How to create lightweight virtual machines on your PC or server

If you've ever wanted to try out a different operating system, download ready-made virtual machine images, set up a small home lab, or launch a server without having to buy any additional hardware, virtual machines are your best friend. These days, with multi-core processors and plenty of RAM in almost any PC, creating lightweight and fast virtual machines is within everyone's reach, whether for tinkering or serious projects.

In the following lines, we'll take a detailed look at exactly what a virtual machine is, how virtualization works, the role of the hypervisor, the different types of solutions available (desktop, server, and containerized) , and which specific programs you can use depending on your needs. You'll also see what your PC requires, the advantages and disadvantages of these systems, and some practical ideas for replicating the experience of hosting a VPS on your own machine or on a server using Proxmox, KVM, or similar software.

What exactly is a virtual machine and what is it used for?

A virtual machine (VM) is, simply put, a complete computer simulated by software that lives inside your real PC. This virtual computer has its own RAM, its own disk, its own virtual BIOS/UEFI, and its own guest operating system, while your regular system is the host.

In practice, it's like having several computers in one : you can run Windows on a Linux laptop, set up a Linux server within Windows 11, or create an isolated testing environment within your own Windows to install suspicious programs without compromising the main system.

To achieve this, the virtual machine emulates or exposes virtual hardware (CPU, virtual graphics card, network cards, disks, etc.) that actually relies on your computer's physical resources. The guest operating system believes it is running on a physical PC, when in reality everything is orchestrated by the virtualization software.

This software is the famous hypervisor , which distributes processor, memory, and storage between the host and the different virtual machines, and which guarantees isolation so that an error or malware in one VM does not bring down the rest of the systems, at least in theory.

How virtualization works: hypervisor, host and guest

The heart of this whole system is the hypervisor . It's the piece of software (or firmware, in some cases) that controls the physical hardware and presents it to the virtual machines as if it were their own. When a VM needs CPU, RAM, or disk access, the hypervisor intercepts that request and translates it to the real hardware.

In this model we always have three main players with names and surnames: the host machine , which is your physical PC and its main operating system; the guest machine , which is the VM with its virtualized operating system; and the hypervisor itself, which can run on the host system or directly on the hardware.

When you're inside a VM and a program requests more memory or issues a special CPU instruction, the hypervisor schedules that instruction on the physical processor, allocates RAM from the host's available memory, and ensures that each machine only sees the resources you've assigned it. Storage is typically represented as one or more virtual disk files (VDI, VMDK, QCOW2, etc.), and tools exist to convert virtual disks between formats when you need compatibility or to migrate images between hypervisors.

One of the keys to creating lightweight virtual machines is carefully managing the allocated resources: neither too little, which causes bottlenecks, nor too much, which overwhelms the host system. The type of hypervisor you're using also plays a role here.

Types of hypervisors and how they differ

Not all hypervisors work the same way or are aimed at the same type of user. Generally speaking, they tend to fall into two main groups, which greatly influence the performance and speed of your virtual machines.

On one hand, there are Type 1 hypervisors , also called bare-metal hypervisors. These are installed directly on the hardware, taking the place of the traditional operating system. This is the case with solutions like Proxmox VE, VMware ESXi, XenServer, and many KVM implementations on servers . Here, the hypervisor is the base system, and you create and manage the VMs on top of it.

This approach typically offers higher performance and less overhead because there are fewer layers between the guest operating system and the hardware. It's ideal for servers, production environments, and when you want to maximize the CPU, RAM, and GPU performance, for example, for AI workloads or full desktop virtualization.

On the other hand, there are Type 2 hypervisors , which run as just another application within a host operating system. Products like VirtualBox, VMware Workstation Player/Pro, Parallels Desktop, and GNOME Boxes fall into this category. They are typical desktop options: easy to install, with a user-friendly graphical interface, and designed for a single user.

In these cases the hypervisor relies on the host system, so there is a bit more overhead, but in return you gain a lot of convenience , better integration with the desktop and less of a learning curve to start creating lightweight virtual machines for testing, development or training.

Advantages, disadvantages, and risks of using virtual machines

Before diving headfirst into installing hypervisors and creating VMs like there's no tomorrow, it's worth understanding their advantages and disadvantages. Virtualization has exploded in popularity because it offers very specific benefits for both home users and businesses.

Among its advantages, one of the most powerful is that it allows you to use multiple operating systems simultaneously on a single physical machine. A Windows PC can host several Linux distributions, a Mac can run Windows for specific applications, or a server can group email, databases, and web servers as independent VMs.

It also makes the work of developers and administrators much easier, as they can test software in isolated environments , reproduce production scenarios, create complex virtual networks, or simulate entire infrastructures without needing to fill a rack of physical machines.

Another very interesting advantage is security and isolation . Running suspicious software, opening dubious attachments, or browsing untrusted websites within a virtual machine reduces the risk to the main system. Even tools like Windows Sandbox are based on this concept to give you a volatile mini-Windows environment where everything you do disappears when you close it.

At the administrative level, VMs allow for better resource management , server consolidation, savings on hardware and energy, and the use of features like snapshots to freeze a system's state before a risky change and revert to a previous state if something breaks. If you need more information on creating and managing snapshots in business environments, see how to create snapshots in VMware.

However, it's not all perfect. The first major drawback is performance : there's always a slight or significant penalty compared to running the system directly on the hardware. This isn't as noticeable in office tasks, web development, or testing, but it becomes apparent in 3D games, rendering, or very intensive GPU and disk loads.

Furthermore, virtual machines are resource hogs . Running two operating systems simultaneously means your PC needs plenty of CPU, RAM, and storage. A barely capable machine will struggle if you try to run multiple VMs simultaneously or if you install resource-intensive guest operating systems like Windows 11 with demanding applications.

The real-world security aspect must also be considered . Many people believe that using a VM + VPN is like being invisible on the internet, but that's not the case. A phishing attack in the VM's browser can infect the VM itself, and certain types of advanced malware can even attempt to escape to the host by exploiting vulnerabilities in the hypervisor or shared networks. For Windows environments focused on maximum protection, you can learn about Shielded VMs in Hyper-V and other isolation measures.

Therefore, good security practices (not opening any attachment, updating systems and hypervisors, using antivirus when appropriate, segmenting virtual networks, etc.) remain just as necessary both inside and outside a virtual machine.

What your PC needs to create lightweight virtual machines

To ensure your experience with virtual machines doesn't become an ordeal, your equipment must meet some fairly clear minimum requirements, especially if you want the VMs to be agile and lightweight and not seem to be running on fumes.

Regarding the processor, it's practically essential that it be 64-bit and have hardware virtualization support (Intel VT-x, AMD-V, or equivalent) enabled in the BIOS/UEFI. For basic use, at least 4 physical cores are recommended, and if you plan to run several demanding VMs or do AI work, 6 or 8 cores are better. If you don't have it enabled, follow a guide to activate virtualization from the BIOS/UEFI.

RAM is the most critical resource. The host machine and the VMs have to coexist, so if you only have 8 GB, you'll be cutting it close when you try to run a couple of virtual machines with graphical desktops. These days, it's reasonable to start with 16 GB of RAM for comfortable virtualization , and if you plan to create many VMs simultaneously, aim for 32 GB.

Regarding storage, an SSD is practically mandatory these days . VMs generate a lot of disk access, and a mechanical HDD significantly impacts performance during boot times, system installations, and intensive I/O operations. Plan to allocate at least 50 GB per VM for desktop Linux distributions and 80 GB or more for Windows.

Don't forget to also check GPU compatibility if you plan to pass it through to a VM to maximize graphics acceleration or AI models. In environments like Proxmox, KVM, or Proxmox+LXC, you can pass through GPUs, disks, and other PCI devices, which requires suitable hardware and a bit more technical know-how. To better understand the use of dedicated devices, see how to use raw devices in virtual machines.

Desktop programs for creating virtual machines

If you're using a desktop or laptop PC and want to start creating lightweight virtual machines without dealing with server hypervisors, the usual option is to use Type 2 hypervisors with a graphical interface . Here are the most well-known ones and what you can expect from them.

VirtualBox is probably the most popular tool among home users and beginners. It's free, cross-platform (Windows, Linux, and macOS), and allows you to create VMs of virtually any system: from Windows XP to Windows 11, including numerous Linux distributions, Solaris, or even older versions of macOS (with their limitations).

Its graphical interface is relatively simple and allows for clear adjustment of RAM, CPU cores, storage type, network, EFI, USB, shared folders , and much more. It saves machine configurations in XML, making it easy to move them between computers. Furthermore, the "Guest Additions" improve mouse integration, screen resolution, and clipboard sharing between host and guest. If you're looking for advanced commands and examples, VirtualBox Commands and Examples is a good resource.

Among its drawbacks, it hasn't supported 32-bit hosts for some time now , so if you're still using a 32-bit system, you'll be stuck on older, unsupported versions. It has also had its ups and downs with support for certain features, such as TPM 2.0 virtualization for Windows 11, which in some cases necessitates workarounds to bypass the requirements.

Another widely used option is VMware Workstation , which has a free version for personal use (Player) and a more complete paid version (Pro). It's available for Windows and Linux, and while its setup wizard is quite user-friendly, advanced configuration can be more complex than in VirtualBox , as it offers more networking options, snapshots, advanced cloning, and fine-tuning of virtual hardware.

The Pro version allows you to run multiple VMs simultaneously with excellent integration, clone machines, create complex virtual networks, and even virtualize the host system itself for testing. However, it's a product geared more towards professional users, requiring a paid license to unlock its full potential and offering a level of detail that might overwhelm those who simply want "a VM to test Linux." If you're interested in automating VM-related tasks in Windows, we have guides on how to automate virtual machine startup.

On macOS, the traditional king is Parallels Desktop . It's highly polished for running Windows and Linux within macOS with a very high level of integration: shared clipboard, drag and drop, shared folders, Windows applications integrated into the Dock, and more. It's ideal for those who need Windows applications without giving up the Mac environment.

Parallels can also virtualize other systems (Android, various Linux distributions), automatically optimizes resource allocation, and is very well tuned for performance. The major drawback is that it's a paid product and exclusive to macOS , so if you use Windows or Linux, it's useless to you.

In the Apple ecosystem we also find Veertu , which aims for a similar use (virtualizing Windows and Linux on Mac) with a lightweight and relatively easy-to-use approach, and Wineskin Winery , which is not really a complete VM, but a Wine-like layer for running Windows applications packaged in "containers" within macOS, ideal for games or small programs without having to set up an entire Windows system.

Native virtualization in Windows and macOS: Hyper-V, Sandbox, and Boot Camp

In addition to third-party tools, both Microsoft and Apple offer their own solutions for virtualizing or running other operating systems, each with its own particularities and limitations, which can be useful for creating very specific lightweight environments.

In the case of Windows, the official solution is Hyper-V , included in Windows Server for years and in the Pro and Enterprise editions of 64-bit Windows 8, 8.1, 10, and 11. Hyper-V functions as a Type 1 hypervisor, supported by the system itself, and allows the creation of VMs of Windows, Linux, and even some versions of other operating systems with very decent performance.

Its main advantage is its integration into the Microsoft ecosystem : it serves as the foundation for Windows Sandbox, WSL2 (Windows Subsystem for Linux), Docker Desktop on Windows, and many enterprise solutions. The drawback is that its interface and workflow are not as user-friendly as VirtualBox for novice users, and it can also conflict with other hypervisors; if you enable Hyper-V, VirtualBox or VMware often experience performance drops because they no longer directly control the hardware.

Windows Sandbox is essentially a special mode of Hyper-V that starts a temporary, lightweight instance of your Windows system, isolated and designed exclusively for safely testing software . It's not a typical "work VM": it doesn't save changes, has limited options, and is focused on quick tests, but it's perfect for testing questionable installers.

The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL/WSL2) also leverages Microsoft virtualization technologies to deliver Linux environments within Windows. WSL2, in particular, runs a real Linux kernel in an optimized mini virtual machine, allowing you to run console applications, development tools, and, with some configuration, graphical applications.

It's not a generic virtualization system like VirtualBox (you don't install just any distro like on a physical PC), but it offers a very lightweight way to run Linux for development without leaving Windows, with access to shared files and good features for terminal, compilers, Docker, and more.

In the Mac world, for years the option to have Windows without virtualization was Boot Camp , which doesn't create a VM, but rather generates a partition to install Windows "straight up" and allows you to boot your Mac alternately into macOS or Windows. This provides native performance , since there's no emulation or intermediate layers, but you can't use macOS and Windows simultaneously, nor can you dynamically share resources.

With the arrival of Macs with Apple Silicon (ARM) processors, Boot Camp has been left in limbo, because there is no official version of Windows for that architecture that can be installed in a supported way. On these machines, the alternative becomes directly using hypervisors like Parallels adapted for ARM, or specific solutions like UTM for iOS and macOS ARM.

Server solutions for lightweight VMs: Proxmox, KVM, Xen and others

When you want to take things a step further and set up something similar to what a VPS provider offers (creating VMs in two clicks, assigning IPs via DHCP, taking snapshots, migrating them between nodes, etc.), the best option is to move to Tier 1 hypervisors or server solutions . This is where names like Proxmox, KVM, Xen, VMware vSphere, or Citrix XenServer come into play.

Proxmox VE is one of the gems of free software in this field. Based on Debian, it installs directly as the operating system on the server and offers an HTML5 web interface from which you can create and manage KVM machines and LXC containers , handle virtual networks, shared storage, snapshots, backups, high availability, and much more.

One of its biggest advantages is that it's optimized to consume very few resources at its base, so almost all available hardware can be dedicated to VMs. It also allows passthrough of GPUs and other PCI devices, making it very interesting for setting up your own AI server or virtualized workstations with direct access to the graphics card; to see how to manage devices at a low level, see [link to relevant documentation].

If you're coming from the world of VPSs and want to replicate the experience of "creating an Ubuntu VM in a minute," Proxmox shines especially when combined with cloud-init templates and image storage. You can have a pre-made Ubuntu template, and when cloning, each VM receives its network configuration via DHCP or statically thanks to cloud-init, automatically changing the IP address and other parameters to avoid duplicating identities.

Underlying Proxmox and many other solutions is KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) , which is part of the Linux kernel and transforms the system itself into a hypervisor. KVM allows you to run completely isolated environments with near-native performance thanks to its direct integration with the kernel and its use of CPU virtualization extensions.

KVM is used by desktop tools like virt-manager, GNOME Boxes, and virt-install , as well as server solutions like Proxmox and many private cloud services. However, it does require a certain level of Linux knowledge and usually demands decent hardware; it's a very powerful environment, but not so user-friendly for those coming exclusively from Windows.

Another alternative in this area is Xen , an open-source hypervisor that has been widely used in public clouds and enterprise solutions for years. It's very versatile and considered one of the most secure hypervisors when configured correctly, with support even from manufacturers like Intel. However, its complexity and history of vulnerabilities make it less than ideal for a home user who only wants a couple of lightweight VMs.

On the commercial side, VMware vSphere/ESXi and Citrix XenServer (now Citrix Hypervisor) are benchmarks for enterprise virtualization, with advanced features such as live migration, clustering, centralized management, performance reporting, thin provisioning, and more. They are excellent solutions, but with paid licenses, designed for data centers and not so much for the typical desktop home lab.

Containers and Docker: Lightweight virtualization with fine print

When discussing the creation of lightweight virtual machines, the topic of containers, especially Docker, inevitably comes up. It's important to clarify that, while the goal is similar (isolating things), the technology is different and doesn't completely replace traditional VMs.

While a VM emulates or exposes complete hardware to run an entire guest operating system, a container like those in Docker shares the host system's kernel and only packages the application and its dependencies. This makes them much faster to boot, use less disk space, and consume fewer resources—ideal for microservices, APIs, databases, caches, and more.

For example, instead of creating a full Linux VM to run a web server, you can deploy an Nginx container that includes only the essentials. Performance is excellent, boot times are measured in seconds or milliseconds, and you can scale horizontally with ease.

However, Docker should not be confused with a virtual machine . In Docker, you don't "install a complete Windows or Linux system" in the same way as in VirtualBox, and isolation relies heavily on the shared kernel. Nor does it come with a desktop environment or the same flexibility as a general-purpose VM.

For many server scenarios, containers are the lightest way to deploy services, but if what you need is GPU passthrough, a full desktop, or to play and develop from the same machine , VMs are still the primary option, and Docker becomes more of a complement than a replacement.

Lightweight virtualization in Linux: Boxes, virt-manager, Multipass and DOSBox

If you're already using Linux or want to make the leap to using it as the basis for your lightweight virtual machines, you have several interesting tools, from the most user-friendly to those designed for pure and simple automation.

In desktop environments like GNOME, the GNOME Boxes application offers a very simple way to create virtual machines using Linux's native virtualization via KVM. Its interface is more minimalist than VirtualBox's, but it covers the basic options: amount of memory, number of CPUs, storage, graphics acceleration, EFI boot, etc.

For those who need more control, virt-manager is the classic graphical manager for KVM/QEMU machines, with a huge range of configuration parameters. And if you prefer the command line, virt-install lets you automate the creation and provisioning of VMs using scripts, perfect for setting up repeatable environments without touching a mouse.

Another interesting and cross-platform tool is Multipass , developed by Canonical. It works on Windows, Linux, and macOS and is designed to provide lightweight Ubuntu instances on the fly , ideal for development and testing. It uses Hyper-V on Windows, HyperKit on macOS, and KVM on Linux, and integrates well with Cloud-init to simulate cloud deployments.

Multipass lets you start an Ubuntu VM with a single command, share folders with the host, and keep images up to date. It's not the most user-friendly option for someone who's never used a terminal, but for developers who want clean Ubuntu environments without setting up a large server, it's a very effective tool.

In a much more retro vein, there's DOSBox , which isn't designed to create modern virtual machines, but rather to emulate the old MS-DOS and 286/386-type hardware . It's used to play classic games and run old programs that are impossible to launch on current systems. It doesn't have a sophisticated graphical interface (it's command-line based) and is geared almost exclusively towards nostalgia and preservation.

Specific options for Mac, iOS, and running Windows apps

Beyond Parallels and Veertu on macOS, the Apple ecosystem has other interesting solutions when you're looking to run software from other operating systems without setting up a heavy VM.

We've already mentioned Wineskin Winery , which acts as an interface for Wine and allows you to wrap Windows programs in "wraps" that run like native Mac apps. It's ideal for games and less complex applications, although it falls short for large suites like Office or very heavy workloads.

In the mobile realm, UTM is a powerful tool for creating virtual machines on iOS (iPhone and iPad) and Macs with Apple Silicon, without jailbreaking. It emulates over 30 different processor types and can run systems like Windows, Linux, or Android, with a relatively simple interface and advanced options for those who want to experiment.

UTM leverages QEMU underneath and offers a surprisingly convenient way to have lightweight virtual machines on mobile devices , although, logically, the performance and storage limitations of an iPhone or iPad are not the same as those of a desktop PC.

How to choose the right tool and not die trying

With so many options available, it's easy to get confused. The key to choosing the best virtualization solution (and thus creating the lightest possible virtual machines for your needs) is to be clear about your purpose and your level of experience.

If you're a desktop user and just want to try out other Linux distributions, run a specific program, or isolate your environment a bit , the most sensible thing to do is start with something like VirtualBox, VMware Player, or GNOME Boxes. They're easy to install, have extensive documentation, and don't require learning any unusual commands.

If, on the other hand, your plan is to set up a small home server for yourself and your friends, create VPS-type VMs with their own IP, automate deployments, or experiment with GPU passthrough for AI or games, you should look at Proxmox, KVM with virt-manager, Xen, or even vSphere , knowing that the learning curve is steeper but the possibilities are greater.

Always consider aspects such as ease of use (interface, wizards, documentation), price and licensing (free, paid, limited editions), hardware control (device passthrough, network type, graphics acceleration), compatibility with the guest systems you want to use, and the advanced features you actually need (snapshots, backups, clustering, hybrid clouds, etc.). To better understand networking options, consult the network types in Hyper-V, VirtualBox, and VMware.

Don't forget that, while virtualization offers extra protection, virtual machines aren't a magic bullet : if they're misconfigured, if you use bridged networks carelessly, or if you have bad habits, you can open doors to malware, data leaks, or hypervisor vulnerabilities. Keeping everything updated and applying the same security measures as on a physical system remains essential.

Ultimately, whether you want a super minimalist environment that only runs VMs for gaming and development, or you intend to set up a small "mini-cloud" at home, the current virtualization ecosystem gives you more than enough tools to achieve lightweight, fast, and quite secure virtual machines , provided you properly adjust the resources, choose the right hypervisor, and overcome your fear of experimenting with a bit of method.