Windows 11 VM
on Linux

Overview of Hypervisors

Virtualization technology uses hypervisors to create and manage virtual machines (VMs). There are two main types of hypervisors: Type 1 and Type 2.

Type 1 Hypervisor

Characteristics

• Direct Hardware Access: Runs directly on the host's physical hardware.

• Performance: Offers high efficiency and reliability due to minimal overhead.

• Security: More secure as it isolates VMs from each other, reducing the risk of attacks spreading.

Examples

• VMware ESXi

• Microsoft Hyper-V

• KVM

Type 2 Hypervisor

Characteristics

• Runs on Host OS: Operates as a software layer on top of an existing operating system.

• Use Cases: Ideal for testing and development environments due to its flexibility.

• Performance: Generally less efficient than Type 1 due to the additional layer of the host OS.

Examples

• Oracle VirtualBox

• VMware Workstation Pro

• Parallels Desktop

Comparison Table

Feature

CASE Type 1 Hypervisor Type 2 Hypervisor

Runs On Physical hardware directly Host operating system

Performance High efficiency Lower efficiency

Security More secure Less secure

Common Uses Enterprise environments Development and testing

Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right hypervisor based on specific needs and use cases.

My Suggestion

I have tried a few of these over the years and generally use either Mint Linux or Ubuntu/Ubuntu Studio as the host as 99% of my software will run on these. The process is similar to installing any VM platform but I feel that Virtual Machine Manager (Virt-manager) as a GUI on top of QEMU (The Quick Emulator).

It often fails when you install the two packages from the software manager as it doesn’t relate the two packages, but do not panic. It is only a handful of commands in the BASH terminal

Prepare your machine

To enable virtualization on Intel and AMD CPUs, you need to access your system's BIOS or UEFI settings during boot-up, typically by pressing keys like F2, DEL, or ESC. Once in the BIOS, look for options labeled Intel VT-x for Intel processors or AMD-V for AMD processors, and enable them before saving and exiting the BIOS.

Of course my Gigabyte Aorus B550M AMD Ryzen 5 motherboard was different, so check for your specific MOBO

To enable virtualization on a Gigabyte Aorus B550M motherboard, restart your PC and press the BIOS setup key (usually Del) during boot, then navigate to the M.I.T. tab, select Advanced CPU Core Settings, and enable SVM Mode before saving changes (F10) and exiting.

Taken from https://linuxconfig.org/setting-up-virtual-machines-with-qemu-kvm-and-virt-manager-on-debian-ubuntu

Step1 update your system

$ sudo apt update
$ sudo apt upgrade

Step 2 InstallQEMU and Virt-mamager

$ sudo apt install qemu-kvm libvirt-daemon-system libvirt-clients bridge-utils virt-manager -y

Step 3 Add User to groups

$ sudo adduser $USER libvirt
$ sudo adduser $USER kvm

Step 4 Verify Installation

$ sudo systemctl status libvirtd

If it’s not running, start and enable it at boot with:

$ sudo systemctl start libvirtd
$ sudo systemctl enable libvirtd

You can then launch it from terminal using virt-manager, or from your program menu

Create a Windows 11 Virtual Machine

Start Virt-Manager

Choose ISO or other media

Choose memory and CPU settings

Create a virtual drive for the OS to be installed to

Name the installation

Hit any key to start Windows Installation