Useful Resources
Free Hypervisors
These hypervisors are great for standing up your own home lab! I have several videos available on my YouTube channel walking through the standup of virtual lab environments in these different hypervisors. Using these videos and the details below, you should be able to figure out which one works best for your needs-
- Proxmox – A free, open-source hypervisor ideal for bare-metal server installations. Excellent choice if you’re running a dedicated lab host.
- VMware Desktop Hypervisor (formerly VMware Fusion) – A solid option for users with limited resources or lightweight labs, allowing you to virtualize directly on your existing laptop.
- VirtualBox – Another great laptop-friendly hypervisor. While I personally prefer VMware, I’ve used VirtualBox extensively and it remains a reliable free option.
Virtual Machines
If you’re just getting started with virtualization and aren’t sure what to explore first, here are a few great free options to try:
- Ubuntu – A beginner-friendly Linux distribution that’s perfect for learning Linux fundamentals or general daily use. Extremely versatile with endless possibilities
- Kali Linux – A security-focused Linux distribution packed with penetration testing and analysis tools. Ideal for exploring cybersecurity basics
- pfSense – A powerful, open-source firewall platform that’s perfect for learning networking, firewalling, routing, and traffic inspection.
