Linux Installation (VirtualBox, VMware & Windows Subsystem for Linux)¶

Learn how to install Linux using VirtualBox, VMware Workstation, and Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). By the end of this lesson, you'll have a fully functional Linux environment ready for the rest of the REBASH Academy Linux Mastery course.

Learning Path¶

Linux Mastery → Module 1: Linux Fundamentals → Lesson 6

Difficulty: Beginner

Reading Time: 25 Minutes

Course Progress

Course: Linux Mastery

Module: Linux Fundamentals

Lesson: 6 of 10

What You'll Learn¶

After completing this lesson, you'll be able to:

Understand different ways to install Linux
Choose the right installation method
Install Ubuntu using VirtualBox
Install Ubuntu using VMware Workstation
Install Ubuntu using WSL on Windows
Download official Ubuntu ISO images
Create your first Linux virtual machine

Prerequisites¶

Before starting this lesson, you should complete:

Introduction to Linux
Linux History and Open Source
Linux Fundamentals — Distributions and Architecture
Linux Kernel Explained
Linux Desktop vs Server Editions

Why Learn Linux Installation?¶

Before learning Linux commands, administration, networking, or shell scripting, you need a Linux environment to practice.

There are several ways to install Linux, each designed for different use cases.

Choosing the right installation method depends on your goals.

Linux Installation Options¶

There are four common ways to install Linux.

Linux Installation

├── Virtual Machine
│     ├── VirtualBox
│     └── VMware
│
├── Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
│
├── Dual Boot
│
└── Cloud Virtual Machine

In this course, we'll focus on the most beginner-friendly options:

VirtualBox
VMware Workstation
Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)

We'll cover Cloud Virtual Machines later in the Cloud Engineering learning path.

Which Installation Method Should You Choose?¶

Goal	Recommended Method
Beginner	VirtualBox
Windows User	WSL
VMware User	VMware Workstation
DevOps Practice	Ubuntu Server VM
Cloud Engineer	Ubuntu Server VM
Production Practice	Ubuntu Server

Method 1: Install Linux using VirtualBox¶

VirtualBox is a free virtualization software that allows you to run Linux inside Windows, macOS, or another Linux system.

Advantages¶

Free
Beginner-friendly
Easy snapshots
Safe learning environment
Multiple virtual machines

Step 1: Download VirtualBox¶

Download the latest version from the official Oracle VirtualBox website.

Install VirtualBox using the default settings.

Step 2: Download Ubuntu ISO¶

Download the latest Ubuntu LTS ISO from the official Ubuntu website.

Recommended:

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (or the latest Long-Term Support version available)

Step 3: Create a New Virtual Machine¶

Click:

New

Configuration:

Setting	Recommended Value
Name	Ubuntu Server
Type	Linux
Version	Ubuntu (64-bit)
RAM	4 GB
CPU	2 vCPUs
Disk	30 GB (VDI, Dynamically Allocated)

Step 4: Attach ISO¶

Open:

Settings

↓

Storage

↓

Choose Ubuntu ISO

Step 5: Start Installation¶

Power on the VM.

Select:

Try or Install Ubuntu

Follow the installation wizard.

Method 2: Install Linux using VMware Workstation¶

VMware Workstation is another popular virtualization platform.

Many enterprises use VMware for development and testing.

Create New VM¶

Create New Virtual Machine

↓

Typical Installation

↓

Select Ubuntu ISO

↓

Ubuntu

↓

20-30 GB Disk

↓

Finish

Recommended Resources¶

Resource	Value
CPU	2
Memory	4 GB
Disk	30 GB

Method 3: Install Linux using WSL¶

Windows Subsystem for Linux allows Linux to run directly inside Windows.

It is one of the easiest ways to learn Linux.

Check WSL Status¶

Open PowerShell as Administrator.

Run:

wsl --status

Install WSL¶

If WSL is not installed:

wsl --install

Restart your computer.

Install Ubuntu¶

List available distributions:

wsl --list --online

Install Ubuntu:

wsl --install Ubuntu

Verify Installation¶

Open Ubuntu.

Run:

uname -a

Check OS version:

cat /etc/os-release

Virtual Machine vs WSL¶

Feature	Virtual Machine	WSL
Complete Linux OS	✅	Partial Integration
GUI Support	Yes	Limited
Performance	Good	Excellent
Snapshots	Yes	No
Production Simulation	Better	Good
Resource Usage	Higher	Lower

For this course, VirtualBox or VMware is recommended because they simulate a complete Linux server environment.

Recommended VM Configuration¶

For Ubuntu Server:

Resource	Recommended
CPU	2 vCPUs
RAM	4 GB
Storage	30 GB
Network	NAT
Graphics	Default

Verify Installation¶

After installation:

Display OS information:

cat /etc/os-release

Display kernel version:

uname -r

Display hostname:

hostnamectl

Check logged-in user:

whoami

Display current directory:

pwd

If these commands work successfully, your Linux installation is ready.

Production Perspective¶

Enterprise engineers rarely use desktop Linux systems in production.

Instead, they manage:

Cloud Virtual Machines
Kubernetes Nodes
Bare-metal Servers
Virtual Machines
Container Hosts

Learning Linux in a virtual machine closely resembles working in production environments.

Hands-on Lab¶

Task 1¶

Install Ubuntu Server using:

VirtualBox or
VMware

Task 2¶

Log in to your Linux machine.

Run:

hostnamectl

Task 3¶

Check your kernel version.

uname -r

Task 4¶

Display operating system details.

cat /etc/os-release

Task 5¶

Create your first directory.

mkdir rebash-labs

Verify:

ls

Best Practices¶

Use Ubuntu LTS releases for learning.
Allocate at least 4 GB RAM if possible.
Keep snapshots before major changes.
Practice using the terminal instead of GUI tools.
Avoid logging in as the root user.

Common Mistakes¶

❌ Allocating too little memory.

✅ Allocate at least 4 GB RAM for a smoother experience.

❌ Forgetting to mount the ISO before starting the VM.

✅ Always verify that the Ubuntu ISO is attached.

❌ Using Desktop edition for server administration practice.

✅ Prefer Ubuntu Server for learning Cloud and DevOps.

❌ Ignoring snapshots.

✅ Create snapshots before experimenting with system configurations.

Interview Questions¶

Beginner¶

What is VirtualBox?
What is VMware?
What is WSL?
Which Linux installation method is easiest for Windows users?

Intermediate¶

Compare VirtualBox and VMware.
What are the advantages of WSL?
Why do DevOps engineers commonly use Ubuntu Server?

Architect Level¶

Why are virtual machines commonly used for learning Linux?
When would you recommend WSL over a virtual machine?
How would you prepare a Linux lab for a team of engineers?

Summary¶

In this lesson, you learned:

Different Linux installation methods
Installing Linux using VirtualBox
Installing Linux using VMware
Installing Linux using WSL
Recommended virtual machine configuration
Basic verification commands

You now have a working Linux environment ready for the rest of this course.

Key Takeaways¶

VirtualBox is ideal for beginners.
VMware is widely used in enterprise environments.
WSL provides an excellent Linux experience on Windows.
Ubuntu Server is recommended for Cloud and DevOps learning.
A properly configured Linux lab is essential for hands-on practice.

What's Next?¶

Linux Boot Process

In the next lesson, you'll learn:

BIOS vs UEFI
GRUB Bootloader
Linux Kernel Loading
Initramfs
systemd
Boot Targets
Boot Troubleshooting