Linux kernel 6.6 might not be out yet (it’s due in the next few weeks) but that’s not stopped Oracle adding initial support for it in the latest release of VirtualBox.

VirtualBox shouldn’t need much of an introduction, of course. It’s one of the best-known pieces of open-source virtualisation software around – helped by the fact it supports all three major desktop operating systems as both host and guest.

Issued today, VirtualBox 7.0.12 is a maintenance release that brings a boatload of bug fixes to bear, plus a few interesting bits of enablement (such as the aforementioned kernel prep), including better support for Linux distros using Linux kernel 6.4 and 6.5.

There’s also a greater range of Linux OS subtypes available within the app, which is a nice bonus for those regularly testing out different distros.

Other notable changes:

  • Kick start file support for Oracle Linux 8 & 9
  • Fixes for “field-spanning write” kernel warnings on Linux hosts/guests
  • Fixed detection of VT-x being used by other hypervisors
  • RHEL 8.9 and 9.3 kernel buffs
  • Improvements to Intel Split Lock Detection on Linux hosts
  • Nested hardware virtualization setting once again shown in VM details panel
  • PCI device identifiers & VLAN support for VirtIO network interface fixed
  • TPM save state loading issues resolved
  • macOS networking memory leaks plugged
  • General improvements to VRDP & “list usbfilters” command
  • Restored support for ISA SCSI HBAs in the BIOS

You can install an older version of VirtualBox from the Ubuntu repos but for the latest and greatest release you’ll need to mosey on over to the official website and download a Deb installer from the Linux downloads page (the LTS builds may run on interim releases, ymmv).