Install Virtual Box on Android

[calel0722]

Hi

Today, is very common to buy powerful hardware with Android OS

I have a tablet with Android and would like to install VirtualBox on it to use it in the same way as in the PC, I wonder if anyone knows how I can do this, because checking the download site and there is no Android version.

thanks

[stefan.becker]

VBOX runs only on x86 Host and start only x86 guests.

Android is not a platform for virtualization.

In other words: You cant win a formula one race with a bobby car.

[mpack]

Moved to "Suggestions" forum.

Android is not currently a supported host OS, even if the CPU was correct (x86). I own an Android tablet, and I've created an Android x86 guest, but I don't see the point in ever supporting Android as host since the hardware is just too different, emulating a desktop Windows system just wouldn't be practical.

[humpf]

Moved to "Suggestions" forum.

Android is not currently a supported host OS, even if the CPU was correct (x86). I own an Android tablet, and I've created an Android x86 guest, but I don't see the point in ever supporting Android as host since the hardware is just too different, emulating a desktop Windows system just wouldn't be practical.

hi

appart from the fact that any tablet or even smartphone has the ability to use keyboard and/or mouse (with different technologies available so hardware will not be a limit) i would be very glad to use a virtual machine hosted in my tablet : i understand that this is not planned for today, but i bet this will come some day. I have to take my laptop with me to run a one single app (wich runs in a ms-windowz guest on my laptop linux host), wich is a pity knowing that hardware so called limitation will not be an obstacle for using this app on my tablet... (app wich will probably never be ported to android...)

ok, i know there is one solution, wich would be to install linux on that tablet... why make it simple when more complicated looks so smart...


humpf !!

[mpack]

i understand that this is not planned for today

It isn't a matter of planning, it's a matter of it being impossible. Most Android tablets run on ARM processors, which means they can't run x86 code. That rules VBox out since VirtualBox is not a CPU emulator: it can only run x86 code when hosted by an x86 processor.

[ShadowFalls]

There are examples such as the Dell Venue 8. It is powered by an Intel Atom x86 processor. So it is certainly potential there for it. Also it includes 2 gigs of RAM to work with, at least decent for the simpler ones. There is even more potential in the future. Intel is moving to flood the market with Atom based Android tablets and phones. Could even get some support from them on this as well, as it would only benefit them to have another selling point for their Android market.

[mpack]

Wonderful. When that speculative market becomes a profitable reality, no doubt the devs will take a greater interest.

[Tudor]

This may depend heavily upon which kernel you're running on your Android device, but it may be possible to run Qemu on Android, in theory. Google "Windows 95 on a Raspberry Pi".

[mpack]

Within reason, it is possible to simulate one CPU in any other CPU system. Performance will of course be terrible - thousands of times slower than the real thing. Such systems can be useful for debugging, but not much else. And a reminder that you won't be doing this with VBox, which is not a CPU simulator.

[Kalmi]

There is a reason for VirtualBox on Android: the Intel Atom tablets.
Intel x86 Android device still has many disadvantages, mainly compatibility problems with native arm (NKD) apps. But x86 Android devices have an advantage: Windows can operate on them virtualized and not only emulated. However sadly there is no any virtualization app for Android (as host).
An 10" Android tablet with Intel Atom would be perfect tiny Windows netbook too with a bluetooth keyboard.

[kirmak]

Hi! I would like to put my coin into the topic
I have ASUS Zenfone 5 with x86 ATOM and 2Gb RAM and it would be very interesting to run some VM on it. Even just for fun.

[mpack]

If wishes were fishes... I'm afraid that your fun is probably not sufficient motivation for the devs. They would no doubt want to know how much you'd be willing to pay?

[michaln]

Just to state the obvious: Oracle will be interested in supporting VirtualBox on x86 tablets if and when there's a market for it. A million people wishing to run VirtualBox on a tablet and prepared to spend $0 each do not constitute a market.

If there's a company interested in licensing VirtualBox for use in such environment, please do let us know.

[mswal2846]

I would like to comment:

1) It's a shame that Virtualbox is being "held back" by the law of supply/demand (i.e., greed) ...it didn't start out that way
2) I find it hard to believe that Virtualbox is yielding a sizable profit for Oracle, so all these comments in the forum on this topic are ridiculous
3) I agree with many of the people on this forum that android devices are quickly, if not already, plenty powerful enough to replace the x86 PC's
4) Android is an offshoot of Linux (yea, yea, I know not the same) so seems not a huge stretch .... I do get the CPU requirement

So to the originator of this thread: Bravo on thinking out of the box

Mark

[mpack]

i find it amusing that you refer to the relationship between supply and demand as a physical law, and then suggest that only greedy people follow the law, or indeed that there's a choice. And incidentally, it was always that way, and the question of Android replacing desktop PCs hasn't even been discussed here: which is good as it would be completely irrelevant and off topic.

If you really feel that commercial reality has no place in open source then I propose that you quit your job or other career, and work on this software feature full time (don't know how: learn!), and then donate your efforts to the VirtualBox project. Then perhaps you might earn some respect for your position.

Pending that, the only purpose of this thread seems to be to give voice to those who clearly have no understanding of even the most basic issues. Hence pointless to the rest of us. Locking it.