Installing Ubuntu 24.04 on Mac Using UTM

Introduction

• Guide to install Ubuntu 24.04 virtually on Mac with M1, M2, or M3 chips
• Tool used: UTM (similar to VirtualBox)

Installing UTM

1. Search for UTM and visit the official UTM website.
2. Click on the download button for UTM DMG file.
3. Once downloaded, open the DMG file.
4. Drag and drop UTM icon into Applications folder.
5. Open UTM from Launchpad to confirm installation.

Downloading Ubuntu ISO

1. Open your favorite browser and go to ubuntu.com.
2. Select Ubuntu Server (as it provides the ARM image).
3. Go to Alternative architectures and choose ARM architecture to download the ISO file.
4. Ensure you have the Ubuntu Server ARM image downloaded.

Creating a Virtual Machine in UTM

1. Open UTM, click on Create a new virtual machine.
2. Select Virtualize (faster, supports ARM architecture).
3. Browse and select the downloaded Ubuntu Server ARM ISO file.
4. Configure hardware settings:
   • Memory: Default 4000 MB, adjust as needed.
   • Processors: Set according to available cores.
   • Storage: Default 64 GB, adjust as needed.
   • Shared Directory: Set to Downloads.
5. Name the virtual machine (e.g., Ubuntu 24.04 LTS) and save settings.
6. Click Run to start the installation.

Installing Ubuntu Server

1. Use arrow keys to select Try or Install Ubuntu Server and press Enter.
2. Select English as the language and choose keyboard layout.
3. Leave installation type as Ubuntu Server and check Search for third-party drivers.
4. Default network and proxy settings can be kept.
5. Choose Use entire disk for storage configuration.
6. Configure user profile (machine name, username, password).
7. Select to install OpenSSH server for remote access.
8. Complete the installation and reboot.

Accessing the Ubuntu Server

1. Log in using the username and password created during installation.
2. Install the desktop environment using the following commands:
   • sudo apt update
   • sudo apt install tasksel
   • sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop
3. This installation may take 20-30 minutes; ensure the Mac is plugged in.

Final Steps

1. After desktop installation, reboot the virtual machine using sudo reboot now.
2. Log in to the Ubuntu graphical interface.
3. Two additional commands for shared folder functionality:
   • sudo apt install spice-vdagent spice-webdavd
4. Adjust settings for display resolution in UTM:
   • Select shared directory in settings.
   • Enable Retina mode for better resolution.

Conclusion

• You can now easily share files between Ubuntu and Mac via the shared folder.
• Successfully installed Ubuntu 24.04 on Mac using UTM.