Version 2.2 introduces support for new formats, as well as a number of other updates.

Sun Microsystems, yesterday announced the details of the latest version of its free VirtualBox software. The company says that version 2.2 introduces support for new formats, as well as a number of other updates.

The company also states that the open-source software now includes support for the Open Virtualization Format designed to make virtual machines and appliances easy to import or export. It avers that this will help users to build virtual machines or appliances before 'exporting' them from the development stage into a production environment.

''We continue to see great momentum for VirtualBox through huge adoption numbers, as well as the speed and frequency of technology releases,'' said Jim McHugh, Vice President of datacentre software marketing at Sun.

''VirtualBox has always been a fantastic tool for developers to create multiple virtual machines, network them together and deploy them using nearly any operating system.''

''Now, with the new import and export features of the VirtualBox 2.2 release, users can quickly and easily put their development environments into production on the desktop, the server or even in the cloud.''