Installing Linux using WSL or VirtualBox
Set up a Linux learning environment safely on your computer.
Linux Fundamentals
5 min
Installing Linux
To practice Linux, you need a Linux environment.
Two beginner-friendly options are WSL and VirtualBox.
Option 1: Windows Subsystem for Linux
On supported Windows systems, open PowerShell as Administrator:
wsl --install -d Ubuntu
Restart if prompted, then launch Ubuntu.
Create your Linux username and password.
Option 2: VirtualBox
- Install VirtualBox.
- Download an Ubuntu ISO image from the official Ubuntu website.
- Create a new virtual machine.
- Allocate suitable memory and disk space.
- Attach the ISO and start the virtual machine.
- Follow the Ubuntu installation instructions.
Verify your installation
Open the terminal and run:
cat /etc/os-release
uname -r
whoami
Practical exercise
Install Ubuntu or launch an existing Linux environment.
Record:
- Linux distribution
- Kernel version
- Username
- Available memory
Knowledge check
- What is virtualization?
- What is WSL?
- Why is a virtual machine useful for learning Linux?
Previous Log in to save progress