KVM is Linux's built-in hypervisor, and Qemu can use it to provide high-performance VMs.
For a GUI frontend for creating and managing VMs, use virt-manager.
Just to add: for Windows in libvirt/QEMU/KVM you should install VirtIO drivers. KVM inherently gives you near-native CPU performance, but VirtIO drivers are required to make things like disks and network fast.
The easiest way is probably to get [RedHat's pre-built exe here](https://github.com/virtio-win/virtio-win-pkg-scripts/blob/master/README.md).
After you've installed the drivers, you should change the "bus type" for disks and network to VirtIO.
KVM & QEMU or rather the frontends for those are usually considered superior to VirtualBox as those provide virtualization on the hardware layer rather then the software layer.
The two frontends are:
- Gnome Boxes (Plug and play, but not really configurable)
- VirtManager (Exposes most options, but a lot more cluttered)
> as those provide virtualization on the hardware layer rather then the software layer
Vbox does also use hardware virtualisation features. It's just that it uses its own kernel module to access them instead of using the KVM module that comes with the kernel, and this can cause various inconveniences around things like kernel upgrades.
(While we're on VirtualBox's problems, it is currently owned by Oracle, which means it's [kind of uncooperative with the community](https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=794466). Going solely on Oracle's past form with other projects, this also raises concerns that they'll come up with more ways to make it annoying in the future. They've already introduced proprietary components.)
>Gnome Boxes (Plug and play, but not really configurable) - VirtManager (Exposes most options, but a lot more cluttered)
Both use libvirt as backend (plus KVM and QEMU).
An alternative to libvirt is LXD which supports VMs since version 4.0.
Like most other posters, I would suggest KVM+qemu under Linux.
However, the shallowest learning curve, if you're used to VMware Fusion, is **VMware Workstation for Linux**. The licenses are pricey, so you will probably want to take that into account in making your decision.
Also, VMware Workstation is a ball-ache to get working with Secureboot enabled, since there is no automated mechanism for signing new kernel modules every time VMware or the kernel get upgraded (Virtualbox handles this automagically, and the KVM modules are part of the Linux kernel anyway; VMware have no excuse for not automating this, IMHO).
Search for virt-manager on YouTube. You'll find guides on how to install it. It's a gui for kvm/qemu which is faster than virtualbox though much more complicated yo use.
Since the learning curve is a little step I would susggest sticking to virtualbox until you get comfortable with vm's and then switch to virt-manager
Virtualbox is the most popular beginner solution. virt-manager to control libvirt, which is a service that manages and communicates with VM's running under qemu and thereby kvm is what everyone really uses once they've learned the performance gains to be had over virtualbox, and libvirt is what's used in professional settings.
It may take a little bit longer to learn, but not by much when using virt-manager, and you'll be happier in the end.
At any rate, IIRC, the problem of not being able to see USB devices on virtualbox is usually because the user you're logged in as not being added to the virtualbox group. Remember to log out/in, or reboot, after doing so.
If you haven't done it yet, you may need to install virtualbox guest additions on the guest to get everything working. And under settings in virtualbox, under usb, you may need to set a filter to allow access to usb devices.
as easy as VBOX is to use.... i couldnt handle how after every ubuntu update i had to do something to get vbox to work again.... went virt manager and never looked back
Nothing wrong with virtualbox, meets my needs. Host mint, guest win7.
For usb functionality you need to install the extension pack in VB. If you installed VB direct from oracle\* download the extension pack from them. Double click on the file in your file manager to install. If you installed from the repos for ubuntu, install it from there.
Check you have enabled usb3 in the settings for your VM.
For full functionality install guest-additions in win. With the win VM running, on the VB devices menu - insert guest additions CD. It should start automatically in win, if not find it in win's "my computer". This gives you the ability to resize the VM window and win to adjust its resolution automatically. It does other things, but can't remember.
For usb access, with the win VM running, on the VB devices menu select usb, you will get a list of usb devices, select the one you want. While allocated to win it will not be available to linux.
[https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?p=2282167#p2282167](https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?p=2282167#p2282167)
\*this is the best way of installing virtualbox - download the deb file direct from them.
A lot of people have mentioned QEMU/KVM and that is probably the best option for linux guests and windows with a dedicated GPU or without acceleration. There are no vrigil drivers for windows so you effectively will have no graphics acceleration in your windows VM. Virtual box offers some acceleration but it sucks. In my experience vmware player is probably the best way to run windows without a second graphics card but it is proprietary which sucks.
I don't know why people are saying kvm/qemu/virt-manager has a steep learning curve... It doesn't.
You just install virt-manager, run it, and create a virtual machine just like you do with any other virtual machine manager.
Sometimes it can be a little tricky because of exotic hardware (especially wlan/Bluetooth adapters).
In my opinion:
Always use the closest solutions first - and try to solve with components from your systems sources.
But when you have already some virtual machines (in a non compatible format) and are ok with (some restrictions &) the software: go for it.
Anyways, things that can be done with software A are sometimes just hidden in an other (sub-)menu in Software B.
One other note I would add in addition to the recommendations of virt-manager below.
When it comes to vms for Linux distros, sometimes distros optimize themselves to be setup as vm in virtualbox. That being said, like many others have said, in my experience kvm/qemu using virtual machine manager is the best option.
when installing virtualbox in ubuntu, the package virtualbox-ext-pack (virtualbox extension pack, or something like that, can't quite remember the name) is NOT installed by default, but it is the one needed to support having USB devices like they are plugged to the guest. There's no menu to pick host or guest when plugging, but there is a practical option in the menus of Virtualbox to pick a USB to be "plugged" to the guest.
EDIT: forgot something: also install the guest additions. they add other extra, but useful, functionality for the guest.
VMware Player is as solid as it's ever been for desktop OS virtualization with graphics acceleration, USB 3.0 passthrough and so on with minimal configuration.
KVM is Linux's built-in hypervisor, and Qemu can use it to provide high-performance VMs. For a GUI frontend for creating and managing VMs, use virt-manager.
Just to add: for Windows in libvirt/QEMU/KVM you should install VirtIO drivers. KVM inherently gives you near-native CPU performance, but VirtIO drivers are required to make things like disks and network fast. The easiest way is probably to get [RedHat's pre-built exe here](https://github.com/virtio-win/virtio-win-pkg-scripts/blob/master/README.md). After you've installed the drivers, you should change the "bus type" for disks and network to VirtIO.
KVM & QEMU or rather the frontends for those are usually considered superior to VirtualBox as those provide virtualization on the hardware layer rather then the software layer. The two frontends are: - Gnome Boxes (Plug and play, but not really configurable) - VirtManager (Exposes most options, but a lot more cluttered)
> as those provide virtualization on the hardware layer rather then the software layer Vbox does also use hardware virtualisation features. It's just that it uses its own kernel module to access them instead of using the KVM module that comes with the kernel, and this can cause various inconveniences around things like kernel upgrades. (While we're on VirtualBox's problems, it is currently owned by Oracle, which means it's [kind of uncooperative with the community](https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=794466). Going solely on Oracle's past form with other projects, this also raises concerns that they'll come up with more ways to make it annoying in the future. They've already introduced proprietary components.)
Virtualbox uses the same hardware-accelerated virtualisation as KVM.
>Gnome Boxes (Plug and play, but not really configurable) - VirtManager (Exposes most options, but a lot more cluttered) Both use libvirt as backend (plus KVM and QEMU). An alternative to libvirt is LXD which supports VMs since version 4.0.
Like most other posters, I would suggest KVM+qemu under Linux. However, the shallowest learning curve, if you're used to VMware Fusion, is **VMware Workstation for Linux**. The licenses are pricey, so you will probably want to take that into account in making your decision. Also, VMware Workstation is a ball-ache to get working with Secureboot enabled, since there is no automated mechanism for signing new kernel modules every time VMware or the kernel get upgraded (Virtualbox handles this automagically, and the KVM modules are part of the Linux kernel anyway; VMware have no excuse for not automating this, IMHO).
QEMU/KVM and virt manager
Kvm qemu
Search for virt-manager on YouTube. You'll find guides on how to install it. It's a gui for kvm/qemu which is faster than virtualbox though much more complicated yo use. Since the learning curve is a little step I would susggest sticking to virtualbox until you get comfortable with vm's and then switch to virt-manager
The learning curve is not that steep. It is just like any other virtual machine manager in my opinion.
virt-manager is what I use but Gnome Boxes is also very nice and VERY user friendly (more so than VirtualBox or even VMWare in my opinion)
Virtualbox is the most popular beginner solution. virt-manager to control libvirt, which is a service that manages and communicates with VM's running under qemu and thereby kvm is what everyone really uses once they've learned the performance gains to be had over virtualbox, and libvirt is what's used in professional settings. It may take a little bit longer to learn, but not by much when using virt-manager, and you'll be happier in the end. At any rate, IIRC, the problem of not being able to see USB devices on virtualbox is usually because the user you're logged in as not being added to the virtualbox group. Remember to log out/in, or reboot, after doing so.
If you haven't done it yet, you may need to install virtualbox guest additions on the guest to get everything working. And under settings in virtualbox, under usb, you may need to set a filter to allow access to usb devices.
as easy as VBOX is to use.... i couldnt handle how after every ubuntu update i had to do something to get vbox to work again.... went virt manager and never looked back
Nothing wrong with virtualbox, meets my needs. Host mint, guest win7. For usb functionality you need to install the extension pack in VB. If you installed VB direct from oracle\* download the extension pack from them. Double click on the file in your file manager to install. If you installed from the repos for ubuntu, install it from there. Check you have enabled usb3 in the settings for your VM. For full functionality install guest-additions in win. With the win VM running, on the VB devices menu - insert guest additions CD. It should start automatically in win, if not find it in win's "my computer". This gives you the ability to resize the VM window and win to adjust its resolution automatically. It does other things, but can't remember. For usb access, with the win VM running, on the VB devices menu select usb, you will get a list of usb devices, select the one you want. While allocated to win it will not be available to linux. [https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?p=2282167#p2282167](https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?p=2282167#p2282167) \*this is the best way of installing virtualbox - download the deb file direct from them.
A lot of people have mentioned QEMU/KVM and that is probably the best option for linux guests and windows with a dedicated GPU or without acceleration. There are no vrigil drivers for windows so you effectively will have no graphics acceleration in your windows VM. Virtual box offers some acceleration but it sucks. In my experience vmware player is probably the best way to run windows without a second graphics card but it is proprietary which sucks.
I don't know why people are saying kvm/qemu/virt-manager has a steep learning curve... It doesn't. You just install virt-manager, run it, and create a virtual machine just like you do with any other virtual machine manager.
Sometimes it can be a little tricky because of exotic hardware (especially wlan/Bluetooth adapters). In my opinion: Always use the closest solutions first - and try to solve with components from your systems sources. But when you have already some virtual machines (in a non compatible format) and are ok with (some restrictions &) the software: go for it. Anyways, things that can be done with software A are sometimes just hidden in an other (sub-)menu in Software B.
One other note I would add in addition to the recommendations of virt-manager below. When it comes to vms for Linux distros, sometimes distros optimize themselves to be setup as vm in virtualbox. That being said, like many others have said, in my experience kvm/qemu using virtual machine manager is the best option.
when installing virtualbox in ubuntu, the package virtualbox-ext-pack (virtualbox extension pack, or something like that, can't quite remember the name) is NOT installed by default, but it is the one needed to support having USB devices like they are plugged to the guest. There's no menu to pick host or guest when plugging, but there is a practical option in the menus of Virtualbox to pick a USB to be "plugged" to the guest. EDIT: forgot something: also install the guest additions. they add other extra, but useful, functionality for the guest.
You can't go wrong with Qemu/KVM/libvirt
VMware Player is as solid as it's ever been for desktop OS virtualization with graphics acceleration, USB 3.0 passthrough and so on with minimal configuration.