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Is it possible to use windows to run an already existing locally installed linux within a VM/WSL? (lemmy.blahaj.zone)

submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by ada@lemmy.blahaj.zone to c/linux4noobs@lemmy.world

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I've got an image noise reduction app that I simply can't get working under linux, and that I can't find an equivalent tool for under linux.

I've tried VMs and wine and none of them work. My web searches haven't encountered anyone that can make it work either.

So, I'm at the point where I may need to boot in to windows to do my noise reduction. However, I would really love to be able to access my existing linux install via a VM or the like when I do so, so that I can access my daily driver software (which is all linux) whilst I'm in windows.

Is such a thing possible?

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[–] BearOfaTime@lemm.ee 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Sure, why not?

You can run Windows in a VM in Linux, or Linux in a VM in Windows, whichever way you need to go. It's done all the time in the business world.

Lots of the machines I use are just VMs. In the early 2000's, VM systems enabled running apps in a VM but appeared like they were running on the host - you launch the app via a shortcut, but it actually launches the VM where the app is installed.

KVM (Kernel Virtual Machine, Linux native virtualization) is so performant that even VMware has switched to it for their VMware Workstation virtualization.

So run your Linux desktop, and build a Windows VM using KVM.

[–] ada@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I can't use a Windows VM for this as I need GPU passthrough for the app I'm trying to run and I can't do GPU passthrough without a second dedicated video card

So, running linux in a VM under windows is the next plan, but I've been running linux for 6 months now, and don't want to maintain a second brand new install in the VM, but rather, I would like to spin up my existing local linux install in a VM when I'm forced to boot in to windows, and that's what I'm asking about. I don't know if that's possible.

[–] BearOfaTime@lemm.ee 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

It should be.

VMware had Physical-to-Virtual tools 15 years ago. Since then I've used a few other tools.

I'm sure there's open-source, or Linux-based P-to-V tools today, I haven't looked into it. That's what you want to search for though.

Essentially you need a tool that can make an image of a disk. Which the Virtualization system can then mount and use as a virtual machine. There's a few standard disk image formats today, and most products today support them all to some degree.

I wouldn't be surprised if KVM had this built in.

[–] TherapyGary@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

VMware has their own vCenter Converter Standalone tool, and theres also others like clonezilla. And here's a KVM single GPU passthrough tutorial. KVM doesn't have built in p2v conversion, but it's preferred for GPU passthrough