[RndTbl] Windows activation on Linux VM host?

[Kevin McGregor]

Oops! Brain tired. Should read "If the two Linux hosts have the same CPUs
(manufacturer and gen) you should have no problem".

On Thu, Jan 21, 2021 at 8:42 AM Kevin McGregor <kevin.a.mcgregor at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Yes, this will work fine.
>
> I'm assuming you will create a Windows VM on one Linux box (KVM,
> VirtualBox, VMware, whatever), then install Windows 10 into that VM. When
> Windows is installed and boots, it will get activated *in that VM image*,
> which is 100% supported by Microsoft. Don't p2v. If this VM is stored on a
> removable media, you would just shut down the VM, unplug the media, move it
> physically to a different Linux host, plug it in, then boot the VM.
>
> Windows will still think it's running on the same VM, *because it is*, and
> thus not need reactivation.
>
> If the two Linux hosts have different CPUs (keep the same manufacturer and
> gen) you should have no problem. Everything else about the VM is
> encapsulated - BIOS version, motherboard, devices, etc. The versions of the
> virtualisation software should be the same or as similar as possible.
> Obviously don't try to boot a VM on VirtualBox on one host and KVM on
> another host.
>
> On Thu, Jan 21, 2021 at 2:55 AM Trevor Cordes <trevor at tecnopolis.ca>
> wrote:
>
>> Is it possible to run a virtual Windows (10) on a Linux host running
>> something like virtualbox?  It has to be normal Win 10 Home or Pro though,
>> no corporate licensing.
>>
>> I ask because I'm unsure how Windows activation (cursed be!) handles that
>> situation.  I'd like to be able to run the same host image on 2 different
>> boxes (but not at the same time) and not have it moan about activation.
>> So I guess the question is more this: does the VM hide/abstract the
>> hardware enough from Windows to have it think it hasn't changed boxes?
>>
>> (The idea is a portable drive with the VM on it would travel between 2
>> locations which are never used simultaneously.  Each location would have
>> an identical Linux box.  Don't ask why; suffice it to say that speed is
>> paramount and cloud or net access or remote access won't cut it.  Lugging
>> the entire box is not an option.  Laptop is a very sub-par option.)
>>
>> Thanks!
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>
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