Syncing your Zune in Linux has always been an issue because of Microsoft’s proprietary methodology and lack of cooperation in the open source world. If you just can’t dual-boot into windows to do your music synchronization we may have a solution for you.

I’ve never been a fan of running virtualization software; mainly because VMware costs money and I don’t like paying for stuff. The nice thing is a somewhat new project called VirtualBox can help you out. VirtualBox is very similar to VMware except its open source, and free. Using VirtualBox you can install Windows XP, and then of course your Zune software.

1. Install VirtualBox
2. Install Windows XP
3. Install your Zune software.
4. Sync Music
5. Share a folder in your VirtualMachine and access it from your native Linux OS.

This isn’t a perfect solution, and I hate asking people to install Windows in a virtual computer, but sometime you just have no choice. On the bright side, at least you don’t have to purchase an expensive virtualization software now that VirtualBox is going good.

I forgot to mention that Sun Microsystems is heading up VirtualBox, so it’s got some good backing behind it as well.