If you’re running it on a MacBook, the MacBook is the host. If you are running VirtualBox on a Windows Desktop, the Windows machine is the host. Host refers to the physical machine that is running the hypervisor.

The virtual machine image is the operating system, the hypervisor is the digital equivalent of a physical computer.Ī hypervisor tells the virtual machine how much RAM and disk space it can borrow from your physical computer, handles the networking end, and allows communication with peripherals connected to the physical machine, such as keyboard, mouse, USB drives, and external network adapters. Three terms you will need to know are “hypervisor,” “host,” and “guest.”Ī hypervisor is a program that allows you to run a virtual machine. This new system (called a virtual machine) will respond to commands, run its own software, and access the internet as if it were its own physical machine. Simply put, you are creating a nearly fully functioning computer within your current computer. To understand what VirtualBox is, you need to understand virtualization. Virtualization allows an operating system to operate within a contained environment on top of your existing operating system.

Frequently Asked Questions What Is VirtualBox?.

Why Run Kali in a Virtual Machine and Not as My Main OS?.

Kali linux image for virtualbox