From time to time, I need to run a different operating system than my OS of choice. If I’m finishing up an important web project, I like to test the website on Windows and Linux as well as on my Mac.

 

You might want to use one operating system, but need to use a particular application that only runs on Windows or Mac every now and then. Or you might want to test out an operating system, such as a new release of Windows or Ubuntu, without changing the OS that you rely on.

 

One solution to this problem is to have your computer dual boot. Another solution is to use a virtual operating system.

 

You can buy virtualization software, but a good free and open-source option is VirtualBox from Oracle (and formerly from Sun). You can install it on Windows, Mac, or Linux. VirtualBox then runs on the host operating system like any other program. When you run VirtualBox, you can set up different virtual computers, then install an operating system on them. You can then start up the virtual computers, which will open in another window. From there, you run whatever software you like on the new OS.

 

VirtualBox : https://www.virtualbox.org/