Updated: Jan. 29, 2011, 10:07 p.m.

Qemu

qemu is great for doing some quick-and-dirty stuff.

Install Ubuntu on CF-card or some other RAW device

sudo qemu -hda /dev/sdc -cdrom ubuntu-10.04-server-i386.iso -m 128 -net nic,vlan=0 -net user,vlan=0

Running an image such as flashrd

qemu -hda flashimg.i386-20101001 -m 128 -net nic,vlan=0 -net user,vlan=0