Install Ubuntu Bionic Beaver on MacOS Virtual Machine

If you’re like me and you prefer using Ubuntu over macOS, but you also have to use a Mac for work, you may be wondering how to install Ubuntu on a Mac.

While it’s possible to do a dual-boot setup, I find it much simpler to just use a virtual machine. This way, I can have the best of both worlds – Ubuntu for my personal use, and macOS for work.

Plus, it’s easy to set up and doesn’t require any messy partitioning of your hard drive. So if you’re interested in learning how to install Ubuntu on a Mac virtual machine, read on!

How to Install Ubuntu on MacOS Virtual Machine

Introduction

Since its inception, Apple has strictly controlled which operating systems are allowed to run on its Mac computers.

In recent years, however, the company has become more open to letting users install other operating systems on its hardware. One popular option is to install Ubuntu on a Mac using a virtual machine.

A virtual machine is a piece of software that allows you to run an operating system within another operating system. This is different from dual-booting, in which you would install Ubuntu alongside macOS on your computer’s hard drive.

Installing Ubuntu on a Mac using a virtual machine is a great way to get started with the Linux operating system without putting your entire computer at risk.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to set up a virtual machine and install Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (Bionic Beaver) on your Mac.

What you’ll need

  • An Intel-based Mac
  • At least 2 GB of RAM, more recommended
  • Internet connection
  • A blank DVD or USB flash drive (4GB or larger)
  • Optional: A copy of the Ubuntu Desktop ISO image

Creating a virtual machine

Creating a virtual machine on your Mac is a great way to test new software or run an operating system that’s not supported by Apple. Virtual machines are also a handy way to run different versions of macOS side-by-side, or even to test beta versions of upcoming releases.

There are a few different ways to create a virtual machine on your Mac. One popular option is to use the free VMware Fusion software from vmware.com. Another option is to use the paid Parallels Desktop software from parallels.com.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to create a virtual machine using VMware Fusion. We’ll also show you how to install the Ubuntu operating system on your new virtual machine.

Installing Ubuntu

If you want to install Ubuntu on a Mac, the best way to do it is to create a virtual machine using VMware Fusion or Parallels Desktop. This will allow you to run Ubuntu alongside macOS, and you can switch between the two operating systems whenever you want.

Installing Ubuntu on a virtual machine is fairly easy, but there are a few things you need to do before you get started. First, you need to download the Ubuntu ISO file. You can get this from the Ubuntu website.

Once you have the ISO file, launch VMware Fusion or Parallels Desktop and create a new virtual machine. When prompted, select the ISO file as the source for your virtual machine. Follow the prompts to complete the installation process.

Once Ubuntu is installed, you can launch it from your virtual machine software. You’ll need to enter your username and password to login. After that, you’ll be able to use Ubuntu just like any other operating system.

Configuring Ubuntu

Before you can install Ubuntu on your Mac, you’ll need to create a bootable USB drive. This will allow you to install the Ubuntu operating system and try it out before you make any permanent changes to your computer.

  1. Download the Ubuntu ISO file from the official website.
  2. UseDisk Utility to create a bootable USB drive.
  3. Select the downloaded ISO file as the source and choose your USB drive as the destination.
  4. Click “Create” to start the process.
  5. Once the process is complete, restart your computer and hold down the Option key while it boots up.
  6. Select your USB drive from the list of boot options and follow the on-screen instructions to install Ubuntu on your Mac.

Getting started with Ubuntu

Today, we’re going to get started with Ubuntu by installing it on a Mac as a virtual machine.

Installing Ubuntu on a Mac as a virtual machine is a great way to get started with learning about and using this popular Linux distribution.

What’s more, by running Ubuntu on a Mac, you can avoid having to dual boot your computer or partition your hard drive.

Best of all, since we’ll be using the free and open source Oracle VM VirtualBox software to create our virtual machine, the process is completely free. So, without further ado, let’s get started!

Troubleshooting

If you’re having trouble installing Ubuntu on your Mac, here are a few troubleshooting tips that may help.

  1. Make sure you have enough free space on your hard drive. You’ll need at least 10GB of free space to install Ubuntu, and more if you want to install additional software or save files on your Ubuntu partition.
  2. If you’re using an Intel-based Mac, make sure you’re using a version of VMware Fusion or Parallels Desktop that supports EFI-based virtual machines. Earlier versions of these programs only support BIOS-based VMs, which won’t work with Ubuntu.
  3. If you have an AMD-based Mac, you may need to create a custom configuration file for your virtual machine in order to get it to work with Ubuntu. For more information, see this page on the AMD website.
  4. If you’re using VirtualBox, make sure you’ve enabled hardware virtualization in your BIOS settings. This is usually disabled by default on most PCs; consult your computer’s documentation for instructions on how to enable it.

Conclusion

You have now completed installing Ubuntu on your Mac using a virtual machine. This is a great way to get started using Ubuntu without having to completely switch over from macOS.

You can now explore all that Ubuntu has to offer, including the vast selection of open source software, while still having access to your important macOS applications.

English