Microsoft Has Its Own Linux? A Hands-on Look at Azure Linux
For decades, the idea of Microsoft shipping its own Linux operating system would have sounded like an April Fool's joke. Yet, here we are! Microsoft has released its very own Linux distribution that anyone can download, install, and experiment with.
It’s called Azure Linux (formerly known as CBL-Mariner), and it’s a free, open-source Linux distribution developed by Microsoft.
While it is primarily built for cloud-native workloads, containers, and servers, the latest major release (Azure Linux 4.0) is officially based on Fedora Linux. This shift means it has a solid, familiar ecosystem under the hood.
Could this eventually become a full-fledged desktop operating system to challenge Windows? Let’s dive in, see how to install it, and explore what Microsoft is cooking up.
What Exactly is Azure Linux?
If you're expecting a sleek, out-of-the-box Windows replacement with a start menu, you might be surprised.
At its core, Azure Linux is designed to be ultra-lightweight, secure, and minimalist. Because it’s built for server environments and container hosts (like Azure Kubernetes Service), it ships with a hardened kernel and no graphical user interface (GUI) by default.
However, because the system is RPM-based and draws directly from Fedora’s ecosystem, it utilizes the fast, modern dnf5 package manager. This makes the system incredibly powerful under the hood.
How to Get It and Try It Yourself
If you're curious and want to try it out in a Virtual Machine (VM) like VMware Workstation or VirtualBox, here is exactly how to do it:
1. Download the ISO
Head over to the official Microsoft Azure Linux GitHub Repository. Scroll down to the ISO Installer section, expand it, and you'll find download links for both x86_64 and ARM64 architectures.
2. Configure Your Virtual Machine
When creating your VM, keep these configuration tips in mind:
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Operating System: Choose Linux (specifically "Other Linux 6.x kernel" or "Fedora").
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Storage: Give it about 8 to 50 GB of disk space.
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RAM: 2 to 8 GB is plenty for testing.
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Graphics: Enable 3D acceleration.
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The Golden Rule — UEFI: Azure Linux requires UEFI to boot. It will not work on standard legacy BIOS. Make sure to change your VM's firmware type to UEFI in the advanced settings before starting!
The Setup Experience
When you boot the ISO, you’ll be greeted by the standard Grub bootloader. It gives you the option to install Azure Linux or try a live environment.
Once you select install, the interface feels a bit like an Arch Linux setup. It's command-line only, but don't let that intimidate you! The installer guides you through every step.
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Launch the Installer: At the command line, type:
install-azl -
Choose Your Installation: Select "Standard Installation" (Option 1).
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Configure Your Account: You’ll see a menu to configure your language, time zone, and user account. Go ahead and create your username and password.
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Automatic Partitioning: You don't have to worry about manual partitioning; the installer handles the destination drive settings automatically.
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Begin: Type b and hit enter to begin the installation. In just a few moments, the process will finish, and your system will reboot.
(Note: Don't be alarmed if the system reboots itself a second time after the initial boot—this is normal behavior for Azure Linux's initial setup!)
The Catch: Where is the GUI?
Once booted, you'll be greeted with a black screen and a login prompt. That's it!
Because Microsoft designed Azure Linux to be stripped down for cloud security and efficiency, they did not include a display server or desktop environment.
Can a Linux expert turn this into a desktop?
Technically, yes! Since it uses the Fedora package ecosystem, an advanced Linux user could manually install display servers (like Wayland or Xorg) and desktop environments (like GNOME or KDE). However, Microsoft explicitly notes that Azure Linux is not intended to be used as a traditional desktop, making a manual GUI setup quite a technical challenge.
Is Microsoft Preparing for a Linux Future?
With Linux desktop distributions like Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and CachyOS getting more polished and popular by the day, more everyday users are exploring life outside of Windows.
This raises an exciting theory: Is Microsoft preparing for a future where Linux takes over a larger share of the desktop market? By actively developing their own robust, Fedora-based Linux distribution, Microsoft ensures they have a highly optimized operating system ready to adapt. Whether they will eventually "cook" their own official desktop interface for Azure Linux remains a mystery, but they are certainly keeping their options open.
What do you think?
Would you ever use a Microsoft-made Linux desktop if they released an official GUI? Have you tried installing Azure Linux yourself?
I’ve also made a video on this topic — you can watch it below.
Check out my other posts, I post useful tutorials and tech tips, maybe you will find something useful 😉.