Before attempting to setup virtual machines on your own, check out this beginner's guide that walks users through the installation of VirtualBox, a free open source virtual application. In the article by Kevin Purdy, he suggested that anyone who wants to use a separate operating system (OS) might want to consider setting up a virtualization system.

This how-to article is based on the basic x86 virtualization setup that allows the guest operating system to run within the host OS.

Then, Purdy gives a few reasons why users may want to run a virtual machine. He defines everything from wanting to use only one OS but needing to run applications from another OS. He said users simply might want to try out new software, or they do not have the time to set up partitions for a Linux desktop.

Purdy defines the parameters for this setup: "Before you even ask, by the way, you can't run OS X as a guest system on Windows or Linux, but the VirtualBox can run most anything else - including those pre-rolled virtual images you find laying around the internet."

By the end of this guide, users can now run the applications they want and work in the system they prefer. "Now you're up and running with a machine you don't have to feel bad about messing with, or which lets (you) run the few apps you need in one OS while enjoying the benefits of the one you really want to work in," said Purdy.

Article Contents

• What's virtualization? Why get that nerdy?
• Setting up and VirtualBox Binaries
• Setting up (continued)
• Booting up
• Fine-tuning

More Information

The Beginner\'s Guide to Creating Virtual Machines with VirtualBox by Kevin Purdy

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