Boxes – A Simple Virtualization Tool

Utilities & Operating Systems
January 21, 2025
0
339
5 minutes read

Boxes is a free, open-source program for quickly and easily creating and running virtual machines. It is available for various Linux distributions.

Features of Boxes

Boxes is based on the GNOME desktop environment. The goal of this tool is to simplify the process of creating, running, and managing virtual machines.

Boxes features a minimalist design. On the main screen, users can easily launch existing virtual machines or create new ones. It offers a limited number of options, particularly for advanced configurations.

To create a new virtual machine, the user simply needs to select the appropriate ISO file. Many operating systems are already pre-configured within this tool. Boxes automatically detects the operating system and suggests optimal parameters, such as the number of CPU cores, the required amount of memory, and disk size.

Boxes utilizes the libvirt library and the QEMU emulator for virtualization. Libvirt provides an abstraction layer for managing virtual machines, while QEMU handles hardware emulation. This allows Boxes to support a wide range of operating systems and hardware configurations. Remote servers can be accessed using the VNC and SPICE protocols.

This virtualization tool does not require significant hardware resources. However, it is essential to note that performance also depends on the characteristics of the operating system being virtualized. When needed, Boxes can use hardware acceleration for virtual machines.

It is possible to create snapshots of virtual machines, allowing users to revert to a previous state in case of errors or experiments with settings. Folders can also be shared between the host and guest systems, enabling easy file manipulation through drag-and-drop functionality.

Use Cases for Boxes

There are several virtualization tools available, with VirtualBox and VMware being among the most popular. Boxes was introduced in 2013. as part of the GNOME project. It is well-integrated with other GNOME tools, providing the best user experience for those who use the GNOME environment.

Boxes is a reliable tool for creating and managing virtual machines. As a free, open-source program, it incurs no additional costs, and its development process is transparent. Boxes is included in the repositories of many Linux distributions, making it best to install it from there.

The fact that it is not available for other operating systems, such as Windows or macOS, is undoubtedly the most significant drawback of this virtualization tool. Its advanced capabilities are limited compared to competitors, making it unsuitable for complex virtualization scenarios.

The primary purpose of this program is to test operating systems and their associated applications. It is often used in education and software development. Due to its ease of use, this virtualization tool is suitable for beginners, but system administrators can also use it to maintain remote servers. If you want to test a new operating system before installation, Boxes is an excellent choice.

Platform:
Linux