Why You Should Have a Virtual Machine in Hand

If you like to experiment with different operating systems, are afraid that trying new programs might crash your PC, or need a separate system to run certain programs, a virtual machine (VM) can be quite useful. Here's why you should keep a few VMs on hand and use them regularly.

Why use VM?

There are a lot of practical reasons to start using a VM. First, you don't have to worry about breaking anything if you only have one system. Want to try installing that risky system? Start a VM and see the results! Likewise, if you have software or files that you don't want running on your main machine.

VMs are incredibly easy to set up, and once created, you can save them in any state you like and restore them later with just a few clicks. If you have a spare PC or laptop, you can even spin up a server to run the VM for access from anywhere in the world.

The only thing to worry about is the system resources required to run one OS on top of another. However, if you have a modern PC, everything should be fine. To put things into perspective, I ran all the VMs listed below on an MSI GL65 Leopard laptop, which has an i5-9300H, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, 1TB of SSD storage, and a GTX 1650Ti. This laptop is now 4 years old and still easily handles two VMs at once.

What can you do with your VM?

Another great advantage of using VMs is that you can try out multiple operating systems without having to change bootloader settings or dual boot the system. You can set up these 4 VMs on your Windows machine for testing.

VM Ubuntu

This is a standard Linux VM that can be used for everything from software testing to website development. Programmers often prefer to work on Linux over Windows. Running an Ubuntu VM alongside a Windows machine allows you to use the software across multiple operating systems.

For example, if you're working on a website, you can create graphics in Photoshop or Illustrator and drag and drop them onto your Linux website without having to restart your computer to switch operating systems. It really speeds up your workflow. Since you have other virtual machines on multiple operating systems, you can also test the compatibility of any software or website that you're working on across multiple operating systems and browsers.

Another place where the Ubuntu virtual machine is useful is when working with hardware. While you can easily work with hardware devices like an Arduino or ESP32 on a Windows machine, it is also helpful to have a clear separation between development and everyday use.

We recommend Ubuntu because it is one of the most popular Linux distributions and is widely compatible with everything from 3D printing programs to IDEs for coding small development boards. However, you are free to experiment with other versions of Linux. You can also use Linux Mint, which is a pretty good alternative to Ubuntu.

VM Kali Linux

If you are a cybersecurity enthusiast or cyber security enthusiast in general, having Kali Linux will allow you to use security tools and analyze malware samples. This functionality in a VM makes it extremely easy to access the operating system and removes the barrier to learning.

Many people use Kali Linux VM to analyze malware samples, run regular network security tests on their Wi-Fi networks, and sometimes even prank their friends. You will find a lot of network and security tools pre-installed with Kali, and many more can be found with a simple Google search. Just be careful what you do. As the Kali Linux motto goes - the quieter you are, the more you can hear.

VM Windows

Windows virtual machines are primarily for testing shady software you're researching or writing about that you don't want to run on your main Windows installation. They also allow you to experiment with Windows settings or features that you want to understand better before implementing them into your workflow on the host machine.

Another use you can find for your Windows virtual machine is to run old games. Old games don't run well on modern operating systems, especially Windows 11. A Windows XP virtual machine allows you to play the games from your childhood without having to worry about downloading shaders and/or third-party software to run old games without the hassle.

Performance may vary depending on the virtualization software you use. If you use VirtualBox, be sure to install the VirtualBox Guest Additions to run applications in seamless mode.

VM MacOS

Running a macOS virtual machine or a 'Hackintosh' virtual machine is a pain, but it gives people access to an operating system that would otherwise require a dedicated device. You'll have macOS just a few clicks away whenever you need access to Apple services or macOS-specific software.

Additionally, this VM is also your gateway to learning Swift and macOS development in general. Creating software for Apple requires Apple devices, and if you're someone who tries to carry as little tech as possible, a VM allows you to have multiple computers in one.

You should have a VM handy!

Whether you want to try out a new operating system, program in Linux while keeping Windows handy for other programs, play games on your Mac, or simply test out software, being able to boot up a completely different machine with just a few clicks is incredibly convenient.

Plus, you can do all of this without breaking anything on your main system. Even if you do break something on the VM, you can still get it back up and running with just a few clicks, as long as you have a backup. Having a VM handy with your OS of choice gives you tons of options to experiment with things or create a workflow that best suits your preferences without being constrained by OS or software compatibility.

David Pac

Update 25 December 2024