# Anbox

Anbox (short for “Android in a Box”) is a free and open-source compatibility layer that allows Android applications to run on Linux distributions by using containerization techniques. Originally introduced by Canonical, Anbox executes Android applications in a lightweight system container, isolated from the host system for security and efficiency.
Anbox was officially released on April 11, 2017, and rapidly gained attention as a bridge between the mobile Android ecosystem and desktop Linux environments.
Anbox was deprecated on February 3, 2023 as it is no longer being actively maintained, as development has shifted to Waydroid (formerly called Anbox-Halium)..
Canonical's active development focus shifted to Anbox Cloud, a platform for running Android applications in a cloud environment. Anbox Cloud is a closed-source, enterprise-focused version of the original Anbox, maintained by Canonical, offering extended features, better scalability, and support via Ubuntu Pro.

## How Anbox works

Anbox executes the Android runtime environment by using LXC (Linux Containers), recreating the directory structure of Android as a mountable loop image, while using native Linux kernel to execute applications. It makes use of Linux namespaces through LXC for isolation. Applications do not have any direct hardware access, all accesses are sent through the Anbox daemon. This ensures that Android apps can run on Linux without the need for emulation, offering improved performance compared to traditional methods like Android emulators.

## How Anbox Cloud differs from Anbox

As the original Anbox project has been discontinued, Anbox Cloud has emerged as Canonical's fully supported, enterprise-ready solution for running Android in the cloud. Anbox Cloud is specifically designed to run Android at scale, securely, and independent of hardware requirements. Canonical provides 24/7 Anbox Cloud support through Ubuntu Pro, guidance for custom LXD image builds, knowledge transfer for setting up image infrastructure, and assistance with large-scale Android cloud deployments.
Anbox Cloud supports deployment across all major cloud platforms, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and private or hybrid cloud environments.

## Key features of Anbox Cloud

* High Instance Density: Run numerous Android instances on a single machine, maximizing the use of cloud infrastructure.
* Elastic Scaling: Scale up or down dynamically depending on the workload, with support for automated operations.
* Full Automation: Easily deploy and manage large-scale Android environments, with minimal manual intervention.
* Low Latency Streaming: Optimized for ultra-low latency streaming, making it ideal for cloud gaming, mobile application use, or other latency-sensitive tasks.
* Cross-Platform Support: Run on both Arm and x86 servers, with GPU acceleration for enhanced graphics performance, particularly in gaming and media streaming.

## Use cases for Anbox Cloud

* Cloud Gaming: Anbox Cloud allows for GPU acceleration, ensuring low-latency, high-frame-rate experiences across platforms, delivering high-performance mobile games to users on any device.
* Mobile Application Testing: Automate testing workflows by running virtual Android instances on the cloud. Anbox Cloud provides full sensor integration and supports integration into CI/CD pipelines for continuous testing.
* Automotive Development: Anbox Cloud includes support for AAOS (Android Automotive OS) and VHAL (Vehicle Hardware Abstraction Layer), making it an ideal platform for developing and testing in-vehicle infotainment systems. Custom AAOS images can be easily deployed and tested in the cloud.