Learn How to Install and Explore Hyper-V: Linux Virtual Machine

April 14, 2023
Hyper-V is included in Windows Server and the professional and enterprise editions of Windows 10. The Hyper-V virtualization platform allows users to run multiple operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and other operating systems, on a single server or desktop computer. In this article, we will explain in more detail what Hyper-V is and how it works.
What is Hyper-V and how does it work?
Hyper-V is based on Intel and AMD’s hardware virtualization technology, which is found in most modern processors. It uses this technology to create virtual machines, which are virtual machines running on a guest operating system.
Each virtual machine has its own operating system, applications, and data, and runs on a separate portion of system resources, such as memory, CPU, and storage. Hyper-V enables the creation of virtual machines, allowing users to have multiple operating systems on a single server or computer.
In this article, we will explore the Linux virtual machine on Hyper-V further.
-
Download the Linux ISO image
Before creating a Linux virtual machine in Hyper-V, you need to download the ISO image of the Linux operating system you want to install. You can download the ISO image of a variety of Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, CentOS, and Debian. Once you have downloaded the ISO image, save it to an accessible location on your computer.
-
Open Hyper-V Manager
To create a virtual machine in Hyper-V, you must open the Hyper-V Manager on your system. You can do this by searching for “Hyper-V Manager” in the Start menu or by pressing the “Windows + X” keys and selecting “Hyper-V Manager” from the menu.
-
Create a new virtual machine
Once you have opened Hyper-V Manager, you must create a new virtual machine by clicking “Actions” on the toolbar and selecting “New” and then “Virtual Machine”.
-
Configure the virtual machine
In the virtual machine creation wizard, you will need to provide information about the new virtual machine you are creating. This includes the name of the virtual machine, the storage location of the virtual machine, and the amount of memory and processors that will be allocated to the virtual machine.
-
Select the operating system
In the next step of the wizard, you must select the operating system you want to install on the virtual machine. To install Linux in the virtual machine, you must select “Linux” as the operating system and select the Linux distribution you want to install.
-
Assign storage to the virtual machine
In the next step of the wizard, you will need to assign storage to the virtual machine. This may include assigning a virtual hard disk to the virtual machine and specifying the storage location of the virtual hard disk.
-
Configure the virtual network
In the next step of the wizard, you must configure the virtual network for the virtual machine. This includes selecting the network adapter to be used for the virtual machine and specifying whether the virtual machine will connect to the internal or external network.
-
Finish creating the virtual machine
Once you have completed the virtual machine configuration, you must finalize the creation of the virtual machine by clicking “Finish” in the last step of the wizard.
-
Start the virtual machine
Once you have created the virtual machine, you must start it to install Linux in the virtual machine. To do this, select the virtual machine in the Hyper-V manager and click “Start” in the toolbar.
How to install Linux on the virtual machine?
Installing Linux in a virtual machine is a great way to try out different Linux distributions without having to physically install them on your computer. In addition, it is also useful if you need to work with a specific Linux distribution, but don’t want to affect the current configuration of your main operating system. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to install Linux on a virtual machine.
-
Download a virtualization software
The first step to installing Linux on a virtual machine is to download virtualization software. There are several virtualization programs available, but two of the most popular are VirtualBox and VMware. Both are free and available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
-
Download a Linux image
Once you have downloaded the virtualization software, you will need to download a Linux image. There are several Linux distributions available, such as Ubuntu, Fedora, CentOS, and Debian. Choose a distribution that is compatible with your virtualization software and download the ISO image.
-
Create a virtual machine
Open the virtualization software and click the “New” button to create a new virtual machine. Enter a name for the virtual machine and select the type of operating system to be installed (in this case, Linux). Next, select the amount of RAM and the amount of hard disk space you wish to allocate to the virtual machine. Set the number of CPU cores you want to use for the virtual machine.
-
Configure the Linux image
Select the Linux image you downloaded in Step 2 and follow the instructions to configure the virtual machine. You will need to select the ISO image you downloaded and specify the details of the virtual machine configuration. This may include details such as screen size, screen resolution, and network settings.
-
Install Linux
Once you have configured the virtual machine, you can start it and begin the Linux installation. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the Linux distribution you have downloaded. It is important to remember that you are installing Linux on the virtual machine and not on your main computer. Make sure you select the option to install Linux on the virtual machine and not on the physical computer.
-
Configuring Linux
Once you have installed Linux in the virtual machine, you can start configuring it. You can install additional software, configure the network and adjust the settings as needed. Remember that any changes you make apply only to the virtual machine and not to the main computer.
Note: Installing Linux in a virtual machine is a great way to try different Linux distributions without affecting your primary operating system.