Virtualization

🧩 Virtualization (Running VMs on Your Local PC)

You don’t need to rent a server to learn how to run a node. You can use your own laptop or PC and create a virtual machine (VM) inside it. This is called local virtualization.

🧠 What is a Virtual Machine?

A Virtual Machine (VM) is like a computer inside your computer. It runs its own operating system — like Ubuntu Linux — without touching your main OS.

This lets you:

  • Practice using Linux

  • Simulate a VPS

  • Install and test a node locally

💻 Common Virtualization Tools

Tool
OS Support
Use Case

WSL

Windows only

Lightweight Linux shell

VirtualBox

Windows / macOS / Linux

Full Linux VM (Ubuntu, Debian, etc.)

VMware

Windows / macOS

More advanced than VirtualBox

UTM

macOS (M1/M2)

Lightweight VM for Mac

✅ When to Use Local VMs

Use virtualization if you:

  • Are still learning

  • Don’t want to pay for a server yet

  • Want to test commands safely

⚙️ How to Install a Virtual Machine

🔹 Option 1: WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)

For Windows 10/11 users.

  1. Open PowerShell as Administrator

  2. Run this command:

    wsl --install

  3. Reboot your PC

  4. It will auto-install Ubuntu (or let you choose)

  5. After reboot, type wsl in Start Menu — your Ubuntu terminal is ready!

✅ WSL is fast, easy, and works well for learning CLI and building tools.

🔹 Option 2: VirtualBox (Cross-platform)

  1. Download VirtualBox from: https://www.virtualbox.org

  2. Download Ubuntu ISO: https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop

  3. Open VirtualBox → New → Name: Ubuntu Node

  4. Set RAM (at least 2048 MB), CPU (2 cores)

  5. Attach ISO in storage settings

  6. Start the VM and follow the Ubuntu installation steps

🧪 You now have a full Linux environment to test anything.

🔹 Option 3: VMware Workstation / Fusion

  • Download VMware Workstation Player (Windows/Linux) or Fusion (macOS)

  • Install Ubuntu using the same steps as VirtualBox

VMware is smoother and more feature-rich, but not 100% free.

🔹 Option 4: UTM (for Apple Silicon - M1/M2)

  1. Download UTM: https://mac.getutm.app

  2. Download Ubuntu ARM ISO

  3. Create a new virtual machine → choose "Virtualize" → select ISO

  4. Configure RAM (2–4 GB), CPU (2–4 cores)

  5. Boot and install Ubuntu

💡 UTM works well for newer Macs without needing extra tools.

🚀 After Installation

Once your Linux VM is ready, you can:

  • Open the terminal

  • Use basic Linux commands (cd, ls, apt install, etc.)

  • Try installing a node from a GitHub repo

  • Simulate a testnet setup

📌 Tips

  • Always enable virtualization in your BIOS (check your PC settings)

  • Allocate enough RAM or it will run slowly

  • Use snapshots/checkpoints before testing major things

🧠 Virtual machines are perfect for experimenting, learning, and building confidence — before you go live on an actual server or mainnet.

Next up → "Linux/Ubuntu - Basics"

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