The Oracle VM VirtualBox software is powerful virtualization software originally developed by Innotek but currently developed by Oracle Corporation. This is a cross-platform software which means that it can run on Windows, MAC, Linux and other operating systems wherein it includes features such as 64-bit guests, snapshots, clipboards, special drivers, public API, raw hard disk access, support for Microsoft VHD, SMP support, 2D video acceleration and a lot more. It also provides modularity for users so that controlling it from various interfaces can be done easily. It also features an XML virtual machine descriptions and this allows all virtual machine settings to be stored in XML rather than being dependent on local machines. This makes it easy for porting virtual machine definitions to other computers. The Oracle VM VirtualBox also features virtual USB controllers. This is the feature that allows users to connect USB devices to virtual machines without installing device specific drivers. While the shared folders feature of this machine makes data exchange between guests and hosts easier.
VMware Player is a virtualization-software package that operates its own virtual machines as well as other existing virtual devices. However, it requires specific operating systems for this software to work. Features of this product are similar as VMware Workstation, which include virtualization core. It is compatible with Windows 7, Windows XP and Windows Vista with quicker and more effective performance, more reliable graphics and updated integration. This is used for both personal and commercial use. Later versions of Player have the function to copy a virtual machine through the copy of a directory, and that copy can be stored or reverted. Although there are some tools from Workstation that are not included on the Player, this program supplied with Workstation distribution, for installations in case a user does not have the license to use a full version of VMware Workstation. In addition, there is a distribution of a virtual machine developed by Workstation installed on computers once this Player is downloaded on the same devices.
VMware vCenter Converter is a machine converter software that converts a virtual machine to a physical machine or vice versa. Also called as Physical-to-Virtual or P2V converter, this program comes in Standalone and Enterprise versions, but with the same, common features such as the conversion of physical machines to virtual machines or virtual machines to physical machines, and the running of automated configuration tasks on VMware ESX or ESXi servers. Physical machines refer to Microsoft Windows and Linux based computers. In addition to physical machines conversion, this program also converts third party image formats to virtual machines of VMware. It is easy to convert machines as its user interface has wizard included. Moreover, this software can convert multiple machines all at once with a centralized management console included. It also minimizes the number of steps to conversion using its wizards. VMware vCenter Converter is simply regarded as the combination of two products of VMware which are Importer and P2V Assistant.