Which OS to use for host OS?

[dodgebros]

I am new to Virtualbox. I plan to run Windows 7 Pro 32bit and 64bit, and Windows 10 Pro 32bit and 64bit as guest operating systems. I want to know which host operating system would give the least issues, Windows 7 64bit or Linux 64bit?

Thanks,
TD

[socratis]

Choose the OS that you're most familiar with troubleshooting.

[dodgebros]

Are there known issues when using Linux as host OS and Windows as guest OS? If so, what are they?

[scottgus1]

You can look in the Hosts forums for each OS to see what usually happens.

For Windows hosts, the usual troubles are running Virtualbox on a heavily modified OS and having security issues with unsigned DLL's, due to 3rd-party software like theme hackers, or bunged Windows updates. A clean install with software that doesn't say it's unsigned when you install it should be OK. The usual suspects can usually be identified by posting a new thread with the error message when Virtualbox throws an error, along with whatever log the error says to look at.

Windows 10 has also enforced update reboots and tweaks are required to keep a 10 host from rebooting and ungracefully power-downing guests without notice. (10's "After Hours" isn't enough.) If you run Windows, use the Professional or higher version, so you can use the Group Policy Editor to do such things as make said tweaks, and shut off your Start Menu Shutdown & Reboot & Log Off options, especially on a host that needs to stay running and where more than you have access. Use the "shutdown.exe" command from the command line, Run... box, or a batch script that tests for running guests before shutting down. (Shutdown, Reboot & Log Off will also power-down guests ungracefully.)

As for Linux, beats me. I know it exists, and that's about all I know.

[Perryg]

Are there known issues when using Linux as host OS and Windows as guest OS? If so, what are they?

Linux as host has proven over time to be the best for VirtualBox IMHO and has fewer errors/issues. Only thing that you must watch out for is the actual install. If you use the repo fork you will have a lot of issues so use the official build from virtualbox.org. That said until or unless you are familiar with Linux you might have issues, but none are so bad that you should consider it to be a show stopper. Also stick with Debian builds like Ubuntu, Mint, or rpm builds like Fedora. Some of the other distros have build in issues that cause more problems then they are worth. Also KDE is not compatible with VirtualBox so steer clear of that DT.

As for issues with Windows guests they are about the same on any host. Just make sure you have enough processor power and ram to do the extra work. When running a virtual guest it requires just as much resources as the host because you are actually running two PCs on a single computer.

[dodgebros]

Thanks for helping folks. I'm going to try Oracle's Linux 64 bit as host OS and see what happens.

TD