Linux on Windows 8

Yes, you heard me right, Linux on Windows 8.  Why would you do that?  Simple, Windows 8 Pro supports Hyper-V (on SLAT supported architectures), and provides a fantastic tool for your virtual machine needs.

Before jumping into Hyper-V, you will want to make sure you have a system which will support it.  Here are a few links to help.
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/taylorb/archive/2008/06/19/hyper-v-will-my-computer-run-hyper-v-detecting-intel-vt-and-amd-v.aspx

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/does-your-pc-have-what-it-takes-to-run-windows-8s-hyper-v/4254

64-bit Windows 8 Pro supports Hyper-V and after you install it, you will need to enable Hyper-V.  This is done using the control panel, selecting programs, then choosing Turn Windows Features on or off

From Windows Features, a dialog will present you will a number of options.  If your system supports hyper-v, then it will be available for you to enable.

The hyper-v manager should now be accessible from the start screen.

Now, the fun can begin!   Launching the manager will give you access to create VMs.  This is very cool and, as I mentioned,  is part of the Windows 8 Pro operating system.  You don't have to install any 3rd party software packages or costly virtual machine emulators.  The screen shot, below, is from my Dell laptop running Win8.  I have three VMs installed and the highlighted one is the Linux OS, CentOS.

It is very easy to create your own VM and Microsoft has done an excellent job providing a wizard approach to configuration.  This blog entry just  highlights the hyper-v feature and more details may follow with another blog entry.  

But wait, there's more!

Before I wrap this up, I do want to bring to your attention another fantastic feature of Windows 8.  Once you download the ISO you wish to install, all you have to do is right-click the ISO file, then select Mount.  Mounting ISO files is a feature which is part of Windows 8.  No longer needed are additional applications to help with using ISO files.  Your mounted ISO will show up as a drive letter.

I'll leave you with a final screen shot.  It is from my VM, running CentOS.   Enjoy!