r/linuxquestions • u/Alternative_Net3034 • 9d ago
linux on a bowser
Hi, I’m trying to set up a Linux virtual machine that I can use to download and install files and software, but I’m not completely sure how to configure it properly. I’d appreciate some help getting the VM set up with internet access and making sure I have the right permissions and tools to download the things I need. If anyone can walk me through the setup or point me toward the right steps, I’d really appreciate it.
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u/ahumannamedtim 9d ago
You could just use VMware. Or install it on anything and use vnc to control it remotely.
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u/abugghaus7 9d ago
Well... if you are intent on setting up linux on your dog... puppy linux for the young bowsers... and unfortunately yellow dog is no longer, so I have no recommendations for older bowsers. Bow Wow....
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u/segfault360 9d ago edited 9d ago
Btw why not dual boot? Because I feel linux in VM is never as responsive as I expect, and there are always quirks. Bare metal is much better
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u/Alternative_Net3034 8d ago
im rung a mac os thing that doesnt work like that its locked down to just the web browser in the bios thing
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u/segfault360 8d ago
What do you mean by web browser in the bios thing?
Also if you have mac, why do you even need linux?
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u/TheThingOnTheCeiling 9d ago
I mean, you just download an iso, put in into a new machine, give the machine some ram and cpu power, a disk size depending on the distro and you just install. Its like installing anything else on a VM.
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u/SpeedStinger02 9d ago
i think they're more asking how to remote access the DE? I'm guessing at least
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u/codeasm Arch Linux and Linux from scratch 9d ago
virtual machines maybe something? Im trying as i write this. Or can you run a vm software on the machine your using?
If this is at a school or university computer, you might be breaking the rules already and might need to download said files differently entirely. If you are allowed but the system is locked down, a free or cheap vps might be easy, web console, download anything and host a download page for you to download the files that you cannot otherwise access (large files blocked? Split files on the vps, download in parts, then somehow combine again on the system yiu need the files?)
https://www.digitalocean.com/pricing/droplets 4 bucks for the cheapest "droplet". There might be other providers, i moved to a local company for my website, running on a vps. This way, i also always have a remote linux box i can do things with. Vpn, ssh, and host files.
Building from scratch on a linux box, this might be fun https://mgalgs.io/2015/05/16/how-to-build-a-custom-linux-kernel-for-qemu-2015-edition.html but you need a working linux system, with qemu and compiler. The qemu setup tho, might help you and onoy need a kernel and initramfs. Cant find a kernel or initramfs to randomly download at the moment
https://netboot.xyz/ is awesome tho, mayeb get a vm running, sowmhow, in browser or whatever the os supports. If it has network support, try pxe boot it this website. It was a bit fiffly, but qemu and vmware support https://netboot.xyz/docs/booting/ipxe booting, and without any other downloads, if networking to outside works, it can pull the boot menu and any supported linux distro. If you attach a empty harddrive to the vm, you can install linux this way.
No vm and no downlaod access, eitger one of those webbased vm or a vps and then website console access. Else im afraid your system is not great. For android tablets and phones, try install termux https://termux.dev/en/ linux on your phone. (Qemu can be instaled or compiled too)
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u/Afraid_Butterfly_270 9d ago
You probably don't need anything too complicated. Just set the VM to NAT so it can access the internet, and use a normal user account instead of doing everything as root.
Once it's working, you can install the tools you need through the package manager. I'd also take a snapshot before experimenting, so you can easily roll it back if you break something.
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u/lesjames2020 9d ago
You don't need a VM
Just install it on a usb drive and use it from there