- Topics Mentioned
- Operating System(s):
- Linux
The decision to make the switch to a new operating system is a difficult one, compounded most often by uncertainty. Particularly with respect to Linux, there may be lingering questions about whether or not drivers will exist for your hardware, or if applications will run as expected.
But before you take the plunge and wipe your hard drive clean, there are other options to consider. For one, you can burn the image to a CD, DVD, or USB drive and then run the operating system from there. And another option is to install Linux in what’s called a virtual machine or VM, using virtualization software.
What is a Virtual Machine?
And what exactly is a virtual machine? A virtual machine is a software implementation of a computer system. And it’s virtual, so while it does run in a physical partition of your hard disk, it does not interfere with the primary operating system. The primary operating system is known as the host, and the virtual machine you install is called the guest. You can install as many virtual machines as you’d like, your only limitation is your system resources.
There are two primary software leaders in the virtualization space: VirtualBox and VMware. VirtualBox was developed by Sun Microsystems and is today supported by Oracle. It is free and open source software, available for download at their website. VirtualBox is available for just about every operating system.
If you’re interested in learning mroe about VirtualBox, take a look at my how-to article on Installing Sun VirtualBox and Windows 7 in Ubuntu 9.
Install Fedora Linux in VMware Workstation
In this video, however, we will focus on the VMware product, the VMware Workstation. We will begin with an overview of virtualization software. From there, we will cover the type of file you need in order to install Linux in a virtual machine. Then we will walk through the process of installing Fedora Linux in as a new VM.
For more information and full documentation, visit the VMware website. And be sure to join me for future videos as we continue our journey into the wonderful world of Linux.
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