Fedora Linux distribution features can be tested from inside any Windows operating system, without performing a real installation. This tutorial will show you how to run Fedora 10 alongside Windows OS in a few easy steps. The method can be implemented in case of any other Linux distribution. As a consequence, you can have Linux running inside Windows in a few minutes with a minimum effort.

First, you will have to download and install VMware Player for Windows. Then, from the Fedora Project website, get the free Fedora 10 Desktop Edition LiveCD (with GNOME or KDE desktop). The LiveCD is available as a CD-ROM disk image in an ISO format.

In order to be able to launch the Fedora 10 LiveCD, you will need a configuration file for the virtual machine (.vmx). It contains information regarding the type of guest operating system, network configuration, disk sizes and more. A .vmx virtual machine configuration file can be automatically created with various free tools.

EasyVMX! is a free web based service that allows you to make virtual machines for VMware Player. You must navigate to the EasyVMX! Website, then select the Super Simple version of the service. In the next browser window, you will have to adjust through a web form specific parameters of the .vmx configuration file.

The Virtual Machine Name field can be left as default, Virtual Machine Operating System – Other Linux must be selected, Virtual Machine Memory Size – the default value is 320, but you can specify a higher or a lower one, depending on your operating system capabilities. Because you will use an ISO image of a CD-ROM disk, to the Virtual Machine Disk Size parameter must correspond the No Disk value and the checkbox from the LiveCD ISO-image field must be checked (the file name can be left blank).

After the pressing of Create Virtual Machine button, a downloadable .zip file will be automatically made for you. It contains the .vmx file needed by VMware Player to run Fedora 10 LiveCD. The .vmx file must be opened with a text editor and you must search the string ide1:1.fileName and add between quotation marks the complete name of the ISO file.

If you do not want to perform these operations, this .vmx file can also be used, of course after you edit the amount of optimal memory size (the default memsize parameter value is 512) and respectively the ISO file name. The .vmx configuration file and the LiveCD ISO must be in the same directory.

To deploy the Fedora 10 Linux Distribution inside Windows, you just have to right click on the .vmx file and select Open With WMware Player option. In case of any other Linux LiveCD, in order to test it inside Windows, you just have to change the name of the ISO file in the .vmx configuration file. The next screenshots tour was made for showing the main features of Fedora 10 Desktop Edition with GNOME desktop inside Windows operating system.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 26th, 2008 at 7:44 pm and is filed under Linux Tutorials. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.