On Windows or Linux?

[inlineskater]

Is it better to install a virtual system on Windows or Linux? Or is it just a matter of choice? Is there better security over windows in a virtual environment in Linux or the other way around.

[mpack]

Is this a troll? Yours is not a VirtualBox question, it's a invitation to debate operating system tastes. Not here you don't!

[inlineskater]

The question is a not a debate. Do you have an answer? I'm asking what would be more ideal for security.

[MasterKGB]

think the aswer should be: take what you like as a host

The Security is what your guest is doing cause its a system on its own.
There is only a connection to the host if you use shared folders. havent heard that a security leak is in the copy/past module.
I use both as a host and share the vm's on booth system, for me there is no difference related to vm Linux or windows (ok mostly depending my own setup)
The same VM runs on booth systems the same, network is NAT so no connection to the host
Yes on the windows VMs I've installed Antivirus software.

See it like you have two different PCs and you have to manage booth of them

[BillG]

I agree. I can't think of any security matters in the host OS which would make running VirtualBox (or the vms running under it) any more or less secure. It's a bit like asking whether to run Word on Windows or Mac OS. VirtualBox is just an applcation program. Security in the vm depends on its network settings and on what security is built into the guest OS.

[marco]

Well, I think inlineskater's questions (I saw at least two of them) fully deserve to be called "VirtualBox questions", as they both ask for some advice, also from a technical point of view, about getting the most from the use of the program.

If someone plans to use virtualization "intensively", by installing all application software in one or more VMs and using the host OS just as an underlying environment, there is nothing wrong or OT, in a forum called "Using VirtualBox", in asking other users for advice about the possibly best environment to choose, in terms of performance, security, stability and so on.

We know that VBox runs on Windows XP or 7, Linux and others, 32 or 64bit; that does not mean however, especially in the eyes of those who are not software engineers, that it can' t... feel more comfortable or be more efficient in an environment rather than in another.

[mpack]

Debating the validity of a question is not a great improvement over debating operating system prejudices.

But if you really want answers...

Q. Which OS is better? A. The one you find best according to your own tastes. Q. Which OS is more secure? A. Equal, if you don't use networking, otherwise it's whichever OS is least targetted today - but the answer might be different tomorrow.

[marco]

As I tried to explain, apparently without success, it is not necessarily a matter of prejudice.
Unless we want to consider as a prejudice the idea that between an OS and the other there are objective technical differences which can make an OS more or less suitable than another for a certain type of use.

Besides, I still don't understand why users of this particular forum shouldn't be totally free of discussing any kind of matter they like about the use of VBox. After all, nobody is obliged to take part in a discussion.

[mpack]

These are moderated forums, discussion must be on topic. Period. In the case of the present forum the correct topic is problems installing and running the VirtualBox software itself. This is not the place to discuss host or guest OSs, nor is it a soapbox for general philisophical witterings.

[marco]

...In the case of the present forum the correct topic is problems installing and running the VirtualBox software itself...

This seems to be your own personal interpretation.
While the Board Index, under the name of the present forum, shows:

This is for discussing general topics about how to use VirtualBox.

A definition with which the present topic is fully compatible, in my opinion.
As I repeat, I don't understand why users of this forum shouldn't be totally free of discussing any kind of matter they like about the use of VBox.
If this is actually forbidden, then the administrators should make it very clear, for example editing the board index's descriptions. Otherwise users should be able to discuss without receiving any scolding or mocking comments.

Besides, if someone doesn't like what he considers as other people's philisophical witterings, he can simply avoid posting.

[mpack]

This is for discussing general topics about how to use VirtualBox.

Yes, that's correct. It's for a discussion of using VirtualBox - not for discussing the use of other software, such as particular host or guest or guest operating systems. If the latter subjects were on topic here then we wouldn't have created additional forums for those subjects.

Besides, if someone doesn't like what he considers as other people's philisophical witterings, he can simply avoid posting.

I'm a volunteer here, I consider it part of my job to intervene when a discussion wanders off topic. So, please: enough already!

[marco]

...I'm a volunteer here...

So, just to make it finally clear once for good:
Are you in charge as an administrator here?
Has your word to be considered as a law here?
Yes or no?

[mpack]

As I already said, and as my profile in any case shows to anybody who can read English, I'm a volunteer here. As such, no - my word is not law here, I can only offer guidance as to the rules, I can't enforce them. In the case of any real dispute I would need to involve moderators or sysadmin. I had better ask formally: are you refusing to accept guidance from volunteers on this site?

FYI, I turned down an offer to become a moderator here.

[marco]

...are you refusing to accept guidance from volunteers on this site?...

No, I'm not. I'm not, also, saying anything about your being a volunteer and about your commitment as such, which obviously deserves to be respected and also admired and thanked for.

I'm just refusing your personal "bossy" way of dealing with discussions and questions and people which in your opinion deserve to be treated with scolding or mocking attitude (soapbox, wittering, troll, prejudice and so on), while they are NOT actually breaking any forum rules, as in this case, where the issue actually concerns the use of VirtualBox and where, maybe even more important from a moderator's point of view, nobody (nearly) has been using offensive or rude or bantering language.

Without your intervention, this discussion would have already sold out long ago: someone quietly asked for an opinion on the best possible choice of an OS on which to install VBox, others have quietly provided their opinions.
Why such a dialog should deserve to be condemned (or even made fun of) remains beyond my understanding.

It is not my intention to break any rules. I know very well that every forum has it's own rules (whatever they are), freely decided by the forum's owners; an user can accept and abide them or, alternatively, he has to stay away. That's why I was and still am asking for an official "judgment" by an actual owner/administrator: if questions and answers like those in this thread are officially illegal and despised in this forum I'll obviously take note of that for the future and behave accordingly, albeit with some bitterness.

[louarnold]

I sure hope this thread isn't typical of the other forums. I was about to ask the same question as the OP.