Linux Training for the New Linux User - Using Linux Virtual Machines to Run Linux in Windows!

Linux Virtual Machines - Pros

1. Linux virtual machines are "pre-installed".

Most Linux virtual machines are completely "pre-installed" on a computer system. You just download Linux as a single file that contains the Linux virtual machine files and use the free Linux virtual machine player to open and play (run) Linux in Windows.

This saves you lots of time because you don't need to do all the steps to install Linux!It's like opening a box with a cake in it, instead of baking one "from scratch".

2. There lots of free Linux virtual machines to choose from.

There are over 100 Linux virtual machines available as free Linux download files. This gives you lots of different Linux distributions (versions) to choose from and lots of different Linux configurations to choose from. There are often several different configurations available for same Linux distro.

For example, you can download a free Linux virtual machine for one distro, configured with one Linux desktop, such as the GNOME desktop, and also get another virtual machine for the same distro, but configured with the KDE desktop.

This gives you the opportunity to easily download Linux and try out lots of Linux distributions with lots of different Linux software programs and configurations. And you don't need to spend the time and have the hassle of installing each Linux distro yourself.

3. Everything done in the Linux virtual machine stays in the virtual machine.

When you do Linux administration tasks in a virtual machine, such as create directories, install Linux software programs and create Linux users, these changes stay in the virtual machine. The changes only occur in the files that are in the folder containing the virtual machine. The changes only happen to the Linux system and don't mess up your Windows system.

If you change the Linux system in some way and it no longer works properly - no problem! Just delete the corrupted virtual machine files from the folder, uncompress the original files (from the single Linux download file) into the folder, and start running Linux in Windows again!This an excellent way to learn Linux administration. You can run Linux commands and get Linux training without the fear of destroying your Windows computer system.

Linux Tips: Some Linux virtual machine player programs allow you to take a "snapshot" of your Linux system and then if things get messed up, you can revert to the earlier "snapshot".

Linux Tips: If your Linux virtual machine hangs (stops running), you're whole windows system isn't hung. You can just shut down the virtual machine player program and then restart it and open the virtual machine again.

Linux Virtual Machines - Cons

1. You don't get to specify the Linux system settings during the installation.

A Linux virtual machine is pre-installed, so you can't specify the system settings and select the Linux software programs you need during the installation. However, you can change most system settings after the installation and you can also add and remove Linux software programs after the installation.

2. You need a current and fast Linux system to run Linux virtual machines.

Linux virtual machines must be run on a system that is already running Windows. Therefore, the system must have the resources, such as memory, disk storage space and processing power to be able to run Linux in Windows.

Linux Tips: Check the specs for virtual machines that you download at the web site you get the Linux download file from.

If you already have Windows running on a system, a Linux virtual machine is an excellent and easy way to run Linux in Windows. You can also use Linux video tutorials along with your virtual machine to learn how to use Linux and get the Linux training you need. Just watch part a video tutorial on a topic, such as how to run a Linux command, and then go to the Linux virtual machine and try the command yourself!