VOGONS


First post, by valnar

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Changelog

Changelog for version 2.1.0

VirtualBox 2.1.0 (released 2008-12-17)

This version is a major update. The following major new features were added:

* Support for hardware virtualization (VT-x and AMD-V) on Mac OS X hosts
* Support for 64-bit guests on 32-bit host operating systems (experimental; see user manual, chapter 1.6, 64-bit guests, page 16)
* Added support for Intel Nehalem virtualization enhancements (EPT and VPID; see user manual, chapter 1.2, Software vs. hardware virtualization (VT-x and AMD-V), page 10))
* Experimental 3D acceleration via OpenGL (see user manual, chapter 4.8, Hardware 3D acceleration (OpenGL), page 66)
* Experimental LsiLogic and BusLogic SCSI controllers (see user manual, chapter 5.1, Hard disk controllers: IDE, SATA (AHCI), SCSI, page 70)
* Full VMDK/VHD support including snapshots (see user manual, chapter 5.2, Disk image files (VDI, VMDK, VHD), page 72)
* New NAT engine with significantly better performance, reliability and ICMP echo (ping) support (bugs #1046, #2438, #2223, #1247)
* New Host Interface Networking implementations for Windows and Linux hosts with easier setup (replaces TUN/TAP on Linux and manual bridging on Windows)

In addition, the following items were fixed and/or added:

* VMM: significant performance improvements for VT-x (real mode execution)
* VMM: support for hardware breakpoints (VT-x and AMD-V only; bug #477)
* VMM: VGA performance improvements for VT-x and AMD-V
* VMM: Solaris and OpenSolaris guest performance improvements for AMD-V (Barcelona family CPUs only)
* VMM: fixed guru meditation while running the Dr. Web virus scanner (software virtualization only; bug #1439)
* VMM: deactivate VT-x and AMD-V when the host machine goes into suspend mode; reactivate when the host machine resumes (Windows, Mac OS X & Linux hosts; bug #1660)
* VMM: fixed guest hangs when restoring VT-x or AMD-V saved states/snapshots
* VMM: fixed guru meditation when executing a one byte debug instruction (VT-x only; bug #2617)
* VMM: fixed guru meditation for PAE guests on non-PAE hosts (VT-x)
* VMM: disallow mixing of software and hardware virtualization execution in general (bug #2404)
* VMM: fixed black screen when booting OS/2 1.x (AMD-V only)
* GUI: pause running VMs when the host machine goes into suspend mode (Windows & Mac OS X hosts)
* GUI: resume previously paused VMs when the host machine resumes after suspend (Windows & Mac OS X hosts)
* GUI: save the state of running or paused VMs when the host machine’s battery reaches critical level (Windows hosts)
* GUI: properly restore the position of the selector window when running on the compiz window manager
* GUI: properly restore the VM in seamless mode (2.0 regression)
* GUI: warn user about non optimal memory settings
* GUI: structure operating system list according to family and version for improved usability
* GUI: predefined settings for QNX guests
* IDE: improved ATAPI passthrough support
* Networking: added support for up to 8 Ethernet adapters per VM
* Networking: fixed issue where a VM could lose connectivity after a reboot
* iSCSI: allow snapshot/diff creation using local VDI file
* iSCSI: improved interoperability with iSCSI targets
* Graphics: fixed handling of a guest video memory which is not a power of two (bug #2724)
* VBoxManage: fixed bug which prevented setting up the serial port for direct device access.
* VBoxManage: added support for VMDK and VHD image creation
* VBoxManage: added support for image conversion (VDI/VMDK/VHD/RAW)
* Solaris hosts: added IPv6 support between host and guest when using host interface networking
* Mac OS X hosts: added ACPI host power status reporting
* API: redesigned storage model with better generalization
* API: allow attaching a hard disk to more than one VM at a time
* API: added methods to return network configuration information of the host system
* Shared Folders: performance and stability fixes for Windows guests (Microsoft Office Applications)

Reply 1 of 13, by DosFreak

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

* Experimental 3D acceleration via OpenGL (see user manual, chapter 4.8, Hardware 3D acceleration (OpenGL), page 66)

Swwweeeet

How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
Make your games work offline

Reply 2 of 13, by DosFreak

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

Seems to be working pretty well:
http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?t= … ighlight=opengl
http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?t=12279&start=0

Sigh. Yet another virtualization program I' might have to add to my list.

So far I'm using Qemu\Vmware for all games except for 1 game which only works with VPC.

How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
Make your games work offline

Reply 3 of 13, by DOS_Boy

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

It works very well indeed. I just think VB is very bad dealing with image files.

"But listen to me brother, you just keep on walking, 'cause you and me and sister ain't got nothing to hide..." - Scatman John

Reply 4 of 13, by valnar

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

I judge a VM product by how well it handles DOS, simply because it's just more low-level and closer to the "hardware".

In that respect, VirtualBox fails miserably. And even for Windows, except for this OpenGL support, it doesn't do as well as VMWare or VirtualPC.

But it is getting better, especially networking now. 😎

Reply 5 of 13, by DOS_Boy

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

Oh, btw, i gave up trying to install Windows 95 on Virtual PC 2007 SP1. After installation process is concluded, I get a protection error. As for Virtual Box, it runs fine, but the mouse gets stuck every time, really annoying.

"But listen to me brother, you just keep on walking, 'cause you and me and sister ain't got nothing to hide..." - Scatman John

Reply 6 of 13, by Harekiet

User metadata
Rank DOSBox Author
Rank
DOSBox Author

Just tried installing win98 on virtualbox, took ages, like the harddisk support is very slow and vpc guest additions are way better for the older windows versions.

Reply 7 of 13, by temptingthelure

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

Hi, i just registered to know more about this virtualbox. So does this new 3d acceleration work in windows guests? I read that it only worked in linux guest under linux or windows hosts, which is useless to me, since i want to be able to run linux virtually on it with 3d. And also probably older windows like 98SE, but as the above poster said, it takes ages to install. And it has some error that makes win98se eat up 100% CPU activity.

Rise of the Triad modding site!
http://rott.s4.bizhat.com

Reply 9 of 13, by temptingthelure

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

thanks valnar! Ah ok, so it's better to wait until they make virtualbox better then? Do you know of another virtualizer that works better? Vmware costs, and VPC isnt very good. I tried parallels for windows, but it's light years behind its mac counterpart, and i couldnt get Xen server to work. 🙁

Rise of the Triad modding site!
http://rott.s4.bizhat.com

Reply 11 of 13, by valnar

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

I have no problems with VMWare Workstation or Virtual PC. For all Windows guests it works fine. For Linux, I have some problems (depending on the distro) in each one. For DOS and Windows 3.1, both work fine, although VPC is better because the S3 drivers are available for Win3.1.

Of course, it depends on what you use it for. For serious "business", I would only use VMWare. For playing around, both are fine. The fact VPC does not have USB doesn't concern me. I have yet to find a USB device that I need to run from within a virtual, aside from key dongles.

But I digress.... If you want a Linux guest with 3D, I don't know of any virtual product that does so.

Anyone?

Reply 12 of 13, by temptingthelure

User metadata
Rank Member
Rank
Member

Ah ok, damn, what about a windows guest specifically win98se with 3D? Ive read that win98 runs slow in qemu, and in virtualbox has many problems. Seems like win98se is the most difficult system to install virtually.

Rise of the Triad modding site!
http://rott.s4.bizhat.com

Reply 13 of 13, by DosFreak

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

The only way to get 3D with a 9x guest is to use software emulation such as the program Swiftshader.

For the best 9x support use either VPC or Vmware in that order.

How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
Make your games work offline