Or possibly you have various Linux containers set up for different purposes: one for work and one for basic function. In any case, having this flexibility might be advantageous.
Obviously, considered that Google is very focused on keeping Chrome OS protect, implementing Linux and VM support on external drives does bring some challenges. There has been developer chatter on how to best keep the environment secure while likewise bringing this external drive feature.
The last relevant commentary on the security aspect was to “permit extra disks only on untrusted VMs”, but that may not be a bad thing.
If you have a Chromebook with a fairly meager 16 or 32 GB of storage, running Linux through Project Crostini may not be an alternative due to restricted local storage. Back in 2018, Google understood this and started work on permitting Linux to run from an external drive connected to a Chromebook. After a year of silence, work has actually recently resumed on this function; numerous code updates moving the effort forward have been devoted in the last few months.
Recently, weve seen progress on enabling such VMs and those have resulted in the ability to install Windows 10 in a virtual device on a Chromebook. In theory, one might run any os within such an untrusted VM with the only caution being that it may not have full access to all software and hardware on your Chromebook.
At the minute, theres no target version of Chrome OS for this function, so if it does get carried out, its surely out several months yet.
If you have a Chromebook with a fairly weak 16 or 32 GB of storage, running Linux through Project Crostini might not be an alternative due to minimal regional storage. Back in 2018, Google realized this and started deal with permitting Linux to range from an external drive connected to a Chromebook. After a year of silence, work has actually recently resumed on this feature; numerous code updates moving the effort forward have actually been dedicated in the last couple of months.
Assuming this change goes forward, it could let some otherwise Crostini-capable Chromebooks with limited storage area run the virtual maker for Linux on a USB-drive or even an SD memory card. If you get the possibility to try this; running a virtual maker with a Linux container on slower media wouldnt be ideal, youll want fast media in either case.
I see the prospective need for this on Chromebooks with smaller internal drives, it might benefit all Chromebooks users.
For example, you may have 64 or more GB of storage capability on your gadget but perhaps youre utilizing the bulk of it just for Chrome OS, Android apps and file storage. It would come in handy to simply whip out a USB drive with your Linux circumstances, boot up and do whatever you need to in the virtual machine.
