Is OSE just an Un-Updated version of Virtual Box?

[jiewmeng]

I wonder if OSE is simply an un-updated version of Virtual Box? I don't suppose so? But when I run apt-cache show virtualbox-ose in Ubuntu I get

Code: Select all

Version: 4.0.4-dfsg-1ubuntu4

Which leads me to think, if is outdated, why not update it?

[Perryg]

Your Distro decides what they want to include & support. If you want the latest and greatest you can get it from https://VirtualBox.org

[jiewmeng]

Then just wondering why wont VirtualBox create a ppa that can be added using something like `add-apt-repository ppa:virtualbox/ppa` instead of downloading keys manually (I know its easy enough). But isit ppa a more convenient way to do things?

[Perryg]

You can add VirtualBox to you apt list.
Read the entire page at https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Linux_Downloads

[Sasquatch]

And a PPA depends on Launchpad. Something Oracle does not like. Hence they made their own debian repository, because with that, they can't just serve Ubuntu users, but Debian as well, and RPM based distro's, all on the same server. That is something that isn't easily possible with Launchpad.

[Technologov]

VBox OSE also has VNC server stuff. (that Oracle build lacks)

[Sasquatch]

That is just a configure switch that one can enable. Oracle build their version without it to avoid conflicts when one installs the ExtPack which provides VRDP.