There are tons of tutorials out there. For example:
Note: You need a decent computer in order to run virtual machines.
Mainly a good CPU (recent CPU with SMT/ Hyperthreading) and enough RAM (I recommend 4 GB Ram per virtual Machine). Also you should have enough space on your SSD/HDD.
For example:
If you want to connect 100 characters
you need 3 VMs (1 per 25 characters + your main system). This means 12 GB RAM at least for the virtual machine. So you should at least have 16 GB RAM (I recommend 32 GB). Also 40 GB HDD/SSD space per virtual machine.
Besides that you should at least assign 2 Cores to each VM. A modern 8 Core CPU (Ryzen 3700X/ i9 9900k) should be the absolute minimum CPU in your PC in that case). But even those CPU will run on their limits in that case.
If 50 characters are enough:
- 1 virtual Machine
- 16 GB RAM (you can not have enough RAM these days)
- ~40 GB free space on your SSD/HDD for your VM
- At least a modern 6 Core CPU with SMT/HT