How to Use VirtualBox with Genymotion

VirtualBox and Genymotion are two popular tools used for emulating Android devices. While they can be used independently, combining them can provide a more comprehensive testing environment. In this article, we will explore how to use VirtualBox with Genymotion.

To start, you need to set up your VirtualBox installation. You can do this by going to the VirtualBox website and downloading the latest version for your operating system. Once downloaded, run the installer and follow the prompts to complete the installation.

Next, you need to set up your Genymotion installation. Download the Genymotion emulator from the official website and run the setup program. Follow the prompts to install the emulator, choosing English as the language and selecting the option to run while installing.

Once both VirtualBox and Genymotion are installed, you can start setting up your virtual device. To do this, launch Genymotion and select 'Run' from the main menu. This will bring up a list of available devices, including the VirtualBox-based device.

To bind the virtual device to your host machine's local port, use the `adb reverse` command. For example, if you have a service running on your host machine that listens to localhost:1234, you can use the command `adb reverse tcp:1234 tcp:1234`.

Alternatively, you can also use the IP address 10.0.3.2 from the virtual device to reach your local host. This is because 10.0.3.2 is a VirtualBox alias to your host loopback interface (i.e., 127.0.0.1 on your host machine). For example, if you run a service on your host machine that listens to localhost:1234, it can be accessed from the virtual device using the IP address 10.0.3.2:1234.

If the application you are developing needs to connect to a local server or service, such as a REST service, you may need your virtual device to access your local host. In this case, you can use the methods described above to bind the virtual device to your host machine's local port.

Note that these methods only apply if Genymotion Desktop and your server/service run on the same host machine. If you are using a remote server or service, you will need to configure your emulator accordingly.

By following these steps, you can successfully use VirtualBox with Genymotion to create a comprehensive testing environment for your Android applications.

How to use virtualbox with genymotion