User-Mode Linux is a method by which one can run the Linux kernel as an application. So even if one bungles up and makes a mess, just kill the application and restart it.
Installation instructions
Host PC: debian etch
install uml
sudo apt-get install uml-utilities user-mode-linux
The package user-mode-linux installs a binary linux.uml, which is the kernel in user application form. This will be called the guest kernel. The package uml-utilities installs uml_mconsole which is used to control the guest.
Get a root fs
Get a root file system from http://uml.nagafix.co.uk
wget http://uml.nagafix.co.uk/Debian-4.0/Debian-4.0-x86-root_fs.bz2
bunzip2 Debian-4.0-x86-root_fs.bz2
The compressed file is ~80MB. Uncompressed is about 1.1GB.
Booting guest kernel
linux ubd0=./Debian-4.0-x86-root_fs
when the login prompt appears login as root. No password is needed.
