager developed on FreeBSD. Find out more at wiki.freebsd.org/bhyve
Portability;No hardware virtualization required;Guest Additions: shared folders, seamless windows, 3D virtualization;Great hardware support;Multigeneration branched snapshots;VM groups;Clean architecture; unprecedented modularity;Remote machine display	hypervisor
Statistics
Stacks 31.1K	Stacks 2
Followers 25.6K	Followers 1
Votes 1.1K	Votes 0
Pros & Cons
Pros 358 Free 231 Easy 169 Default for vagrant 110 Fast 73 Starts quickly	No community feedback yet

What are some alternatives to VirtualBox, bhyve?

Proxmox VE

It is a complete open-source platform for all-inclusive enterprise virtualization that tightly integrates KVM hypervisor and LXC containers, software-defined storage and networking functionality on a single platform, and easily manages high availability clusters and disaster recovery tools with the built-in web management interface.

VMware vSphere

vSphere is the world’s leading server virtualization platform. Run fewer servers and reduce capital and operating costs using VMware vSphere to build a cloud computing infrastructure.

KVM

KVM (for Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is a full virtualization solution for Linux on x86 hardware containing virtualization extensions (Intel VT or AMD-V).

Qemu

When used as a machine emulator, it can run OSes and programs made for one machine (e.g. an ARM board) on a different machine (e.g. your own PC). By using dynamic translation, it achieves very good performance. When used as a virtualizer, it achieves near native performance by executing the guest code directly on the host CPU. it supports virtualization when executing under the Xen hypervisor or using the KVM kernel module in Linux. When using KVM, it can virtualize x86, server and embedded PowerPC, 64-bit POWER, S390, 32-bit and 64-bit ARM, and MIPS guests.

Parallels Desktop

Parallels Desktop for Mac allows you to seamlessly run both Windows and MacOS applications side-by-side with speed, control and confidence.

Parallels

It is an application and desktop virtualization software vendor that offers management and delivery platforms for Apple macOS and Microsoft Windows desktop deployments.

VMware Fusion

It gives Mac users the power to run Windows on Mac along with hundreds of other operating systems side by side with Mac applications, without rebooting. It is simple enough for home users and powerful enough for IT professionals, developers and businesses.

Xen

It is a hypervisor using a microkernel design, providing services that allow multiple computer operating systems to execute on the same computer hardware concurrently. It was developed by the Linux Foundation and is supported by Intel.

VMware vSAN

It is enterprise-class, storage virtualization software that, when combined with vSphere, allows you to manage compute and storage with a single platform. You can reduce the cost and complexity of traditional storage and take the easiest path to hyperconverged infrastructure and hybrid cloud. Evolve to an integrated hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) solution with vSAN to improve business agility, all while speeding operations and lowering costs.

Oracle VM Server

It is a zero license cost server virtualization and management solution that makes enterprise applications easier to deploy, manage, and support. Backed worldwide by affordable enterprise-quality support for both Oracle and non-Oracle environments, it reduces operations and support costs while increasing IT efficiency and agility.

Related Comparisons

VirtualBox vs bhyve: What are the differences?

Host Operating System Support: One major difference between VirtualBox and bhyve is the host operating system support. VirtualBox can run on Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it a versatile option for users on different platforms. In contrast, bhyve is mainly supported on FreeBSD and some limited support on other Unix-like systems.
Performance: When it comes to performance, bhyve is known for its lightweight and efficient virtualization, making it a preferred choice for enterprise-level applications where performance is crucial. On the other hand, VirtualBox may not offer the same level of performance optimization, especially in high-demand scenarios.
Hardware Virtualization Support: Bhyve utilizes hardware virtualization technology such as Intel VT-x and AMD-V, which allows for better resource utilization and efficiency. VirtualBox, although it also supports hardware virtualization, may not be as optimized for this as bhyve, leading to potential performance differences in certain scenarios.
Networking Capabilities: VirtualBox comes with a variety of networking options and configurations, making it easier for users to set up complex networking environments for their virtual machines. Bhyve, while also offering networking capabilities, may not have the same level of flexibility and ease of configuration as VirtualBox.
User Interface: VirtualBox has a user-friendly graphical interface that allows users to manage their virtual machines easily. On the other hand, bhyve is primarily command-line based, requiring users to have a certain level of technical proficiency to operate and manage virtual machines effectively.
Community Support: VirtualBox has a large and active community of users and developers, making it easier to find resources, tutorials, and troubleshoot issues. Bhyve, being more niche and focused on FreeBSD, may have a smaller community and fewer resources available for support.

VirtualBox vs bhyve

Overview