I want to run Linux via virtualisation on OS X (10.4.10) on a G5 dual (2.3GHz, 4.5GB RAM), to:
A: Learn Linux
B: have a virtual "network" to do work on for some of my classes, as I have only one computer.

I was wondering what the best manner of approaching this is in terms of minimum fuss[1]. I already have Virtual PC 7.0.3, but wouldn't mind using other virtualisation/emulation software if that worked better. So this is half a "which distro" question and a half "other."

I have a few questions relating setting this all up.

Which distro plays best with Virtual PC (in the it "just works" sense)? My primary concern here is with the drivers/emulated hardware issue (I tried an Ubuntu 7.10 live CD, and it only worked with "safe graphics"... and no mouse).

or

Am I better off using some other software to run the virtual machine, and if so, what would one recommend (either x86 on PPC, or PPC on PPC, doesn't really matter)?

or

Is all of this virtual machine business a big huge mess, and am I better off trying to cobble together a second computer with duct tape, paperclips and chewing gum?

[1] As much as the geek in me wants to download a dozen distros, and maybe a *BSD as well, time constraints dictate that I get something working, sooner rather than later.

It's been ages since I did that, and Microsoft bought out Virtual PC in the meantime, so I guess everything has changed. However, when I was out of work and job hunting in 1997, I installed Virtual PC on a PowerPC 7100/80AV. I ran a dual boot under Virtual PC with Windows 95 and Linux. I don't remember now what linux it was. Anyway, that allowed me to learn a lot of stuff, which ultimately made the difference in getting the job that I got.

Your G5 is way faster, but then Microsoft has had it's hands on Virtual PC for a while. Don't know how that plays out. Except you would be running linux in it, not Windows. So that's an advantage.

I would use VMware Fusion or Parrels for virtualization on mac, VMware Fusion allows 3d hardware acceleration

I did have concerns that M$ wasn't really concerned about getting it (VPC)to play nice with anything but Windows[1]. Still, for an emulator, it works remarkably well. Before I wrote my original post, I tried Ubuntu 7, since I've heard that it it's pretty easy to get everything working right out of the box, but for whatver reason it wouldn't recognise my mouse, which kinda rendered the GUI more pain than it was worth.

(and now answering my own question) A voice in my head told me to try Ubuntu 6, which is happily installing itself in the background. The mouse works[2]. Life is good.


[1] Sadly, I have to use Windows for a few of my classes.
[2] Well, it traps itself in the virtual desktop forcing me to switch out of the app when I want to do Mac stuff, but a minor nusiance is far better than non-functioning.

It also only works with Intel Macs