I'm curious if it's actually possible to run virtual machines on a server OS. I've heard conflicting opinions. Ideally, I want to have a command-line interface (CLI) server OS running on bare metal, and then boot into VMs like Windows 11 or Ubuntu from there. Some folks suggest that server operating systems can handle this, but I'm not sure how it works without a graphical user interface (GUI) to manage the VMs. I'm specifically looking to avoid multi-boot setups for various reasons. Any insights?
3 Answers
Yes, you can definitely run VMs using a server OS! For instance, Proxmox VE is a great choice specifically designed for this purpose. Just keep in mind that server OSs are usually accessed remotely, often through SSH or a web-based interface, rather than directly from the machine itself. So, while you *can* boot into a VM, it won't look or feel like how you manage VMs in applications like VirtualBox. Let me know if you need more details on how to set it up!
Exactly! I would recommend looking into Proxmox or similar options; they have a good balance for accessing VMs through a UI, even if it's remote.
Proxmox is solid! I've tried vSphere and other headless Linux setups, but Proxmox really stands out for its polished handling of virtualization.
For your needs, just ensure that the server OS you're considering supports virtualization features like KVM or similar, which are essential for running those VMs smoothly.
That's what I was thinking! But it does feel confusing when people talk about it without really explaining the practical approach.