How to explore Linux without fully installing it

Linux is a popular free and open-source alternative to the traditional Windows and macOS operating systems. It’s best known for its customization, security, stability, privacy, large supportive community, and great environment for learning about operating systems and computer science concepts.

Yet installing Linux is not the easiest task anyone can complete. While it doesn't take advanced level knowledge to make the switch to Linux, it does take some precautions and preparation to successfully and fully replace your current operating system with Linux. 

Luckily, there are several ways to access Linux without fully committing. Below, we will cover the most popular risk-free methods for exploring Linux. 

Bootable USB or CD

Creating a bootable or live USB or CD of Linux is a relatively straightforward task. You download a Linux distribution of your choice, create a bootable drive with Rufus or Etcher or any other program used for writing image files, and boot the created media drive when you start your computer. It is a quick process that doesn't impact your computer's hard drive like some of the other options below.

Dual Boot

Dual booting is a bit more challenging than creating a bootable USB or CD. It requires you to create a separate partition on your computer's hard drive for Linux. With this setup, you can install Linux alongside the original operating system. Upon booting your computer, you would select the desired operating system to run. With this method, you can only use one operating system at a time.

Virtual Machine 

A virtual machine (VM) is a software-based emulation of a computer system. To create a VM, you first have to install virtualization software. The most popular virtualization software are VirtualBox, VMware, and Parallels. After you install virtualization software, you simply create a virtual machine and install a Linux distro of your choice within the VM. By using a VM, you can run Linux within your existing operating system.

Web-based  

Web-based solutions for accessing Linux allow you to explore it from your web browser. You can also access Linux from a terminal or console-like environment or desktop GUI.

A great way to learn Linux and cybersecurity concepts is the online game OverTheWire. For the game, you SSH to the game and go through the many levels. Each level is more advanced and difficult. If your ultimate goal is to become a penetration tester, OverTheWire is a great way to get your feet wet.

Another website I'd like to highlight is DistroSea. This website allows you to test drive over 50 of the most popular Linux distros. You go to the website and click on a distro, which queues up a live environment for you to demo. It's a great way to get a hands-on preview of the Linux desktop environments.

Cloud-based

Lastly, you can access Linux using a cloud service provider like Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, or Google Cloud Platform. First, you would create a virtual machine instance in the respective cloud service provider. Then, you would simply access Linux via a desktop environment or SSH.

Follow GeekSided to learn more about Linux and the ways you can use it.