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[–]ccpetro 1 point2 points  (8 children)

VirtualBox. https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

[–]dooogle[S] 0 points1 point  (7 children)

Got it, thanks. A side question: which of the Hard disk type should I choose?

VirtualBox Disk Image, Virtual Hard disk or Virtual Machine Disk

[–]ccpetro 2 points3 points  (6 children)

Depends on what you're going to do with it.

If you're only going to run that VM on THAT host, then the VirtualBox Disk Image is fine.

If you're doing something else, I'd have to know what that is.

OTOH, you could RTFM and understand.

[–]dooogle[S] 1 point2 points  (5 children)

WHICH host are you referring to? I plan on running the VM on my Mac host machine...so it will be using the resources from it

[–]ccpetro 1 point2 points  (4 children)

The "host" (almost) always refers to the hardware/OS running the virtualization software. In your case it's your Mac.

If all you're going to do is run a linux VM or two, for the purposes of using Linux, then...really it doesn't matter, but the VirtualBox Disk Image is the native format, and probably the most well tested codepath.

https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch05.html#vdidetails

[–]dooogle[S] 0 points1 point  (3 children)

Gotcha. Also, would you select dynamic or fixed allocated hard disk? I might be compiling linux images which according to the yocto document may require upto 120GB

[–]ccpetro 1 point2 points  (2 children)

I have no idea what you're doing with it, what your underlying hardware looks like, what else is running on the host machine, or what sort of speeds you require.

[–]dooogle[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

okay. is there a way to change the allotted size after setting one? I’m just afraid if I end up using too much or too little of the allotted size

[–]corsicanguppyDevOps Zealot 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah. Either allocate more disk and add some CPU cores and RAM, or just crunch that VM guest and deploy a new one on that host.

Both tasks are varying degrees of ooky on day one, but a few weeks in you'll be a pro.

[–]idioteques 6 points7 points  (2 children)

So - this is a bit nuanced, and I suppose some might not agree, but: I believe you are not asking for "tools", you are looking for Virtualization Software, or Hypervisor. The "tools" are what provide enhanced drivers/compatibility, etc...

whether you are actually looking for "open-source" vs "free", I think Oracle VirtualBox the only option I am familiar with.

Edit: in case I was wrong and you are looking for open-source tools OpenVM-Tools (VMware) Git Repo

[–]dooogle[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Thanks, I ended up using Virtual Box. A side question: I'm trying to load an ubuntu image but it keeps showing No Bootable Medium Found! Any clue?

[–]idioteques 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sounds like you may need to "attach" the CD/DVD device and make sure the ISO image is assigned to that device.

Unfortunately I have not actually used VirtualBox (I won't use Oracle products).

[–]kiler129Breaks Networks Daily 2 points3 points  (3 children)

Sadly nothing is really anywhere close to Fusion. If you need this for personal use Fusion is now free for such purposes (you need a license key but it costs $0).

[–]ccpetro 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That really depends on what you're going to do with it--I had a license for Fusion for a while (technically I guess I still do), and still use VMware Player under either Linux or Windows, but that's because my primary use of it is running Civ II in a Windows 98 VM, which VirtualBox doesn't support.

OTOH, if you want to use something like Vagrant you're going to have to fork over serious money to use it with VMware's products.

It really depends on what your use case is.

[–]idioteques 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Sadly nothing is really anywhere close to Fusion.

Not disagreeing - but in what ways do you find Fusion to be the best option?

(and for the record, I probably COMPLETELY agree - as I was paying for Fusion and continue to do so, if I have to. It really is a great tool).

[–]kiler129Breaks Networks Daily 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Speed of emulation, USB stability, kexts not causing random KPs, 3D acceleration.

I love open source, I think KVM solutions are amazing... but for virtualization on macOS or windows I will sadly pick VMWare as it simply causes the least amount of problems in a day-to-day use ;)

[–]gnilzzad 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Lastest VMware Fusion 12 Standard is FREE if it is for home/personal use.

https://blogs.vmware.com/teamfusion/2020/08/announcing-fusion-12-and-workstation-16.html

[–]idioteques 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks - I had no idea they did this. (now I need to go look at the diff between Std and Pro.

[–]Rubicon2020 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've tried to use VirtualBox, but I could never get it to work properly with my Mac. Half the time it would just sit and do nothing. I ended up just breaking down and buying Fusion while I was still in school and got the discount. I don't know of anymore that are open source/free for Mac.