Introduction
This post will show you how to install the latest Ubuntu ARM on an Apple ARM computer. Ubuntu doesn’t support Desktop ARM. However, we can install Ubuntu Server ARM and install the desktop GUI post-installation. Check out my YouTube channel if you prefer video content over written posts. Here’s the link to the video:
What is working?
- Networking
- Clipboard Sharing
- Shared Directory
What is broken?
- Lack of Advanced Networking Settings using Apple Virtualization.
Step 1: Download Ubuntu Server for ARM® aarch64 systems
Step 2: Create a New Virtual Machine
- Select Linux.
- Select Use Apple Virtualization.
- Select Browse and select the Ubuntu Server ARM64 ISO image.
- Select Continue.
- Choose Memory Size and CPU Cores (I recommended the default settings).
- Select Continue.
- Select Browse and choose the directory you want to share with the VM (This is optional and can be added later on).
- Select Continue.
- Change the Name or leave it as the default name.
- Select Save.
Step 3: Install Ubuntu Server ARM on the newly created Virtual Machine
- Select any of the below icons to start the VM.
- Press Enter to select Try or Install Ubuntu Server.
- Use the UP or DOWN key to select your language.
- Press Enter when done.
- Select Continue without update or Update to the new installer.
- Select Done to confirm your selection or Back to correct your selection.
- Use the default option: Ubuntu Server.
- Press the Tab key to move the cursor to Done.
- Press Enter.
- Select Done and press Enter.
- Select Done and press Enter.
- Select Done and press Enter.
- Keep the default setting.
- Press the Tab key to move the cursor to Done.
- Press Enter.
- Select Use the UP or DOWN key to select Continue.
- Press Enter to continue.
- Enter your Name.
- Enter your Server’s name.
- Enter a username.
- Enter a password.
- Confirm your password.
- Select Done and press Enter to continue.
- Keep the default selection.
- Skip upgrade to Ubuntu Pro.
- Select Continue.
- Skip SSH Setup unless you intend to use it.
- Select Done to continue.
- Skip Featured Server Snaps
- Select Done to continue.
- When the installation is finished, Shut down and stops the VM.
- Continue to Step 4.
Step 4: Install Ubuntu Dekstop GUI
- Select the VM you just created and install the Ubuntu Server.
- Select External Drive.
- From the drop-down menu, select Clear.
- Start the VM by selecting one of the below icons.
- Log in with your credentials and run the below command:
sudo apt update
- Install Ubuntu Desktop with the below command:
sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop
- Enter Y for Yes and press Enter to install Ubuntu-Desktop.
- Reboot using the below command when the installation of ubuntu-desktop is finished:
reboot
Shared Directory
Caution: Deleting a file in a shared directory folder will permanently delete the file. It will not go to the Trash folder.
- To access the shared directory, you can run the below command to mount to the shared path.
sudo mount -t virtiofs share [mount point]- Replace [mount point] with your directory (ex. home/sysadmin102/Shared).
- In the example below, I created a Shared folder and mounted the Sharepoint to that folder.
- The shared directory will unmount upon reboot.
- If you already mounted the shared point in the previous step, make sure to unmount it before continuing:
sudo umount -t virtiofs share [mount point]
- You can also modify
/etc/fstaband add the following line to mount the share on startup automatically.
sudo nano /etc/fstab- Add the following text to the end of fstab:
share [mount point] virtiofs rw,nofail 0 0- Replace [mount point] with your directory (ex. home/sysadmin102/Shared).
- Press Control + X when finished.
- Press Enter to save.
- Restart for changes to take effect.
