Linux to Mac

Taking Linux to Mac OS X with Virtualization

- 2008.03.17 - Tip Jar

Popularity:

If you are moving from Linux to the Mac, you'll find a BASH shell and a set of Unix command line utilities available to make you feel at home. If you need a complete Linux environment for development or special applications, you can run Linux in a virtual machine (VM) using VMware Fusion.

Fusion Basics

Version 1.0 of VMware Fusion was released on August 1, 2007. The shipping version as of this writing is 1.1.1. Fusion only works on Intel-based Macs. It builds on the experience of VMware in the Windows and Linux market. It is comparable in features to VMware workstation, and to its competitor in the Mac market, Parallels.

VMware sells Fusion primarily as a Windows-on-Mac solution. You have dig into the details to learn that it also supports Linux, Solaris, FreeBSD, and other Intel operating systems as guests.

While beta versions suffered with performance issues, the latest version is relatively snappy running different flavors of Linux. I currently have Centos 5.1 and Ubuntu 7.10 running nicely under OS X. Full screen support works as expected. VMware supplies extra software called VMware tools that improves video and mouse performance. Installation of VMware tools in a Linux guest works exactly as on other host operating systems.

Jump Start with Appliances

One of the advantages of the VMware universe is the availability of virtual appliances. Appliances are prebuilt virtual machines that can be downloaded and run with no installation or configuration. Many companies provide special purpose appliances as either demonstrations or deployable applications. There are also hundreds of user provided virtual machines with a variety of Linux distributions, making it easy to try out different flavors of Linux without much work.

Ubuntu Linux on OS X with VMware Fusion

Fusion can run virtual machines created on the Windows and Linux versions of VMware. I downloaded and tried several appliances and had no problems.

Virtual Appliances and Security

The ease of downloading and running appliances can be a two-edged sword. Keep in mind that a virtual machine is essentially a completely configured computer system that you are booting up on your network. Depending on how it was created, each appliance may have the same access to the network as your host system - and it may also have limited access to host system files.

Centos Linux on OS X with VMware Fusion

For user created appliances, you should at least regenerate the system SSH keys and limit access to the network unless you trust the source. A trojaned virtual machine is another vector to get malware inside a network. Be aware of the risks.

The Competition

The main competitor to Fusion is Parallels, a company that gained a lot of traction by being first out of the gate with a high performance virtualization solution for the Intel-based Mac. Parallels was also priced below the VMware offerings on Windows and Linux. However, VMware has matched the Parallels price (currently $79) for their Mac solution.

Since I don't have Parallels, I can't compare the two products.

VMware does have a fully functional 30-day trial, while Parallels does not at this time. (Note: I have no financial or other relationship with either company.)

VMs Are Future Compatible

Some of the benefits of taking Linux with you to OS X are obvious. You can create an exact replica of a production server environment for testing and development. You can safely test new software and roll back to before installation if things don't work out as expected. It also lets you test multiple client environments on one system.

Virtual machines have been around since the 1960s on mainframes, where they have been part of the high reliability and performance equation. Modern microprocessors provide the needed hardware support for virtualization, and it is becoming a common part of computing environments at all levels.

It is interesting that Apple does not allow OS X to be a guest operating system. My guess is that OS X is designed for specific sets of hardware, not to handle any old motherboard or collection of hardware thrown at it like Linux (and to some extent Windows). This means OS X might not perform well in a virtualized environment. Apple probably has other reasons, too, but it would be nice to see OS X as a guest in the future.

Join us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.

Keith Winston is a recent Mac convert after five years of Linux on the desktop. He also writes for Linux.com and created CommandLineMac to focus on the Unix-y power of the Mac. If you find Keith's articles helpful, please consider making a donation to his tip jar.

Recent Linux to Mac Columns

Apple's launchd Is Anti-Unix, 2010.07.13. Unix prefers programs that do one thing very well, but Apple's launchd takes the opposite approach.
Automount OS X Home Directories Using OpenLDAP and Linux, 2009.09.28. It's possible to get an OS X Mac to automatically mount a Linux server using OpenLDAP. The tricky part is finding all the steps needed to make it work.
Introduction to Autofs in Mac OS X, 2009.07.01. "Autofs is often used in enterprise environments to set up network-based home directories and other network mounts for users at login."
More in the Linux to Mac index.

Links for the Day

Mac of the Day: Mac IIfx, introduced 1990.03.19. This 'wicked fast' 40 MHz Mac trumped the 33 MHz DOS world.
February 14 in LEM history: 98: A perfect compact Mac - 00: Extended computer warranties worth the cost? - Making your PC work with your Mac - 01: Customize Microsoft Word - 02: Quadra revives a passion for computing - 03: Real world performance - DIY Pismo screen replacement - Best Mac for writing - 03: Fastest browser on the Mac - 06: 15" MacBook Pro - Impressions of a newly acquired Lisa - Finding and using free WiFi - Apple should liberate OS 9 - 07: New Mac mini cheaper than upgrading a Power Mac - 08: Falling in love with OS X
Support Low End Mac

Recent Deals

About LEM Support Usage Privacy Contact

Low End Mac is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Inc. Entire Low End Mac website copyright ©1997-2012 by Cobweb Publishing, Inc. unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, iPad iPhone, iMac, iPod, MacBook, MagSafe, Mac Pro, Apple TV, and AirPort are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. Additional company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks and are hereby acknowledged.
Advice is presented in good faith, but what works for one may not work for all. Please report errors to .
LINKS: We allow and encourage links to any public page as long as the linked page does not appear within a frame that prevents bookmarking it.
Email may be published at our discretion unless marked "not for publication"; email addresses will not be published without permission, and we will encrypt them in hopes of avoiding spammers. Letters may be edited for length, context, and to match house style.
PRIVACY: We don't collect personal information unless you explicitly provide it. For more details, see our Terms of Use.

Custom Search

Follow Low End Mac on Twitter
Join Low End Mac on Facebook

Low End Mac Reader Specials

TypeStyler 11 is now in the Mac App Store!! -- Special Introductory Price of $59.95!! -- To Buy From The Mac App Store Click Here Now!! Or buy direct from Strider Software.

Don't install Parallels to play poker online! Poker Mac will show you how to download and install a native Mac poker and Mac Casino applications in minutes.

Affiliates

Amazon.com
The Apple Store
The iTunes Store
PC Connection Express
GainSaver
Parallels Desktop for Mac
eBay