Install a Virtualization Platform
Most people have one computer at home, whether that is a Windows PC, a Mac or maybe you’re crafty and use a Linux machine. Any way you slice that cake, you still only have one piece of hardware you could install an operating system(OS) on, be it Windows or Linux… but what if there was a way to install multiple OSs on? Well, there is!
Hardware virtualization allows you to run multiple operating systems or instances of an operating system on a single physical machine, each with its own isolated environment, resources, and settings. There are several reasons why you might want to use hardware virtualization in your homelab:
- Efficient use of hardware resources: Virtualization allows you to maximize the use of your hardware resources by consolidating multiple workloads onto a single physical machine. This can be particularly useful if you have a powerful server with unused resources.
- Isolation: Each virtual machine runs in its own isolated environment, which means that if one VM crashes or is compromised, it won’t affect the others. This can be useful for testing or running potentially insecure software.
- Easy management: Virtual machines can be easily created, cloned, and deleted, making it easy to set up new environments for testing or development.
- Flexibility: Virtualization allows you to run multiple operating systems on a single machine, which can be useful for testing or running applications that require a specific environment.
- Learning and experimentation: Virtualization allows you to experiment with different operating systems and configurations without needing additional hardware. This can be useful for learning new skills or testing new software.
Overall, hardware virtualization can provide a powerful tool for managing your homelab, allowing you to maximize the use of your resources, isolate workloads, and experaiment with new configurations and software.
Option 1 – Windows
If you have a Windows PC you’re working with, you can easily install “Hyper-V” which will allow you to install another OS to then install your applications onto.
HOW-TO: Install Hyper-V on Windows 10
HOW-TO: Install Hyper-V on Windows 11
Option 2 – Linux
While you can run virtualization on Linux with packages like vert-manager, the experience isnt what I wanted. I was looking for a web GUI, a well-supported platform for features like HA and PCI passthrough so virt-manager and others never appealed to me. While these options are getting better, they are playing a lot of catch-up therefore I choose to stay away.
Option 3 – Bare-metal using a Hypervisor (Best option in my opinion)
Bare-metal means you have an extra laptop, an old PC, maybe you bought a Mini-PC or you have an actual “server”. All of the above can serve as a “server”, it’s just a true “server” that is usually a large device that is rack mountable and is meant to run in a server closet or data center. Installing a hypervisor will delete your old Windows or Linux OS if using an old laptop/PC, so proceed with caution if using a personal device.