Oracle has released VirtualBox version 7.2.6 as a maintenance update to address various issues and add new features. The update fixes problems with virtual machines under certain conditions, particularly those running Windows, and resolves critical errors such as Guru Meditation errors on Windows systems. Performance concerns have also been addressed, including high CPU usage during NAT operations. Additionally, the update includes UI tweaks, feature additions for open-source users, and other internal improvements to enhance overall functionality.

VirtualBox 7.2.6 released

Oracle's VirtualBox has just received a maintenance update to version 7.2.6, addressing various issues and adding some new features to the virtualization platform.

People were apparently running into trouble with their virtual machines under certain conditions, especially those running Windows inside the VM. The main thing here appears to be fixes for issues in the Virtual Machine Monitor core component itself (VMM). There's a specific nasty bug mentioned where Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 guests would crash during boot-up; that one seems addressed now.

If you're on Windows and started getting these cryptic Guru Meditation errors when launching VMs, this update is probably good news for you. The release tackles those kinds of critical errors head-on.

Also, VirtualBox has apparently spent some time looking at performance concerns too. There were reports about high CPU usage popping up during NAT operations; that seems to be sorted out now as well.

Now let's talk UI tweaks and other internal changes. Full-screen mode on systems with multiple monitors might work a bit better after this update. And the view of VMs in the Resource Manager tab has apparently been improved for clarity. There was also an issue where certain storage controller options weren't showing up correctly; that seems fixed too.

Digging deeper, parts like DevACPI have gotten attention too. This component handles ACPI stuff and now includes a new way to configure specific OEM settings via AcpiOemTabId.

Another interesting shift is that some core VirtualBox features are now available in the main open-source package instead of just being part of what's bundled with the proprietary Oracle version. So, things like the VRDP server (VirtualBox Remote Desktop Protocol), USB smartcard support, and VM encryption should be more widely accessible if you use the standard build.

Beyond that, it looks like they've also tightened up other details. The drag-and-drop filename checks are fixed, which might prevent some oddities there. vboxautostart-service has been given a tune-up for smoother handling during Linux boots as well. And Guest Additions users should be glad; issues with installation on Windows XP 64-bit guests and crashes related to low memory in the guest OS itself have been resolved.

In short, this feels like a solid maintenance release from Oracle hitting the ground floor. It's tackling reported problems across different host systems (especially Windows) and guests, smoothing out operations internally, including some specific feature bumps for open-source fans wanting more control right away.

You can download the new release from here.