Articles, Reports & Tips

Part 1: The easy way – An Introduction to Virtual Linux

Most of my machines run two versions of Windows and two versions of Linux. This is one of two methods I have found to keep both operating systems smoothly separate, yet happy together. In Part 2 (should be out in a week or less), we will talk about another method you can use to install Linux / Unix directly to your hard drive and get the same results.

There is a link to an image page in this post to give you some visual references.

There are some Windows and Linux users who passionately hate one system and love the other.

There are also those of us who realize the strengths of each OS and use them to our advantage. Unix and Linux has a rich and deep history that boggles the mind if you ever take time to research it. And since Windows XP SP 2 came along, instability is no longer an issue. Most people who talk about Windows XP being unstable have under powered machines and wouldn’t know OS or hardware maintenance from a hole in the ground.

Over the next couple of weeks we will cover two methods of running Linux on your Windows PC without disturbing the master boot record (MBR). The first is the easiest and the second involves a bit more work. Both have unique advantages and disadvantages.

When we are finished with the second method - Part 2 (should be out in a week or so), you will be able to install Linux on your hard drive, boot Windows normally, and boot Linux by inserting a floppy with a simple boot loader (no not GRUB - way to much work), which will then turn the process over to GRUB (a Linux boot loader). Your Linux OS will boot and you will be up and running. Your Windows boot loader will remain untouched.

Part 1 – Method One – Virtual Linux

This option involves running Linux virtually from within your Windows environment. For this to happen you will need virtual machine software. Some options are given below under Resources. The VM solution you choose will depend on your own needs. Mainly the supported host and guest operating systems.

When you run a guest OS virtually your host OS hard drive an expandable or fixed size file is created. This file is your virtual hard drive.

Click here to see more virtual Linux Images.
(opens new window)

Installing the guest OS is simple, because the only hard drive the installation is aware of is the virtual drive your VM software has created. You simply let Linux go with its default partitioning scheme, or, choose your own if you wish and get on with the installation.

Resources

http://www.parallels.com

VMware Solutions - VMware Server, VMware Player, VMware Workstation
http://www.vmware.com

VirtualBox - I have found this software to be the best for Linux hosts.
http://www.virtualbox.org

Linux Distributions: http://distrowatch.com

As always, your questions and comments are welcome.

Tim Valentine
Access Website Design
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This entry was posted on Thursday, July 5th, 2007 at 3:09 pm and is filed under Software.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.