Run Ubuntu On Mac With Virtualbox (The Complete Guide) Virtual machine vs dual boot. There are two ways that we can run Ubuntu on the Mac. We can either setup a dual boot. In this tutorial we will learn how to install Ubuntu Desktop on a Mac OS X host using Virtualbox, a.
Ubuntu Desktop VM on a Mac
- Launch VMWare Fusion (the instructions here are for version 7). Click on File - New and choose to Install from disc or image. Click on Use another disc or disc image and choose your.iso file with the Ubuntu image. Choose Easy Install, fill in password, and check the.
- Create the Ubuntu Desktop VM Open VMware Fusion, click + then New Click Install from disc or image. Either drag the Ubuntu ISO image from finder into the box with the.
Preface: This tutorial outlines creating an Ubuntu Desktop VM using VMware WorkStation on a PC.
Prerequisites:
- Your Mac can host a Ubuntu VM (e.g., see Local VM Hosting) and VMware Fusion has been installed.
- You have access to an Ubuntu install .iso.
Video demonstrating build guidance below
Build the VM
Start VMware Fusion and use File | New, select Install from disc or image, and click Continue on the dialog.
Choose 'Use another disc or disc image', find your Ubuntu image where it's stored and select it, then click Continue.
Provide a Display Name, Account Name (i.e., login ID) and password to be used to login to the server ⇐make this something you will remember because resetting it is difficult at best. I would also check 'Make your home folder accessible to the virtual machine' with Read & Write; this will facilitate moving files back and forth. Click Continue when you are ready to roll.
VMware's defaults (e.g., 2 GB memory, 20 GB hard drive) are ok as a starting point so for a first-ever VM so probably just leave them. You can use Customize Settings to adjust the memory and other aspects of the VM but these can be manipulated later as well. Click Finish to start the VM build. You will be asked for a VM name and a storage location ... I chose tschLS1 and left the VM in Virtual Machines folder on the Mac (not shown).
You will see a black screen with a play button but thin install should start automatically in a bit (if not, click the play button). You should see some different activities in your VM window and shortly it should settle into installing Ubuntu. If you get a prompt about the latest version of VMware Tools I'd choose Download and Install. You might get a prompt asking for Administrator approval from VMware and you should say yes. Just be patient while this happens and the VM will likely reboot itself a few times. You can minimize VMware Fusion and do other things but now is not a good time to turn off or even hibernate your computer.
How To Download Ubuntu Vm
After awhile (depending on your host computer speed and capability of the disk where you are building the VM) you will see the VM start to install Ubuntu in earnest, providing screens telling you how good it will be. Just continue to be patient and again, you can minimize Fusion but don't turn off or hibernate your host computer. Note: When working with a VM window you might have to 'click twice' the first time mousing back in after doing something else on your computer; in a sense the first click transfers focus to the VM window and the second click is actually within the Window. Once you are in the VM window things work normally.
After awhile Ubuntu installs and presents you with a login screen. Click your name, enter your password, and choose Sign in.
After a bit (again, time depends on your host's capacity) Ubuntu tries to link you up with your Online Accounts. For a VM I plan to throw away in a few months, I wouldn't bother and suggest using Skip (upper right-hand corner). For now I'd not worry about updating Ubuntu (a good first step a bit later). After Skip you will be invited to send information from your use of Ubuntu; I would select not to but it is up to you and then click Next. Following that is a screen showing software you can install. I'd skip that for now too (but good first steps later); click Done for now.
Continue in Ubuntu installing updates etc. if you want but this walk thru ends with suspending the VM and coming back later. Use the WorkStation menu to select Suspend Guest and wait while your current VM state is saved.
After a bit (again, time depends on your host's capacity) VMware Fusion reports the VM has been suspended; don't turn off or hibernate your computer or remove a portable-hard-drive with your VM on it while the VM is suspending. VMware Fusion can now be exited with the VM ready to resume when we return.
This in depth guide will take you every step of the way through installing Ubuntu Linux on your Mac, by way of VirtualBox – a free and outstanding program. Using this method you’ll be able to run Ubuntu and macOS at the same time!
Please note: although this guide was initially authored in 2015, it has been updated (2020) to be current. The following guide uses Ubuntu 18.04.3 LTS “Bionic Beaver”, but the steps and screenshots are nearly identical for most versions of Ubuntu, up to including 20.04.1 LTS.
Using this method to install Ubuntu not only allows you to run it and macOS at the same time, you can really try out Ubuntu – and if you don’t like it – very easily get rid of it. Plus, it will not affect the files in macOS itself at all. None of the data on your Mac is at risk of being deleted or altered. The entire process is actually quite straightforward – and all of the software involved is free – so why not give it a shot :)
Install Ubuntu Vm On Macos
- Before you get started, there are a few things that should be noted up front.
- Depending on the speed of your Internet connection, it might take a while to download Ubuntu. During the actual installation process, based on the version of Ubuntu you opt to install – you may have to spend some time downloading updates as well.
- The installation time is about 20 minutes, depending on the speed of your Mac, amount of memory etc. You may want to make yourself a cup of coffee or tea before you start.
- Running both Ubuntu and macOS at the same time will “slow down” your Mac. The more memory you have and the faster your CPU and/or hard drive is, the less you’ll notice it.
Let’s get started!
- First up, head over to the Ubuntu download page and download Ubuntu.
- Now you’ll need to download and install VirtualBox. Visit their download page and click the link OS X hosts (which is the current stable version). Once the download has completed, open the .dmg file and run the installer – the installation is as easy as clicking ‘next’ a bunch of times. When installation is done, launch VirtualBox from your Applications folder.
- When VirtualBox opens, click the New button.
- Give your “virtual machine” a name (something descriptive is good, but it doesn’t matter). Make sure the Type: is set to Linux and the Version: is Ubuntu (64 bit). Then click the Continue button.
- Now you’re going to decide how much memory (RAM) you’re going to allocate to Ubuntu when it’s running, and how much to leave for macOS. As illustrated in the screenshot below, my total RAM is 4GB, so I allocated half of it to Ubuntu, and the other half to macOS. The more memory you give to Ubuntu, the faster it will run. The drawback is that macOS will have less to use while Ubuntu is running. At a minimum, give Ubuntu at 1GB (1024MB) of RAM. When you’ve decided how much memory (RAM) to give Ubuntu, click the Continue button.
- On the Hard drive screen, select Create a virtual hard drive now and then click Create.
- Now select VDI (VirtualBox Disk Image) and click Continue
- Select Dynamically allocated and yep – you guessed it – click Continue
- Use the “slider” to determine the size you want to make the “hard drive” for Ubuntu. At a minimum, you’ll want to select 6GB – and that will not allow for you to install many programs, let alone store files etc. Keep in mind that because you selected “Dynamically allocated” in the previous step, that does not mean that VirtualBox is going to take up that space right away. It means that as Ubuntu needs more space, it will allow the “hard drive” to increase up to whatever size you set at this step.
As illustrated in the screenshot below, I opted to give Ubuntu 10GB. That’s enough for the installation and to install quite a few programs. Since I won’t be “storing” many files in Ubuntu (movies, pictures, music etc) – 10GB will suit my needs. Plus, I have a small hard drive on my MacBook Air. If you have a big hard drive, you might as well allocate more rather than less, again – the space won’t be used until it’s needed. After you’ve made your selection, click Create.
- Almost time to install Ubuntu! Click the Start button.
- If you’re using macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later, you’re going to need to ‘allow’ Virtualbox to receive keystrokes from any application (which is completely safe). Click the Open System Preferences button.
- Click the ‘lock’ icon in the bottom left corner of the screen. After entering your password, place a check in the box next to the Virtualbox item in the list.
- Click Later when prompted.
- Back in Virtualbox you’ll be prompted to locate a file. Click the “folder” icon next to menu that says Empty (see screenshot below).
- Again, if you’re using macOS 10.15 or later, you’ll be prompted to grant permission for Virtualbox to access a folder. Click OK. You may be prompted to do this several more times – just click OK each time.
- Navigate to the Ubuntu .iso file that you downloaded all the way back in step #1. Select it, and click Open
- Now click Start
- Finally! Click Install Ubuntu
- Select your keyboard layout and preferred language then click Continue
- Make sure to place a check in both of the boxes – Download updates while installing Ubuntu and Install third-party software for graphics and Wi-Fi hardware and additional media formats – then click the Continue button.
- Select Erase disk and install Ubuntu. NOTE: this is not going to ‘wipe out’ or erase any data in macOS. None. It is safe to click Install Now, so do just that.
- Click Continue
- When prompted, select your Time Zone and then click Continue
- Fill in each field with the required information. When you’re done, Continue
- Now it’s time to sit back and relax with that cup of coffee or tea. This may take a bit.
- Yay! It’s done! Click Restart Now
- Hit Enter (the ‘return’ key on your keyboard) when prompted.
- And you’ll boot into Ubuntu! Enter your password when prompted.
- Welcome to the Ubuntu Desktop! At this point you should be connected to the Internet and completely ready to go – have fun!
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