Linux virtual machine with WRF installed
WRF Model runs on UNIX platforms only. While this generally is not a problem for dedicated research or forecasting entities, for the casual user having access to only a Windows computer is faced with difficulties in trying out the modeling system. It is quite possible to install a UNIX-like operating system (e.g. Linux, BSD) alongside Windows, the technical details involved is enough to keep casual user from doing that.
With the introduction of a number of a number of Virtualization solutions by various entities another path has become open to try Linux tools on Windows. That is to use a Virtual_machine envornment that runs a Linux operating system within a virtual computer that is installed within windows. The beauty of the approach is the fact that the user does not have to be tech-savvy to use such a solution. Once a good setup is designed and implemented, it will run practically on any windows computer that is reasonably powerful. Read on for details ...
Creating a VM: Behind the Scene
In theory one needs to buy the VMware Desktop application or a similar software to create new VMs. However, the community has been hard at work for many year and there are numerous accounts on how, in practice (quite legally) by pass this requirement. For example, Easy VMX] is a web site that allows you to create a VM by just filling a form! Create one and download it to the local computer. Then install the free software called VMware player and you have a virtual PC ready to install any operating system. You can use a CD-ROM to install a Linux OS within the VM. After that the VM works just like another computer installed with Linux! The advantage is that it runs within a window of your Windows computer.
