21 replies to this topic

[pscEx]

As already reported here VirtualBox is much faster than qEmu.

For my tests I made a script which you can download here




Peter

[Brito]

Great work Peter!

Do we need to install virtual box to run this script?

[TheHive]

Thanks!

The first screenshot says you need to have virtual box installed.

I was hoping for a self contained version like qemu. Maybe some can come along and manage to make the open source one be self contained and then we can use it.

[Brito]

Oops..

Thank you!!

[MedEvil]

I was hoping for a self contained version like qemu. Maybe some can come along and manage to make the open source one be self contained and then we can use it.

Being completely self contained, was always the biggest plus point of qEmu. Unfortunately, that's also what makes him so much slower than the other virtual machines.
I suspect virtualbox to be just as slow as qEmu, when remodeled to be self contained.

[Alexei]

Being completely self contained, was always the biggest plus point of qEmu. Unfortunately, that's also what makes him so much slower than the other virtual machines.
I suspect virtualbox to be just as slow as qEmu, when remodeled to be self contained.

I disagree.
- QEMU is slower because it's "pure" emulator, though with accelerator it allows some code to execute natively.
- In "self contained" form QEMU doesn't have networking.
- Virtualbox switches to "emulation mode" only when necessary (that's why it's faster).

I believe, it's possible to make Virtualbox "self contained" (i.e. portable):
- You can use MSI2XML utility to extract all files from MSI
- I don't know how virtualbox handles networking issues, but net drivers can be installed dynamically anyway


Alexei

[MedEvil]

- In "self contained" form QEMU doesn't have networking.

Yes it does. Try DamnSmallLinux, to see how perfect it can work.

[Alexei]

... how perfect it can work.

Maybe it can in some very special conditions, such as DamnSmallLinux as a host
However, QENU (by itself) does not provide any networking support on Windows host. It requires TAP. TAP has to be installed, i.e. it's not "self contained", meaning QEMU+TAP is not "self contained"
I could be wrong though, as my info may be outdated.
BTW, I couldn't make TAP to work for me and nobody could tell me exact settings to make it work (all advises were like "you can try this and that").

Alexei

[MedEvil]

Maybe it can in some very special conditions, such as DamnSmallLinux as a host

I ment the DSL embedded package and XP as host OS! Smartass!
What is that TAP thing your talking about? The DSL embedded package worked for me right out of the box. I was very impressed by that.

[winintern]

Hi,
just tested this feature with the actual VirtualBox 1.3.8 - that doesn't work, WinBuilder doesn't find/like it. Your really have to install version 1.3.2 from within WinBuilder.
If VirtualBox is started, it doesn't find ISOs on fileservers like \\server\path\VistaPE.ISO. You have to store them locally.

But if it works... very nice feature .


Michael

[pscEx]

Hi,
just tested this feature with the actual VirtualBox 1.3.8 - that doesn't work, WinBuilder doesn't find/like it. Your really have to install version 1.3.2 from within WinBuilder.
If VirtualBox is started, it doesn't find ISOs on fileservers like \\server\path\VistaPE.ISO. You have to store them locally.

But if it works... very nice feature .


Michael

I fixed the version issue some time ago.
Please download the latest script version from the nativeEx server (psc.boot-land.net/Projects)

Peter

[pscEx]

I did upload a new version

• Includes download address of VBox 1.5.4
• Adds VBox and / or VMWare HDD to the PE

Download VirtualBox.script version 11 from the nativeEx server (barebone) using WinBuilder Download Tab or directly.

Peter

[pscEx]

There is VirtualBox version 1.6.0 published.

I added the download link to VirtualBox.Script.
Because the install directory is now at a different registry key than before, I added radiobuttons to the GUI where you must define your version 1.4.x / 1.5.x or 1.6.x.

The script is available at the nativeEx server.

Peter

EDIT: Changed script for VirtualBox version 2.2.2

[pscEx]

Version 25 of VirtualBox.Script is available.

It is able to handle VirtualBox version 3.0.6.

The script can also be used in Win7RescuePE.

A small disadvantage: The process levels of nativeEx world and Win7RescuePE are different.

Therefore the level has to be changed.

Peter

[pscEx]

Now version 30 is available (link in the first post)

Some network issues in Win7RescuePE are fixed.

Peter

[pscEx]

New version 037 online.

Changed:
Underlying program 'VBoxManWrap.exe' is modified. As a result:

• Spaces in path names in script do not need to be enclosed in quotes (made troubles in Vista x64)
• XML file handling not necessary (everything can be made by now corrected VBoxManager commands)
• Added: Optional debug log
• Added: Optionally VirtualBox can be started serially.
• Added: Sound card (from Lancelot's version)
• Ethernet support now works in all modes
• Hdd support fixed

Tested successfully with nativeEx barebone and nativeEx Win7 (see the underscore in project name replaced by space!) in hosts:

• XP Professional x86 DE
• Vista Ultimate x64 DE
• Windows7 Professional x86 ENU

Tested also successfully with LiveXP under host XP Professional x86 DE

Peter

[niche99]

Latest version 0.38 fails to launch VirtualBox 3.1.6.<br /><br />I would attach a log but can't seem to find the upload button any more!<br /><br />Regards,<br />niche99

[pscEx]

Sorry that it took some time until my answer. I have been rather busy with WB 081 beta 1.

For me VB 3.1.6 is buggy. I found issues with network bridging (also to be found in the VB forum).

I decided to go back to 3.1.4, and uploaded script version 39 warning about VB 3.1.6 issues.

Peter

[niche99]

Thanks Peter,

I'll probably just manually start the ISO and keep 3.1.6 for the moment.

Regards,
niche99

[tekgnosis]

For the benefit of anyone searching:

Windows 7 x64 Enterprise.
VirtualBox 3.2.6

Error:
VirtualBox - Guru Meditation
A critical error has ocurred.... blah blah blah

This appears during chainload of NTLDR after probing total sectors=###

Fix:

Turn off VT-x. For some reason grldr hates it in this version of VBox.

[Do-TurnoffVT-x/AMD-v]
ShellExecute,Hide,%VBExe%,"modifyvm %BoxName% --hwvirtex off"

-
P.S. LiveXp project, as downloaded in WinBuilder80, includes only version 33 of VirtualBox script, so I had to figure out to add: RegRead,HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Oracle\VirtualBox","InstallDir",%VBPath%

The fact any of this works at all is, literally, majick as compared to what was possible a few years ago.

THANKS for all the hard work, it makes my job 100% easier every day.

[pscEx]

If you have a look here: http://www.boot-land...?...st&p=102403:

I recommend to use VirtualBox 3.1.x!
All 3.2.x I tested until now, have some issues, and I reinstalled 3.1.8

P.S. LiveXp project, as downloaded in WinBuilder80, includes only version 33 of VirtualBox script, so I had to figure out to add: RegRead,HKLM,"SOFTWARE\Oracle\VirtualBox","InstallDir",%VBPath%

in nativeEx there is version 43, already containing new registry check for version 3.2.x

Peter

[Lancelot]

Hi tekgnosis,

thanks for the info, script at livexp server updated, i hope will work for you.

See you around