Sneaking Linux into Windows
Portable QEMU
© Viachaslau Bondarau, 123RF
Carry a virtual Linux machine with you wherever you go.
Theoretically, a bootable USB stick with a Linux distribution lets you carry your Linux desktop with you without installing any software on the host machine. In practice, however, your Linux-on-a-stick might not be as universal as advertised. Sometimes you must ask the permission of the owner of the computer you are using, and many PC owners are reluctant to let their friends boot to a totally different operating system. In some cases, you might need to manually reconfigure the BIOS to support a USB boot. Many Internet cafes do not even let you reboot the system, so booting into Linux simply isn't an option.
An easy solution to this problem is a virtual machine based on the popular QEMU emulator [1]. With QEMU, you can install a Windows version of QEMU on a USB stick, create a Linux-based virtual machine, and run Linux as a virtual system inside Windows.
The excellent Qemu Manager [2] tool lets you turn your USB stick into a portable computing environment (Figure 1). Qemu Manager wraps the QEMU functionality into a sleek and user-friendly graphical interface that lets you create, manage, and run virtual machines with consummate ease. Installing Qemu Manager is as simple as downloading the zipped version of the tool, unpacking it in a folder on the USB stick, and double-clicking on the QemuManager.exe executable to launch Qemu Manager.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Kali Linux Waxes Nostalgic with BackTrack Mode
For those who've used Kali Linux since its inception, the changes with the new release are sure to put a smile on your face.
-
Gnome 50 Smooths Out NVIDIA GPU Issues
Gamers rejoice, your favorite pastime just got better with Gnome 50 and NVIDIA GPUs.
-
System76 Retools Thelio Desktop
The new Thelio Mira has landed with improved performance, repairability, and front-facing ports alongside a high-quality tempered glass facade.
-
Some Linux Distros Skirt Age Verification Laws
After California introduced an age verification law recently, open source operating system developers have had to get creative with how they deal with it.
-
UN Creates Open Source Portal
In a quest to strengthen open source collaboration, the United Nations Office of Information and Communications Technology has created a new portal.
-
Latest Linux Kernel RC Contains Changes Galore
Linux kernel 7.0-rc3 includes more changes than have been made in a single release in recent history.
-
Nitrux 6.0 Now Ready to Rock Your World
The latest iteration of the Debian-based distribution includes all kinds of newness.
-
Linux Foundation Reports that Open Source Delivers Better ROI
In a report that may surprise no one in the Linux community, the Linux Foundation found that businesses are finding a 5X return on investment with open source software.
-
Keep Android Open
Google has announced that, soon, anyone looking to develop Android apps will have to first register centrally with Google.
-
Kernel 7.0 Now in Testing
Linus Torvalds has announced the first Release Candidate (RC) for the 7.x kernel is available for those who want to test it.