OS for Virtualbox only?

[luca-vercelli]

I would like to set up a machine containing 2-3 virtual machines. The host OS should be very small, as it will never be used. I'm thinking to something like VMWare ESX,
which of course work with vmware and not with virtualbox.
Is it possible? What would you suggest to me?
Thank you.

[Biite]

HI,

For VirtualBox you always need a host OS, as it is a type-2 or hosted hypervisor (Hypervisor on top of a host OS on top of hardware)
If you want to use VirtualBox then just chose the smallest supported host OS that VirtualBox will support.

e.g. ESX is a type-1 or bare-metal hypervisor (Hypervisor on top of hardware)
So it does not need a host OS.

It al depends on the host-hardware you have if ESX(i) is supported on that.

Martien

[luca-vercelli]

You have been very clear. Thank you.

[scottgus1]

One thing to consider with the host OS is that the command line will get used a lot when you get heavily into running virtual machines. Which OS family's command language are you most familiar with? Use that family for your host.