Windows 7 x64 – free virtual machine host applications running headless

virtual-machinesvirtualboxvirtualizationwindows 7

Given a machine configured with :

Are there any free, non-time-sensitive virtual machine hosts that can host either 32 or 64 bit guest machines?

The candidates:

  • VMWare Server (doesn't work well with 64 bit Windows 7… some driver signing problems that I don't want to muck around with)

  • VMWare Workstation (is time limited at 30 days)

  • Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 ?

  • Sun VirtualBox – work perfectly with the conditions given! VirtualBox's only problem is that it's DIFFICULT to have it run headless. The problem is that VirtualBox requires you to "Start" each system, which brings up a new window. Closing that window will Suspend or Close that VM.

The goal is to host a wide array of guest machines; Windows, OSX (longshot), and *nix.

Question: any way to have Sun VirtualBox run headless in an official supported manner?

Best Answer

I assume you've read through the official VirtualBox documentation on setting up headless systems, right?

http://www.virtualbox.org/manual/UserManual.html#vboxheadless

Did those instructions not work for you? They specifically mention 2 different ways to start a headless VM. Have you asked on the VirtualBox forums?

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