What is Linux Virtual Machine
Last Updated : 29 Apr, 2025
Whether you’re a developer, student, or IT professional, Linux VMs act as your personal sandbox, letting you safely explore, innovate, and break things without consequences. With a Linux VM, you can spin up a fully functional Ubuntu desktop inside Windows, host a Debian server on your MacBook, or even simulate a network of Kali Linux machines for cybersecurity training
In this article, we will describe what is Linux virtual machine, how it operates, why you should use one, and the process of configuring one. We will also describe typical application areas for Linux VMs and briefly compare them with other technologies such as Docker containers and KVM. By the end of it, you'll know Linux VMs in a nutshell and how to begin using them.
What is a Linux Virtual Machine
A Linux Virtual Machine is a computer software that runs a Linux operating system within an isolated environment on another computer. That is, it's a "computer within your computer," where the host computer (your actual PC) supplies some of its resources to form a virtual computer. It operates through a hypervisor, which is responsible for allocating the virtual machine’s resources (central processing unit, RAM, disk space). With virtualization, numerous operating system environments can coexist on one physical device, making the most out of the device’s resources and improving overall system security.
Note: For more details about virtual machines refer to the article Virtual Machine: Uses, Working, Examples
How does a Linux Virtual Machine work
In the background, a program called a hypervisor allows virtualization. The hypervisor (say, Oracle VirtualBox or VMware) controls your hardware and creates the illusion that there is an entire dedicated computer for the VM. It assigns some of your hardware resources – CPU time, memory, disk space, network interface, etc. – to the virtual machine and isolates the VM from your host system.
Basically, the hypervisor "borrows" resources from your host machine and allocates them to the VM whenever it needs them, while keeping the VM running in a sandboxed environment. Due to this sandboxing, the programs that execute within the Linux VM are unable to interfere with or harm your host operating system
When you make a Linux VM, it's most likely saved on your disk in the form of a collection of files (such as a giant file serving as the VM's virtual hard disk). When you boot the VM, the hypervisor boots up the Linux OS within an isolated environment using those files. From within the VM, the Linux OS is oblivious that it's on a host and merely thinks that it's running on a genuine computer. This implies that you can, say, have an Ubuntu Linux VM on a Windows computer – the VM will behave as though it's a distinct Linux computer, whereas in actuality it's all an occurrence in software.
Linux Virtual Machine and Other Software
We comparing the Virtual Machines (VMs), Containers (Docker), and KVM
| Aspect | Virtual Machines (VMs) | Containers (Docker) | KVM (Type-1 Hypervisor) |
|---|
| Definition | Virtualizes an entire operating system. Each VM has its own guest OS running on a hypervisor. | Virtualizes only the application environment. Containers share the host system's OS kernel. | Built into the Linux kernel. Runs directly on the hardware (Linux OS becomes the hypervisor). |
| Resource Usage | More heavyweight in terms of resources (CPU, memory, storage). | Much lighter and faster to start than VMs. | More efficient performance due to direct hardware integration. |
| Isolation | Stronger isolation since VMs do not share the host OS. | Less isolated than VMs. A malicious or crashed container could affect the host OS. | Strong isolation, as it runs directly on the hardware. |
| Use Case | Ideal for running completely different operating systems (e.g., Linux on Windows). | Great for lightweight application deployment. Can run inside VMs. | Used in server and enterprise environments (e.g., cloud providers, OpenStack). |
| Performance | Slower to start and requires more resources. | Faster to start and more resource-efficient. | High performance due to direct hardware access. |
| Example | Running three VMs means three separate OS instances (e.g., three Linux kernels). | Running three Docker containers means sharing the same Linux kernel of the host. | Many cloud providers use KVM under the hood to run Linux VMs. |
| Setup Complexity | Moderate complexity. Requires a hypervisor like VirtualBox or VMware. | Easy to set up and use. Requires Docker installed on the host OS. | More complex setup, requires integration at the OS or hardware level. |
| Best For | Running multiple OS environments with strong isolation. | Lightweight, fast, and efficient application deployment. | Enterprise environments, cloud providers, and high-performance use cases. |
Also Read: Best Linux Distribution for Desktop (2025)
Setting Up Your Own Linux Virtual Machine
Using Virtualization Apps It’s Easy To Set Up Linux Using VirtualBox, VMware Workstation, or KVM.
Download a Virtualization Software:
- For free virtualization software, consider using VirtualBox.
- For free personal use, consider using VMware Workstation Player.
- For enterprise use, consider using KVM, a Linux-based enterprise grade virtualization program.
Note: Also read How to Create Virtual Machines in Linux Using KVM
Download a Linux Distribution:
- Go to either Ubuntu, Fedora, or Debian.
- Download the ISO file.
Set Up the Virtual Machine:
- Start your Virtual Machine Software.
- Click New VM, and in the new window choose Linux as the OS type.
- Allocate CPU cores, and RAM (we recommend at least 2 GB) as well as storage (20 GB or more).
- Upload the Linux ISO then commence the installation procedure.
Also Read: Types of Virtual Machines
Install the Linux OS:
- To install a specific OS, make sure to follow instructions that are presented on the screen when installing Linux on the VM.
- After the setup, make sure to set up username, password, and software update.
- Once installation has been completed, restart the VM.
Optimize Your Linux VM:
- To enhance performance, Install Guest Additions in VirtualBox or VMware Tools.
- Then, share modded display settings, folders, and configure network settings.
Note: For more details refer the article Installing Linux Using a Virtual Machine
Use Cases for Linux Virtual Machine
Linux virtual machine are used in many various tasks. One of the most common uses is:
1. Learning and Distro Hopping: If you're new to Linux or merely want to test drive a fresh Linux distro, a VM is perfect. You can have an Ubuntu VM to learn basic Linux, or several VMs to play around with several distros (Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, etc.) without taking up additional computers.
2. Software Development and Testing: Linux VMs are intensely utilized by programmers to develop test or development environments. You could have a Linux server VM in your Windows/Mac laptop for testing a web application on a Linux platform. VMs permit you to model production servers, perform software updates in a test, or operate different versions of an application under other operating systems. Because you can snapshot or simply throw away a VM, they provide you with a sandboxed environment within which to experiment with code or configurations
3. Penetration Testing and Cybersecurity Labs: Linux VMs (such as Kali Linux VMs) are used by security experts and hackers to perform ethical hacking and security testing. You can set up a lab that is secure with a Kali Linux VM and target VMs where you can perform penetration tests, scan for vulnerabilities, and practice cybersecurity without compromising any live system.
4. Server Hosting and Home Labs: You can host server software in a Linux VM just like on a hardware server. A web server or database is hosted by a developer in a Linux VM for development projects. For example, you can host a LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) to develop websites in an Ubuntu Server VM on your Windows system.
5. Running Legacy or Other Operating Systems: Need to run an application that is Windows-only? VMs can help. For example, if you're on Linux but need a Windows-only application, you may run a Windows VM (and vice versa).
Dual Booting vs Virtual Machines
Ease of use, flexibility, and performance are some of the factors to consider in deciding between a Linux Virtual Machine and Dual Booting. While dual booting offers an OS performance at its peak, it does so at the cost of a system restart in order to change the OS. Switching OS in a Linux Virtual Machine is much simpler as multitasking can be done over the host OS. The table below compares both options:
| Feature | Linux Virtual Machine | Dual Booting |
|---|
| Ease of Use | Simple, runs within an existing OS | Requires system restart to switch |
| Resource Sharing | Shares CPU, RAM dynamically | Dedicated full system resources |
| Performance | Slightly slower due to virtualization overhead | Runs at native speed |
| Flexibility | Easy to create, delete, and modify VMs | Harder to uninstall or switch OS |
Common Issues and Troubleshooting in Linux Virtual machine
Linux Virtual Machine (VMs) provide a safe, isolated, and efficient method of executing Linux on other operating systems. However, users face performance problems, networking problems, and configuration problems. Some common Linux VM issues and solutions are below:
- Increase the RAM and CPU core count in VM settings.
- Enable VT-x/AMD-V in BIOS for enhanced performance.
- Scale down disk efficient and background services.
2. Unable to Share Files Between Host and Virtual Machine
- In VirtualBox, share directories by enabling Shared Folders and Guest Additions installation.
- In VMware, turn on Shared Folders in the VM settings and install VMware Tools.
Also Read:
Conclusion
Linux virtual machine offer an agile, secure, and feature-rich means to operate Linux within nearly any circumstance. If you'd like to try out a Linux distro, create applications within a Linux environment, protect systems with stronger security through compartmentalization, or have numerous OS resident on a single computer, VMs allow this. With such software as VirtualBox and concepts explained above, you can confidently begin using Linux VMs in order to exploit a universe of opportunities on current hardware.