Linux as a virtual machine on Windows

[Derek Broughton]

Nils Kassube wrote:

> Derek Broughton wrote:
>> Ken McLennan wrote:
>> > G'day there Mario & Bruce,
>> >
>> >> You can use Virtualbox, some of whose editions are free. I would
>> >> guess that the official user manuals are a good place to look:
>> >> http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads
>> >
>> >     Just be aware that the free version, titled OSE, can't access USB
>> > ports. You need a paid version for that.
>>
>> bzzt.  Sorry, but no.  You need a non-Free version for that.  It is,
>> nevertheless, free-as-in-beer.
> 
> Well, for commercial use you do need a paid version. The "free-as-in-beer"
> version you are talking about comes with the PUEL. From
> <http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/VirtualBox_PUEL>:

Actually, not afaict.  I was investigating installing vbox on a server last week, where I wasn't sure exactly what the licensing should be (non-commercial site for a non-profit organization), and Sun's site (http://www.sun.com/software/products/virtualbox/perspectives.jsp) says it's free, and if you click on either the VirtualBox or VB - Open Source Edition, you get the same download link.   They have paid licenses for support, but it sure looks like anybody can use the full vbox server if they don't want support.  If that's not actually true, blame Sun for being so confusing :-)
-- 
derek