Make sure your CPU supports virtualization (you may have to turn it on in the BIOS)

cat /proc/cpuinfo |egrep '(svm|vmx)'

If you get no response, it doesn’t. A response means you’re good to go.

Download the Ubuntu Intrepid Beta alternate install CD

install qemu and kvm

sudo apt-get install qemu kvm

create the disk image that will serve as the virtualized intrepid’s hard drive

qemu-img create -f qcow2 intrepid.img 6G

start the vm, booting the Intrepid CD

sudo kvm -cdrom ubuntu-8.10-beta-alternate-i386.iso -hda intrepid.img -boot d -m 256M

Hit F4 to choose a command-line install; go through the installation.

When the installation finishes and reboots, kill the VM. Restart it with:

sudo kvm -hda qemu/intrepid.img -boot c -m 256M -redir tcp:2222::22 &

In the VM, turn off apt-get automatically installing recommended packages

echo 'APT::Install-Recommends "false";'|sudo tee /etc/apt/apt.conf

In the VM, Edit /etc/apt/sources.list to point to the closest mirror

In the VM, Bring yourself up-to-date and install openssh-server

sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get upgrade sudo apt-get install openssh-server

On your real machine, ssh into the VM.

ssh -p 2222 username@localhost

Have fun with your new virtual Intrepid.