What is a virtual machine?

A virtual machine (VM) is a software implementation of a computer that runs on another computer. This way, allowing multiple operating systems to run on the same physical machine. It provides a virtualized environment for running applications, which are isolated from the host operating system and other VMs.

How a virtual machine works?

A virtual machine works by using a hypervisor, also known as a virtual machine monitor, to virtualize the underlying hardware of a physical computer. The hypervisor creates virtual devices and emulates their behavior. This way, it can to provide a virtual environment for the operating system and applications running within the VM. The VM communicates with the hypervisor, which in turn communicates with the physical hardware. So it allows the VM to access physical resources such as CPU, memory, and storage. This allows multiple VMs to run on the same physical machine. Also, each one with its own operating system and applications, without interfering with each other.

What are the advantages of using a virtual machine?

Some advantages of using a virtual machine include:

• Isolation: VMs provide a layer of isolation between the host operating system and applications. Therefore, reducing the risk of contamination or system instability.
• Cost-effectiveness: VMs can be a cost-effective solution for running multiple operating systems and applications on the same physical machine. This way reducing the need for multiple physical computers.
• Portability: VMs can be easily moved between physical machines, making it easier to migrate to new hardware or to recover from a failure.
• Compatibility: VMs can run older or incompatible applications, allowing them to continue to be used even on newer hardware or operating systems.
• Test environment: VMs are available to create a safe and controlled environment for testing new software or configurations without affecting the host operating system

Disadvantages of working with virtual machines

Some disadvantages of working with virtual machines include:

• Performance: VMs can have lower performance compared to running directly on physical hardware, as they must share the physical resources of the host machine.
• Resource utilization: Running multiple VMs on a single physical machine can consume a large amount of resources. Especially memory and storage.
• Complexity: Virtualization can introduce additional complexity to an IT environment, requiring specialized knowledge and skills to manage and maintain the virtual infrastructure.
• Licensing costs: Some virtualization platforms and operating systems have additional licensing costs that can add to the overall cost of implementing virtualization.
• Security: VMs can be vulnerable to security threats just like physical computers. Therefore, additional security measures may be required to secure the virtual environment.

What are the requirements for Windows to run virtual machines?

The requirements for Windows to run virtual machines are:

• A 64-bit processor with Second Level Address Translation (SLAT)
• At least 4 GB of RAM
• At least 64 GB of free hard disk space
• Hyper-V and Containers Windows features enabled
• Windows 10/11 Pro or Enterprise (64-bit) version 1909 or later
• A GPU with WDDM 2.0 driver for GPU acceleration (optional)

What is Hyper V, the virtualization module for windows?

Hyper-V is a native hypervisor from Microsoft that provides virtualization technology for creating and running virtual machines on Windows operating systems. It allows multiple operating systems to run on a single physical machine. In the same way, providing isolation and security for each virtual machine and enabling efficient utilization of hardware resources. With Hyper-V, users can create and manage virtual machines. Also configuring virtual switches, storage, and network interfaces, and monitor virtual machine performance and resource usage. It is available as a feature in Windows 10/11 Pro and Enterprise editions.

What are the most used virtualization software?

The most widely used virtualization software are:

• VMware vSphere
• Microsoft Hyper-V
• Citrix XenServer
• Oracle VirtualBox
• Red Hat Virtualization (RHV)
• Proxmox Virtual Environment
• KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine)
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)
• Google Compute Engine
• Alibaba Cloud Elastic Compute Service (ECS)

They are certainly the most popular. However, we will highlight those most commonly used in Windows environment. Previously, we talked about Hyper V. Therefore, we will start with Virtual Box.

Oracle Virtual Box

VirtualBox is a free and open-source virtualization software for x86 and AMD64/Intel64-based computers. It allows users to run multiple operating systems on a single physical machine. Also, each one in its own virtual environment. Moreover, providing isolation and security for each virtual machine. VirtualBox provides a user-friendly interface for creating, configuring and managing virtual machines.

In addition, including support for storage and network interfaces, and can be used for a wide range of purposes including software development, testing, and personal use. It can run on various host operating systems including Windows, macOS, Linux, and Solaris, and supports a wide range of guest operating systems including Windows, Linux, and BSD distributions.

VMware vSphere

VMware vSphere is a comprehensive enterprise-class virtualization platform. It provides a centralized management solution for virtual infrastructure. Moreover, it is used for creating, deploying and managing virtual machines, networks, and storage resources. With vSphere, IT organizations can pool and allocate shared resources to virtual machines and application. With this in mind, enabling efficient utilization of hardware resources, high availability, and disaster recovery.

vSphere includes features such as live migration of virtual machines, storage and network resource management, and multi-hypervisor support, as well as a robust security model and a powerful API for integration with other management tools. It is widely used in data centers and cloud environments for virtualizing business-critical applications, and is available as a standalone product or as part of the VMware Cloud Foundation, a unified SDDC platform for deploying and managing a hybrid cloud.

Very well, in this way we have seen what Virtual Machines are. We also check what are the advantages and disadvantages of using them. We also learned how they work. Furthermore, we saw which are the most used ones, plus what you need to run them on Windows.

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Some features of Windows Server 2022

• SMB Direct protocol over RMDA networks supports AES-256 encryption
• SMB 3.1.1 protocol adds enhanced security and performance capabilities
• AES-256-GCM and AES-256-CCM cryptographic suites are supported for all SMB encryption-related issues
• It is possible to copy files to SMB using compression with the Robocopy, compress, and Xcopy/compress commands.
• In this edition, the SMB Direct protocol over RMDA networks supports AES-256 encryption.
• Native management with Windows Admin Center
• AFS Tiering support preview function has been added. Therefore, it will help SMS with data migration tasks to a server configured with Azure File Sync.

Prerequisites

As mentioned, Windows Server 2022 is still in the testing phase. Consequently, it is possible to access it through the insider program. With this in mind, go to this link.

Please note that you need to register for the Windows Insider program. Don’t worry, it’s a simple and free process. You just need a Microsoft account. On the other hand, these versions are not yet stable enough to be used in a production environment. Therefore, it is advisable to use a virtualization program. In this opportunity VMware Workstation Player.

Installing Windows Server 2022 on VMware.

Creating the new virtual machine.

VMware is a very intuitive and easy to use program. Check out our tutorial. The first thing you have to do is click on Create a new virtual machine.

A wizard will be displayed immediately. Consequently, you must click on the ISO option. Next, browse to select the image.

As mentioned, it is necessary to locate the Windows Server 2022 ISO.

When you are ready, press Next.

In the next window, you have to set the operating system type. Accordingly, select Microsoft Windows Server.

Next, assign a name to the virtual machine. Also, set the location of it.

At this point, it is necessary to assign a virtual hard disk size.

Finally, the wizard provides a summary of the installation. In any case, you can customize the configuration:

Once there, you can customize several aspects. For example, the RAM memory allocated to the system.

If you are sure, press Finish to create the new virtual machine.

Running Windows Server 2022 virtual machine.

From the application menu, click on Play virtual machine.

Please press a key to boot from the ISO. Then the system installation will start.

In the next screen you set the installation parameters. I.e. language, time format and input method.

Then press Install to start the process.

Next, you need to enter a code to activate Windows Server. However, you can skip this step. It is possible to activate the system at a later time.

Next, select the version to install. It is recommended to choose a version with graphical environment.

Then, please accept the license terms.

Now please select the Windows installation option.

At this point, you must select the hard disk where you will install the system.

Finally, the installation will start. Therefore, you must wait while the necessary files are loaded. In addition, the services also start to be configured:

After a few moments, the wizard will prompt you to create an administrator password.

Now, enter the newly created password.

After a few seconds, we will see Windows Server 2022 correctly installed.

All right, we have finally seen how to install Windows Server 2022 on VMware. In subsequent installments we will see more tutorials on this operating system. See you later!

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Using CloudReady to install Chrome OS.

Before we go any further, I would like to make some considerations. First, Chrome OS is a proprietary commercial operating system. For that reason, it is designed to be installed on specific hardware manufactured by Google’s partners. Consequently, it is not easy to have a copy of Chrome OS as such. However, Chromium OS is an open source project. Furthermore, it can be freely compiled from its source code.

On the other hand, there are many options to run this version. However, the most user-friendly option is provided by CloudReady. This project provides ISO images to run Chromium OS on a computer. But in addition, they already have an OVA ready to virtualize on VMware Player. This way we can enjoy an experience almost identical to Chrome OS. Because Chromium OS is the foundation of that system. Also, since it is already compiled, the installation is very simple.

VMware Workstation Player is a great platform to install Chrome OS on a virtual machine.

We have previously talked about VMware Workstation Player. This free software is used to virtualize operating systems. In fact, in osradar we already teach you how to download and use it. However, today we will use a different method. That is, we will not load an ISO to start running the operating system. Instead, we will use an OVA. Which is a virtual device used by VMware. In addition, this file contains all the files needed to virtualize the operating system. For this reason, the procedure for booting the system is a little different, as we will see later. In the first place, you must download the OVA from this link. Then start VMware Workstation Player and click on the Player menu. Then select File and then Open.

Then select the previously downloaded OVA.

A window will be displayed immediately. Once there, please assign the name for the virtual machine. Also, edit the storage address. After assigning the parameters, please start the import process.

Please wait a few moments while the import process begins.

Next, VMware is ready to start loading Chromium OS.

Editing some elements of the virtual machine.

As mentioned, VMware is now ready to run the virtual machine. However, it is necessary to check some elements so that it runs smoothly. With this in mind, click on Edit Virtual Machine Settings:

The first thing you have to do is verify the configuration of the network adapter. This is very important, since it allows the connection to the Internet. Please note that Chromium OS is cloud-based, so connectivity is essential. Consequently, the network connection must be bridged.

Another aspect to consider is adding a sound card. This way it is possible to play audio from the virtual machine.

Running Chromium OS for the first time

To load the system for the first time, just click on Play Machine. The system will immediately run. On the welcome page, click on Let’s go.

Then check the internet connection.

The wizard then asks for the data collection. You can enable it or not.

Please note that this is a system developed by Google and based on Chrome. For this reason it is essential to enter Gmail credentials.

Then enter the account password.

Finally you are ready to start using Chromium OS.

Finally, you can start using the operating system. The following image shows the Chromium OS Control Center.

Next we will see the Chromium browser running. Also, the system settings.

Please note that this system is cloud-based. So it is necessary to run web applications to get all the potential out of it.

Conclusion

Finally, we have seen how to install Chrome OS in a virtual machine. In addition, CloudReady also provides ISO for installation on any computer. In addition, the experience provided by Chromium OS is the closest thing to Chrome OS. Not including the proprietary element. Very good, until a soon opportunity. Bye!

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Some advantages of VMware.

• Great 3D performance. It is compatible with DirectX 10.1 and OpenGL 3.3
• It supports huge virtual machines, with 16 virtual cores, 8 TB of storage, 64 GB of RAM, and 3 GB of graphics memory.
• Supports resolutions up to 4K UHD.
• Enables the creation of complex virtual networks.
• It allows the cloning of virtual machines.
• It allows taking snapshots to restore the virtual machine to a previous state.
• Compatible with virtual machines created in other programs.

How to download and install VMware Workstation Player

As mentioned, today we will analyze the free version of this software. With this intention, please follow this link. Currently, the most recent version is number 15.5.5. Additionally, the installation process is very simple and similar to any Windows app. However, let’s detail it. Once you have downloaded the file, double-click on it to start the installation.

You then accept the license agreement.

Then confirm the program installation path. You can also install the enhanced keyboard driver.

Now choose options to check for updates at program startup. At the same time you can join the user experience improvement program.

It then establishes aspects related to the direct access of the application.

After the preparations are done, press finish to start the installation.

After a few moments, the installation will be complete.

Creating our first virtual machine with VMware Workstation Player

All right, it’s time to create our first virtual machine. To do this, it is essential to have the ISO of the guest system. Once the program is launched, please click on Create a New Virtual Machine.

As mentioned, in this step the ISO of the operating system to be installed must be added. Additionally, the program has the option to use a DVD as installation media. Similarly, you can add the ISO later. In that case, the program will create a blank virtual hard disk.

VMware has a very intuitive wizard that determines the type of system to be virtualized. However, sometimes it is unable to do this so you must indicate it manually.

Then assign the name to the virtual machine and its location.

Then specify the size of the virtual hard disk. Please note that it has to be smaller than the size of the physical disk itself.

Finally, the virtual machine is ready to be created. Please note that the VMware wizard is very intuitive and assigns the settings automatically. In fact, it does this by taking into account the characteristics of the host and guest system. However, you can modify these values by clicking on Customize Hardware.

If you choose the option to customize hardware, then you will see the following window where you can modify the values to your liking.

Ultimately, the virtual machine is ready to be launched.

VMware Workstation Player running Linux Mint 19.3 en Windows 10

Conclusion

At the end of the day, we saw how to install and use VMware on Windows 10. This is an interesting option to virtualize other systems within Windows. Consequently, it is possible to test them without actually installing them on the computer. Well, that’s it for now. See you soon!

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However, there’re more software than VirtualBox for getting the job done. Here are some of the best alternatives for VirtualBox that you can enjoy right now!

• VMware Workstation Player

If you’re looking for something as powerful as VirtualBox, then VMware is one of the best choices you can make. VMware Workstation Player provides everything you need to run a virtual operating system right from your desktop.

With enough hardware resource, you can run almost ALL the operating systems in the world! There are 2 different versions of the Workstation Player – Workstation Player and Workstation Player Pro. “Pro” is the paid version that offers some advanced features like running multiple VMs at once, taking VM snapshot, create and manage encrypt VMs etc. However, the normal one fulfills all the basic features that general users will need to check out new systems.

Get VMware Workstation Player.

• GNOME Boxes

GNOME is a big software family that contains almost all the essential software, including this cool virtualization tool! Yes, GNOME Boxes is a great virtualization software that you can enjoy for free.

If you prefer something really simplistic like VirtualBox, then GNOME Boxes is your right choice. In fact, it’s even easier than the legendary VirtualBox! Keeping simplicity in mind, GNOME Boxes arranged everything in a way that you won’t have any confusion on what you’re doing. Featuring all the necessary virtualization features and hardware support, this software will become one of your favorites pretty easily.

Check out GNOME Boxes!

• QEMU

Another really popular choice for virtualization. It’s a very simple yet powerful one, just like VirtualBox. It’s also completely free and open-source.

QEMU is able to virtualize any system on any hardware provided that the platform is supported by the program. The tool allows very fast performance on the guest OS, nearly the performance of the native OS. Get QEMU.

• Virtual Machine Manager

Virtual Machine Manager (virt-manager) is basically a command line tool for performing virtualization on a system.  Don’t worry as it also provides an elegant, simple and powerful GUI to perform all the tasks for a general user. The primary targets of virt-manager are the KVM VMs. However, it’s able to handle Xen and LXC pretty easily. Get virt-manager.

Hope you liked the tools. There are also other software to perform the jobs. Feel free to share your thoughts.

Enjoy!

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It’s extremely powerful, cross-platform and has earned great reputation from the community. For Linux users, getting VMware Workstation is really easy. If you prefer VirtualBox, we also got you covered. Learn how to install VirtualBox on Linux.

Download VMware Workstation

VMware Workstation Pro is a paid software. You need to have a license key for running the software on a regular basis. However, they also provide a trial for 30 days. Let’s get started.

Download VMware Workstation from VMware. Currently, the latest version is v14. Click on the Linux option. It’ll download a .BUNDLE file.

Begin installation

• Start a terminal.
• Run the following commands:

cd ~/Downloads
chmod +x VMware-Workstation-Full-14.1.1-7528167.x86_64.bundle
sudo ./VMware-Workstation-Full-14.1.1-7528167.x86_64.bundle

The GUI installer will show up. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Done! Enjoy VMware Workstation Pro!

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