[SavellM]

So I have a 128gb SSD USB flash drive.

I was originally going install a OS directly on the USB and boot into that.

But now I'm thinking what about a VM host instead?!

Basically I'm wondering if I could have something like ESXi install on the USB drive, and then to install a Linux VM onto that.
BUT from within my current Windows PC.

So I already have windows 8.1 installed, and I would like to continue with that, and just have the ESXi ontop of that if possible?

Then I can move it around to other machines, without having to boot into the USB drive...

Is something like this even possible?

 

[sweenytodd]

Just use VMware Workstation. Use it to create a VM of the distro that you like. Then have a copy of the VM and the VMware installer in the same USB drive to carry it with you wherever you go.

 

[SavellM]

Umm thanks, will give that a bash.

 

[Sisaroth]

What do you mean with VM host? Usually when talking about VMs the host is the OS running directly on the hardware (would be windows 8 if i understood you correctly). The OS running in a VM is called the guest.
Quote:

without having to boot into the USB drive...

What do you mean with that?

You could have the virtual hard disk on the USB drive and when you are done working suspend and have the snapshot saved also on the USB. The VM software will have to be installed on every machine you will run the guest on i think.

But just a warning, if your usb drive is a typical USB flash drive and not a external HDD/SDD then i wouldn't store any unbackuped critical data in your VM. USB flash drives will wear out very fast i think if you are gonna run an OS on them.

Might also be useful information:
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3445779/is-it-possible-to-create-portable-vm
http://www.howtogeek.com/188142/use-portable-virtualbox-to-take-virtual-machines-with-you-everywhere/

 

[SavellM]

Yeah i didnt think if it was totally possible.

But thanks for the VM portable link, thats really helpful