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Ubuntu Linux virtualized on M1 (success!)

mikeboss

mikeboss

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Aug 13, 2009
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just saw this on Twitter @KhaosT

Xcode Project on GitHub -> https://github.com/KhaosT/SimpleVM

EnFUSrzXYAARZDZ.jpeg
 
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Nate Spencer said:
Bummer fails on build w/ git permissions for SwiftSH. Bummer i'd like to try it.
Click to expand...

yup, same happened to me. I got the solution from the Twitter thread.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1330335476390256641

download SwiftTerm from GitHub:
github.com

GitHub - migueldeicaza/SwiftTerm: Xterm/VT100 Terminal emulator in Swift

Xterm/VT100 Terminal emulator in Swift. Contribute to migueldeicaza/SwiftTerm development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com github.com

then add it to the cxodeproj:

EnZMqMJXcAIflH1.jpeg
 
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My concern is that if this only runs CLI and not a GUI, then it's really not any different than Microsoft's inclusion of Ubuntu, SuSe, Mint, etc. in the Microsoft Store. Those can all be downloaded and run inside Windows, but they are all CLI only, which limits their usefulness for many people. I tried both Ubuntu and Mint on my MSI rig, and there were so many weird quirks with Microsoft's implementation of the Linux Subsystem that both were largely unusable.
 
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Does anyone know how this works? Is it running an ARM version of Linux or is it using emulation like the Windows solution described in a different thread?
 
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kjd2234 said:
Does anyone know how this works? Is it running an ARM version of Linux or is it using emulation like the Windows solution described in a different thread?
Click to expand...
This would be running an ARM distribution of Linux not AMD64(x86-64) version. Depending on your needs it may or may not fit the bill. It would be similar to Raspbian on Raspberry Pi vs an Ubuntu Distribution on a PC. I have compiled it, but haven't tried it out.
 
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This is AWESOME!

So I've gotten to the point where I am booted up into the installer using:

ubuntu-20.04.1-live-server-arm64.iso

But when I choose default network interface, etc, it gets stuck setting up the disk. Should I be using a different ISO? I've installed a lot of linux VMs before, but never a hypervisor like this. Where is the disk created?

Screen Shot 2020-11-22 at 4.30.06 PM.png
 
MK500 said:
This is AWESOME!

So I've gotten to the point where I am booted up into the installer using:

ubuntu-20.04.1-live-server-arm64.iso

But when I choose default network interface, etc, it gets stuck setting up the disk. Should I be using a different ISO? I've installed a lot of linux VMs before, but never a hypervisor like this. Where is the disk created?

View attachment 1677250
Click to expand...


How are you running this? Through what platform?
 
kjd2234 said:
How are you running this? Through what platform?
Click to expand...
macOS Big Sur on a MacBook Air M1. Apple includes a hypervisor to allow ARM based VMs. KhaosT created an open source app that allows you to boot up an ARM system from ISO. So since Ubuntu has arm64 ISOs available, you can boot Ubuntu on your Mac and run it natively. Note that this will be a text only OS, as KhaosT hasn't implemented any GPU code as far as I know.

I recommend you scroll back to the beginning of this thread and read the info there.

This is exactly what Parallels and VMWare will be releasing, but just an extremely simple open source version. The commercial products will probably also include GPU/peripheral passthrough, and that is where the complex code will be.

You cannot run X86 code this way. Only ARM. But ARM is native; so full speed!
 
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dmccloud said:
My concern is that if this only runs CLI and not a GUI, then it's really not any different than Microsoft's inclusion of Ubuntu, SuSe, Mint, etc. in the Microsoft Store. Those can all be downloaded and run inside Windows, but they are all CLI only, which limits their usefulness for many people. I tried both Ubuntu and Mint on my MSI rig, and there were so many weird quirks with Microsoft's implementation of the Linux Subsystem that both were largely unusable.
Click to expand...
Real 'men' use the CLI :p

Seriously though; I think you misunderstand the point of WSL2. I can happily run GUI applications that connect to WSL2 like Docker Desktop or Visual Studio Code. But also I can also run Linux side installed GUI apps in Windows like Intellij Idea.

It is not the same as a virtual machine or desktop replacement. That is not the point and is also not required. There is plenty of tools for that.
 
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MK500 said:
macOS Big Sur on a MacBook Air M1. Apple includes a hypervisor to allow ARM based VMs. KhaosT created an open source app that allows you to boot up an ARM system from ISO. So since Ubuntu has arm64 ISOs available, you can boot Ubuntu on your Mac and run it natively. Note that this will be a text only OS, as KhaosT hasn't implemented any GPU code as far as I know.

I recommend you scroll back to the beginning of this thread and read the info there.

This is exactly what Parallels and VMWare will be releasing, but just an extremely simple open source version. The commercial products will probably also include GPU/peripheral passthrough, and that is where the complex code will be.

You cannot run X86 code this way. Only ARM. But ARM is native; so full speed!
Click to expand...
Well, it's running a virtualized OS, so I'm not sure "native" is the correct term - although I understand it is not emulated. I would use the terms "bare metal"/"physical" and "virtualized".

Any idea what the hypervisor CPU / file system overhead is with Apple HyperKit?
 
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haralds said:
Could you explain your steps:
  • Which ISO distro?
  • How to set up and attach a VM Disk image?
  • How to mount inside the VM?
  • etc.
Click to expand...

This is not for the general public. If you're already a seasoned Linux/Unix person, you should be able to make sense of most of this already, and you don't need hand-holding.

Hence why there are no steps. If you need something more user-friendly, you have to wait for Parallels or VMWare.
 
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haralds said:
Could you explain your steps:
  • Which ISO distro?
  • How to set up and attach a VM Disk image?
  • How to mount inside the VM?
  • etc.
Click to expand...

- the ISO file needed: ubuntu-20.04.1-live-server-arm64.iso
- apart from the ISO, using disk images is not implemented.
- SimpleVM.app is only a proof-of-concept.
- it is possible to SSH into the VM.

get Keka.app from keka.io
extract the files in the ISO using Keka.app
rename "vmlinuz" to "vmlinuz.gz" and then uncompress it.

now you have all three files needed:
ubuntu-20.04.1-live-server-arm64.iso
vmlinuz (uncompressed)
initrd

start SimpleVM.app
drag and drop the three files into the window of SimpleVM

you now should see ubuntu booting in the serial console window
installation will of course fail because it can't find any suitable mass storage
in the help menu (ubuntu installer) you'll find the IP address, login and password to SSH into the VM
 
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dmccloud said:
My concern is that if this only runs CLI and not a GUI, then it's really not any different than Microsoft's inclusion of Ubuntu, SuSe, Mint, etc. in the Microsoft Store. Those can all be downloaded and run inside Windows, but they are all CLI only, which limits their usefulness for many people. I tried both Ubuntu and Mint on my MSI rig, and there were so many weird quirks with Microsoft's implementation of the Linux Subsystem that both were largely unusable.
Click to expand...
Is there a native macOS X11 server? macOS has "always" had an X11 server. If so then the Linux GUI could be forwarded from the VM to the "real" MacOS.
 
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