Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Virtual Machines
What is a Virtual Machine?
A virtual machine (VM) is a software-based emulation of a physical computer, designed to function similarly to a tangible system while utilizing virtual resources in lieu of physical components. VMs facilitate the establishment of isolated environments on a host computer, enabling the execution of programs, operating systems, and various other computing tasks.
Why use a Virtual Machine?
Virtual Machines (VMs) are utilized by a diverse array of individuals, including cybersecurity professionals, software developers, web developers, students, educators, programmers, and managers.
Both as software applications and cloud-based solutions, virtual machines provide numerous benefits, such as:
Testing and Development:
For numerous IT professionals, establishing a secure and isolated environment to assess new software, operations, or configurations without impacting the primary system is imperative. This approach is particularly beneficial for conducting experiments with potentially risky software. Such an environment is referred to as a Sandbox environment.
Furthermore, it enables the execution of various operating systems, including Microsoft Windows, Chrome, or macOS, concurrently on a single physical machine. This functionality allows for the development of applications across multiple platforms.
Security:
Virtual Machines establish a protective barrier between the guest operating system and the host system, thereby diminishing the risk of malware or viruses disseminating from the virtual machine to the primary system.
This environment allows for the secure testing of potentially harmful software or the analysis of malware samples without jeopardizing the integrity of the primary system.
Resource Management:
You can allocate designated amounts of CPU, memory, and storage to each virtual machine, thereby ensuring that essential applications receive the necessary resources.
Virtual Machines facilitate the consolidation of multiple virtual machines onto a single physical server, optimizing hardware utilization and reducing associated costs.
Disaster Recovery and Backup:
Snapshots of virtual machines (VMs) can be created at designated points in time, facilitating the swift restoration of the system to a previous state in the event of a system failure or data loss.
The process of backing up virtual machines is generally more straightforward than that of backing up physical machines, as it permits the creation of disk images encompassing the entirety of the VM.
Legacy software:
Virtual machines serve as a practical solution for executing legacy software that may be incompatible with contemporary operating systems or hardware, such as Windows XP.
The creation of virtual machines facilitates the preservation of outdated software and operating systems for historical or archival purposes.
Cloud Computing:
Cloud-based virtual machines offer the capability to efficiently scale computing resources in accordance with varying demands, thereby facilitating the management of fluctuating workloads.
Additionally, cloud virtual machines can prove to be more cost-effective than purchasing and maintaining physical servers, particularly for small businesses or instances of occasional use.
How to Setup an Virtual Machine
Step 1: Check System Requirements
Make sure your computer systems virtualisation and has enough resources such as RAM, disk space, etc). You can check this in your BIOS settings or system information.
Step 2: Choose and Install a Hypervisor
A hypervision is a software that allows you to create and manage VMs. There are several options available.
Step 3: Download and Install the Hypervisor
Some popular hypervisors include:
VirtualBox: Free and open-source.
VMware Workstation: Paid but offers a free version with fewer features.
Hyper-V: Built into Windows 10/11 Pro and Enterprise editions.
Parallels Desktop (Mac-specific, paid)
Download your chosen hypervisor from its official website and follow the installation instructions.
Step 4: Create a New Virtual Machine
Open the Hypervisor: Launch the installed hypervisor application.
Create New VM: Look for an option to create a new virtual machine. This may be a button or a menu option.
Name and Configure VM: Give your VM a name and select the operating system type. Allocate resources like RAM, CPU, and hard disk space. Be sure to provide enough resources for the OS to run smoothly.
Step 5: Install the Operating System
Select OS Installation Source: You can usually use an ISO file or a physical installation disc.
Attach ISO to VM: Point the hypervisor to the ISO file of the OS you want to install.
Start the VM: Boot up your new VM. It should start the installation process of the OS.
Follow Installation Steps: Complete the installation as you would on a physical machine.
Step 6: Install Guest Additions/Tools
For VirtualBox: Install Guest Additions to improve performance and usability.
For VMware: Install VMware Tools.
For Hyper-V: Install integration services.
Step 7: Configure VM Settings
Networking: Choose network settings based on your needs (NAT, Bridged, etc.).
Shared Folders: Set up shared folders if you need to transfer files between your host and VM.
Snapshots: Take snapshots to save the state of your VM at different points in time.
Step 8: Launch and Use Your VM
Start the VM:
Begin using the VM like any other computer. You can install software, browse the internet, and perform other tasks.
