Virtualization: veeDee Eyes

A little class on Virtualization first:

Virtualization is abstraction of your Hardware resources. There are different kinds of Virtualization. See Wikipedia if want more details. What does this mean to a regular computer user? Well, you run a piece of software called Virtualization software, that allows you to share your computer hardware between two different Operating Systems at the same instant. In even simpler terms, you run an OS from within a window while you are booted into a different OS. This software basically sits between your hardware and System Software (OS). The OS that is running the Virtualization software is called, “Host OS"” and the OS’s you run further on your Virtualization Software are called “Guest OS’s”. You usually boot into your regular Host OS, Fire up the Virtualization Software and then run your “Guest OS”. Simple huh?

Now, usually, you have to install the “Guest OS” on your hard drive before you run it using the Virtualization Software. This might not be very appealing to some of you folks, for various reasons. Imagine the hassle of partitioning your hard drive, installing a new OS, etc. That’s where "veeDee Eyes” comes in.

veeDee Eyes will let you run the operating system off of a single “VDI” file. So, no changing your partition table, no installing a new operating system. Just run VirtualBox and point to the “VDI” file to start running Linux on your Windows machine.

That’s enough for a class. Let get moving.

Stuff you need:

• Sun xVM VirtualBox. (Get it here)
• Some tool that can extract “rar” files. (Get 7-Zip here)
• VDI file for the operating system you want to run. (You will need a BitTorrent client to get that file)

You are well on the way to be running Linux on your Windows machine. Hit this link for a detailed walk-through.

Wubi: Playing nice with Windows

Wubi, is a tool that lets you install Ubuntu on your windows machine. Now what's so great about that? You could always install Ubuntu alongside Windows provided you have the installer disk. Well, this is where the magic begins. Wubi lets you install Ubuntu on your windows machine like it's just an application. No modifying the MBR to install the GRUB boot loader. No changing the partition table. Absolutely no impact on your current Windows installation. Wubi even lets you uninstall Ubuntu from your system leaving behind your Windows installation untouched. If you had installed Ubuntu before, you would know it is just a 6 step process. You answer some questions and you are well on your way to running Linux on your computer. Now Wubi cuts this even shorter. You are now three steps closer to Ubuntu installation.

1. Run the Wubi installer and choose the installation drive, size to be allocated, user name, password etc.
2. Wubi downloads the CD image from the Ubuntu website. (this might take a while depending on your internet connection)
3. Once that's done. You have to reboot and choose "ubuntu" from your Windows bootloader menu.

That's it. Installation begins here and you'll be prompted to login after it is complete.

That's all it takes to have a beautiful Ubuntu installation on your computer. Don't waste a minute thinking if you have been wanting to instal Linux your machine. Things couldn't get any easier or more beautiful.

I would like thank Agostino Russo and Evan Dandrea for creating Wubi, Mark Shuttleworth for giving us such a wonderful Operating System and the whole community that made Ubuntu what it is now.

Here's the Link for downloading Wubi.

Here's the Original Post by Mark Shuttleworth.
Mark Shuttleworth » Blog Archive » Playing nicely with Windows