Installing Linux
Set up a real Linux environment with WSL, VirtualBox, or VMware — ready for every hands-on lab in this course.
You’ve completed the introduction — now it’s time to get a real Linux environment running. From here on, almost every lesson includes practical exercises, and you’ll be working in a real Linux shell just like professional DevOps Engineers.
🎯 Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson you will:
- Understand the different ways to install Linux
- Choose the best installation method for your machine
- Install Ubuntu Linux
- Open your first Linux terminal
- Verify that Linux is working correctly
Which Installation Method Should You Choose?
There are three popular ways to run Linux. For most people learning DevOps on Windows, WSL is the fastest path.
| Method | Best for | Ease | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|
| WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) | Windows 10/11 users, beginners, developers | Very easy | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| VirtualBox | Practicing sysadmin, full Linux desktop, snapshots | Easy | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| VMware Workstation | Advanced users, enterprise, higher performance | Moderate | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
💡 Which Distro?
Throughout this course we use Ubuntu 24.04 LTS — beginner friendly, superbly documented, backed by a huge community, and the distribution you’ll most often meet in the cloud.
Hardware Requirements
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| CPU | Dual Core | Quad Core |
| Storage | 40 GB free | SSD |
| Network | — | Stable internet |
Option 1 — Install Ubuntu with WSL (Recommended)
Step 1 — Open PowerShell as Administrator. Search for PowerShell, right-click, and choose Run as Administrator.
Step 2 — Run the installer:
wsl --installWindows will automatically enable WSL, download Ubuntu, configure Linux, and restart if necessary.
Step 3 — Restart your computer.
Step 4 — Open Ubuntu and create your username and password when prompted. Choose something you’ll remember (e.g. username student).
Step 5 — Done. Linux is now installed and ready.
Option 2 — Install Ubuntu with VirtualBox
- Download VirtualBox from virtualbox.org.
- Download the Ubuntu 24.04 LTS ISO from ubuntu.com/download/desktop.
- Create a new VM — Name:
Ubuntu DevOps Lab, Memory:4096 MB+, Processors:2+, Disk:30 GBdynamically allocated. - Attach the Ubuntu ISO and start the VM.
- Follow the installer: Install Ubuntu → Normal Installation → Erase disk (only inside the VM) → Continue.
Verify Your Installation
Open your terminal and run these commands. If Linux responds, your environment works.
🧪 Hands-on: Your First Lab
Verify Your Linux Installation
Run each of these commands and confirm you get output:
whoami— your current userpwd— your current directorydate— the system date/timeuname -a— kernel and system infols— list your home directory
💡 Screenshot Challenge 📸
Take screenshots of your terminal running whoami, pwd, and uname -a. Real screenshots of your own environment make far better portfolio evidence than stock images.
Troubleshooting
⚠ Common Install Problems
wsl is not recognized— make sure you’re in PowerShell as Administrator, and update Windows if needed.- Ubuntu won’t open — restart Windows, then run
wsl --update. - Command not found — check your spelling. Linux commands are case-sensitive.
🧠 Knowledge Check
Which installation method is recommended for most Windows users?
Which Linux distribution do we use throughout this course?
💼 Interview Preparation
What is WSL and why is it useful for DevOps engineers on Windows?
Summary
In this lesson you learned:
- The three main ways to install Linux (WSL, VirtualBox, VMware)
- Why Ubuntu 24.04 LTS is our distribution of choice
- How to install and verify your Linux environment
Your Linux environment is now ready for the rest of the course.