JFYI: VirtualBox stable/unstable setteings (3.0.51.r22902), 20091225 updated

My report is not strict comprehensive, but it's useful and helpful
for everyone who wants to use VirtualBox on FreeBSD.

   Revision:
     20091223 - first posts
     20091225 - updates including some results of powerd(8) investigation

   Tested environment:
     host os: FreeBSD 9-current amd64 (among 12/2009)
     virtualbox: virtualbox-3.0.51.r22902_3
     cpu: Intel Core2 Quad Q9550
     mem: 8GB
     video: GeForce 9800 GT


   Kernel settings issues:
     - Vimage lets FreeBSD freeze within VirtualBox bridge
       networking.

       [workaround 1] disable Vimage, you could use bridge feature
       [workaround 2] disable bridge feature, you could use Vimage

   Driver issues (*2):
     - Within certain combination of M/B and NVIDIA graphic
       board, NVIDIA driver (x11/nvidia-driver: nvidia-driver-195.22)
       and powerd(8) lead FreeBSD freeze non-reproducibly.

       [workaround 1] use nv instead of nvidia driver
       [workaround 2] stop powerd(8), you could use nvidia driver

       relative url:
         http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=142331
 
http://groups.google.com/group/mailing.freebsd.current/browse_thread/thread/9b7a85504e6b4ba3

   VirtualBox settings:
     -------------------------------------------------------------
     |                         | effects on the host os stability|
     -------------------------------------------------------------
     | ACPI                    | NO                              |
     | IO APIC                 | NO                              |
     | PAE/NX                  | (not checked)                   |
     | Core numbers            | YES (*2)                        |
     | VT-x/AMD-V              | NO                              |
     | nested paging           | (not checked)                   |
     | 3D acceleration         | (not checked)                   |
     | IDE controller type     | NO                              |
     | Additional controller   | NO                              |
     | CD/DVD drive host       | NO                              |
     | CD/DVD drive image file | NO                              |
     | FDD drive host          | (not checked)                   |
     | FDD drive image file    | (not checked)                   |
     | Audio                   | (not checked)                   |
     | Network adapter type    | NO                              |
     | Network NAT             | NO                              |
     | Network bridge          | NO                              |
     | Network inner network   | (not checked)                   |
     | Network host only       | (not checked)                   |
     | Serial port             | (not checked)                   |
     | share folder            | (not checked)                   |
     | Guest OS sort           | NO                              |
     -------------------------------------------------------------

   Hardware health:
     - Weakened PC power unit or less-power power unit leads PC
       very unstable condition. If you encounter non-reproducible
       error or panic, you should better to check your PC power unit.

     - Unstable memory leads FreeBSD system panic and fatal trap.
       If you encounter "segmentaion fault", "panic" or "fatal trap"
       error, shutdown system and check your PC memory health with
       memtest86+. (Ubuntu install CD has memtest86+ feature.
       Using Ubuntu as memetest86+ checker is reasonable way).
       If you have luck, updating BIOS and set DRAM settings for
       stable resolves this issue.

     - Hard Disk should be health. Check your disk status by
       smartmontools (sysutils/smartmontools).


   [Recap points]
     - Check your PC health first, especially for Power unit,
       memory and Hard disk.
     - Remove Vimage if you want to use bridge networking feature
       of VirtualBox.
     - If you want to use nvidia-driver, stop powerd(8) daemon.
       If you want to use powerd(8) daemon, then use nv instead of
       nvidia driver.


Notes:
(*1) relative url:
    http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=142331
 
http://groups.google.com/group/mailing.freebsd.current/browse_thread/thread/9b7a85504e6b4ba3

(*2) Multicore attached virtual environment easily and frequently
      lets FreeBSD freeze.

-- 
Daichi GOTO
CEO | ONGS Inc.
81-42-316-7945 | daichi_at_ongs.co.jp | http://www.ongs.co.jp
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/daichigoto