VirtualBox 7.1.0 BETA 2 is now available for download, featuring a modernised user interface with options for both basic and experienced users. This major update brings enhanced OCI integration, enabling users to clone and reset cloud VMs and view resource usage directly from the performance dashboard.
Other notable improvements include Wayland support for clipboard sharing on Linux, initial support for file transfers via shared clipboard, and significant performance enhancements for screen recording. The update also introduces a new NAT engine with IPv6 support and enables Arm virtualisation on macOS/Arm hosts.
Let's explore the key highlights of VirtualBox 7.1.0 BETA 2 version.
Table of Contents
Modernized GUI for Enhanced User Experience
The VirtualBox GUI has undergone a significant revamp, offering a choice between Basic and Experienced modes.
The Basic Mode is intended for a users who are not interested in advanced functionality and prefer a simpler, cleaner interface. And the Expert Mode is intended for experienced users who wish to utilize all VirtualBox functionality.
Users can select their preferred mode, and this choice can be modified later in either the Global Preferences or Machine Settings windows.
This allows users to tailor the interface to their needs, simplifying access to essential features or providing comprehensive control over advanced settings.
Accessibility improvements further enhance the user experience across the board.
VirtualBox has also upgraded to a newer version of Qt, contributing to a more modern look and feel.
Boosting Performance and Functionality
Enhanced Screen Recording:
Users can now enjoy significantly improved performance with screen recording, thanks to optimizations in the encoding pipeline. This translates to reduced CPU usage during active recording sessions, ensuring smoother operation.
Note that this feature requires the installation of 7.1 Guest Additions on Windows guests.
Improved NAT Engine with IPv6 Support:
VirtualBox 7.1.0 BETA2 introduces a new NAT engine with comprehensive IPv6 support, enabling more versatile and modern networking configurations.
Seamless OCI Integration
The latest update deepens VirtualBox's integration with Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI). Users can now monitor resource usage of their cloud VMs directly from the performance dashboard.
Managing cloud instances is now even easier with the added capabilities to clone and reset compute instances directly from VirtualBox.
Expanded Platform Support and Feature Enhancements
- Arm Virtualization on macOS/Arm Hosts: This release unlocks the power of Arm virtualization on macOS/Arm hosts, enabling the creation and management of Arm-based Linux and BSD virtual machines.
- Wayland Support for Enhanced Clipboard Sharing: Linux users will appreciate the added support for Wayland, enabling seamless clipboard sharing between the host and guest operating systems.
- File Transfer via Shared Clipboard: VirtualBox 7.1.0 BETA2 introduces initial support for transferring files between the host and guest using the shared clipboard functionality. While currently available for Linux and Windows hosts/guests, it's important to note that this feature requires the 7.1 Guest Additions and comes with certain limitations.
Enhanced Security and Installation Options
- Automatic TLS Configuration for Enhanced Security: VirtualBox now automatically enables TLS with self-signed certificates if the user hasn't configured custom certificates. The system will also automatically issue new certificates before the expiration of old ones, ensuring continuous secure communication.
- Improved Unattended Installation: The update simplifies the installation process, particularly for modern Linux distributions, by adding support for subiquity- and cloud-init-based installers.
- Users now have the flexibility to specify separate passwords for user and admin/root accounts during unattended installations, enhancing security and control.
Additional Improvements and Bug Fixes
Beyond the major highlights, VirtualBox 7.1.0 BETA2 addresses numerous bugs and incorporates various improvements.
The release includes a critical fix for EFLAGS.TF handling during CPUID instructions when Hyper-V is active, improving compatibility and stability.
Networking stability gets a boost with follow-up fixes addressing issues encountered with FreeBSD 12.3 and pfSense 2.6.0.
Managing EFI-based virtual machines is now easier with the added ability to incorporate new Microsoft DB/KEX certificates during VM creation.
The Oracle Extension Pack sees a crucial fix for shipping the cryptographic support module, enabling full VM encryption functionality.
For developers, the Python API bindings for Python 2.x are now deprecated and will be removed in future releases. An upgrade to Python 3 is strongly recommended for continued compatibility.
This release also features significant enhancements to VBoxManage, the command-line interface for managing VirtualBox:
- Users can now monitor the progress of VM video recordings and re-attach to ongoing recordings when needed.
- A new "mount" sub-command within Guest Control enables users to query a guest's mount points, providing greater visibility into the guest file system (requires 7.1 Guest Additions).
Download VirtualBox 7.1.0 BETA 2
VirtualBox 7.1.0_BETA2 is a major update. You can download the latest VirtualBox 7.1.0 Beta 2 version from following link:
This page hosts the 7.1.0 BETA 2 version for RPM and DEB-based systems. It also has VirtualBox additions and extensions.
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