Filed under: OS, Software, How-tos, Odds and ends, Freeware, Open Source
How to set up Ubuntu Linux on a Mac -- it's easy and free
I received a private tweet from a reader the other day, who asked a question about a previous post in which I had installed Windows 7 RC1 on a Mac using Sun's VirtualBox. The tweet asked, "You did a post about installing Win 7 on the Mac for free. How about Linux?," which set up a challenge. Not only can you install Linux distributions on a Mac using VirtualBox, but it's extremely easy to do.
Why would you want to run Linux on a Mac? There are probably a few good reasons -- learning about a different OS, using software that's not available on the Mac platform, or for a Linux class in school. While you can create a bootable partition on your Mac and boot Linux from it, I prefer to do things the lazy way. In this short how-to post, I'll demonstrate how I installed Ubuntu Linux 9.04, also known as "Jaunty Jackalope."
Step 1: Download and install VirtualBox
To get a free copy of Sun's excellent VirtualBox VM environment, point your browser to http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads. Choose the link for Intel Macs (sorry, it doesn't run on those old PowerPC Macs), and click the download link. When the download is done, mount the disk image and follow the simple installation instructions. You'll end up with a VirtualBox icon in your Applications folder.
Step 2: Download the Ubuntu ISO
Visit http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download. The download page should recognize that you're browsing from a Mac and offer the Intel Mac ISO image. Choose a download host close to your geographical location from the pop-up menu, then click the Begin Download button to start transferring the file to your Mac. Choose to Save the ISO file rather than Open or mount it.
Why would you want to run Linux on a Mac? There are probably a few good reasons -- learning about a different OS, using software that's not available on the Mac platform, or for a Linux class in school. While you can create a bootable partition on your Mac and boot Linux from it, I prefer to do things the lazy way. In this short how-to post, I'll demonstrate how I installed Ubuntu Linux 9.04, also known as "Jaunty Jackalope."
Step 1: Download and install VirtualBox
To get a free copy of Sun's excellent VirtualBox VM environment, point your browser to http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads. Choose the link for Intel Macs (sorry, it doesn't run on those old PowerPC Macs), and click the download link. When the download is done, mount the disk image and follow the simple installation instructions. You'll end up with a VirtualBox icon in your Applications folder.
Step 2: Download the Ubuntu ISO
Visit http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download. The download page should recognize that you're browsing from a Mac and offer the Intel Mac ISO image. Choose a download host close to your geographical location from the pop-up menu, then click the Begin Download button to start transferring the file to your Mac. Choose to Save the ISO file rather than Open or mount it.
Be sure to remember where you saved the ISO file, as you'll need it shortly.
Step 3: Launch VirtualBox
From your Applications folder or Dock, launch VirtualBox. If you haven't launched it before, you'll be asked to register the application. In the other window that appears, you'll see something similar to this:
Step 3: Launch VirtualBox
From your Applications folder or Dock, launch VirtualBox. If you haven't launched it before, you'll be asked to register the application. In the other window that appears, you'll see something similar to this:
No virtual machines are visible, since you haven't created any yet. We'll do that next.
Step 4: Create a new virtual machine
See that New button in the screenshot above? Click on it. What's going to appear is the New Virtual Machine Wizard. When it appears, click the Next button and this dialog appears:
Here's where we're going to tell VirtualBox that we want to create a new Ubuntu Linux virtual machine. Type a name for your virtual machine in the Name box, then select the Operating System (Linux) and Version (Ubuntu) from the pop-up menus. Note that you can choose from a variety of Ubuntu distributions, including Debian, OpenSUSE, Red Hat, or even "Other," so if you prefer or need to run another distro, you probably can. For the purposes of this example, I chose 32-bit Ubuntu (my next experiment will be to try 64-bit).
When you've chosen the OS and Version, click Next.
Step 5: Select the base memory for the virtual machine
You need to set a base amount of memory that can be used by the virtual machine (see below). I selected the recommended base amount of 384 MB, then clicked the Next button.
Step 6: Create a new hard disk
Don't worry, you're not really creating a new physical hard disk; like the Linux machine you're creating, it's virtual. This hard disk will take up space on your physical drive, so make sure that you have enough free space to create the hard disk and still have enough capacity to continue to store your documents. You can save the virtual disk on an external disk drive if you want to. To start the process of creating the new virtual disk, take the default settings that are listed on the dialog below:
Step 4: Create a new virtual machine
See that New button in the screenshot above? Click on it. What's going to appear is the New Virtual Machine Wizard. When it appears, click the Next button and this dialog appears:
When you've chosen the OS and Version, click Next.
Step 5: Select the base memory for the virtual machine
You need to set a base amount of memory that can be used by the virtual machine (see below). I selected the recommended base amount of 384 MB, then clicked the Next button.
Step 6: Create a new hard disk
Don't worry, you're not really creating a new physical hard disk; like the Linux machine you're creating, it's virtual. This hard disk will take up space on your physical drive, so make sure that you have enough free space to create the hard disk and still have enough capacity to continue to store your documents. You can save the virtual disk on an external disk drive if you want to. To start the process of creating the new virtual disk, take the default settings that are listed on the dialog below:
Clicking the Next button brings up another wizard; the Create New Virtual Disk Wizard. Click Next again, and the following dialog appears:
To make things easy and also take up the least amount of space on your physical hard disk, select Dynamically expanding storage as the type. With this setting, the virtual hard disk will gradually take up more space on your physical disk as needed. Click Next. On the following dialog, you can choose the location and size of the virtual hard drive. The maximum size is 2 TB, perfect if you have a Drobo! For most of us, though, choosing the recommended amount of 8 GB is probably enough. Remember, though -- your virtual hard disk can only grow as large as the amount you select on this dialog:
After selecting the maximum amount of hard drive space you want, click Next, and then click Finish on the final screen to build your virtual hard disk. At this point, you're almost done. On the summary display that appears (see below), check the settings and then click Finish if you're ready to build your virtual Ubuntu Linux machine.
Once you've clicked the Finish button, you've set up the framework in which your virtual machine is going to live. You still need to load Ubuntu Linux.
Step 7 -- Preparing to load Linux
VirtualBox now shows that you have one virtual machine called Ubuntu Linux. It's currently "powered off," but we'll change that soon. You want to make sure that you have your Ubuntu Linux DVD image ready to load. That's the Ubuntu ISO image we saved earlier.
See where it says CD/DVD-ROM? Click on those letters and the following screen appears:
After selecting the maximum amount of hard drive space you want, click Next, and then click Finish on the final screen to build your virtual hard disk. At this point, you're almost done. On the summary display that appears (see below), check the settings and then click Finish if you're ready to build your virtual Ubuntu Linux machine.
Step 7 -- Preparing to load Linux
VirtualBox now shows that you have one virtual machine called Ubuntu Linux. It's currently "powered off," but we'll change that soon. You want to make sure that you have your Ubuntu Linux DVD image ready to load. That's the Ubuntu ISO image we saved earlier.
Check the Mount CD/DVD Drive, then click the ISO Image File radio button. At the present time, Ubuntu Linux doesn't know about that ISO disk image file that you downloaded earlier, so you'll need to click the folder icon to the right of where it says <no media>. That opens another dialog -- simply drag and drop your ISO file onto it an click the Select button. Now the dialog that you see in the screenshot above will show that you're telling VirtualBox to mount a DVD disk containing an ISO image file called ubuntu-9.04-desktop-i386.iso. Click the OK button.
Step 8 -- Loading Linux
At this point you're ready to rock and roll. You should be back at the VirtualBox list of virtual machines, with Ubuntu Linux on the launchpad ready to go:
Step 8 -- Loading Linux
At this point you're ready to rock and roll. You should be back at the VirtualBox list of virtual machines, with Ubuntu Linux on the launchpad ready to go:
And you're go for launch! Click the Start button. VirtualBox will start a new session, and a black screen appears. You should see a message telling you about how that session is going to capture your mouse movements and keyboard strokes:
What this is telling you is that when you click in the virtual machine window, all of your keystrokes and mouse clicks are going to be directed to the virtual machine, not your Mac. To control your Mac again, you just need to press the Command key to the left of your space bar.
Once you click OK, VirtualBox is going to run Ubuntu off of the virtual DVD. It looks something like this:
When you get to the Ubuntu screen, double-click the Install icon. The installer will ask you a few questions, such as the language you want Ubuntu to display (including Esperanto...), your location, and the type of keyboard you're using. Enter the appropriate answer, and then click Forward to move to the next installer screen. The fourth screen looks like this:
Once you click OK, VirtualBox is going to run Ubuntu off of the virtual DVD. It looks something like this:
The installer wants to know where you want to put Ubuntu 9.04. The default values, shown above, should be perfect. You want to use the entire virtual drive that you created earlier. Click the Forward button. The next screen asks the musical question "Who Are You?"
Enter in your personal information, including your name, a password (twice), and a name for the virtual machine. Make the choice whether you want to type a password to log in, or just have Ubuntu log in automatically, and then click the Forward button. The next screen you see is a summary of all you have just set up. Click the Install button, and the actual Ubuntu installation process takes place.
Step 9 -- Update Ubuntu
Once the installation is completed, you'll either be asked to log in with your password, or if you set the installer to log you in automatically, you'll be at the Ubuntu Linux desktop. Since your network connection is already set up, the next thing that will happen is that Ubuntu will check for updates. This is the Ubuntu equivalent of the Software Update in Mac OS X.
By default, Ubuntu wants to download and install all software updates made since the distribution was first shipped. It is recommended to simply click the Install Updates button, which will download and install those updates for you. On my first-generation MacBook Air, this took about a half-hour and required a restart of the virtual machine at completion.
Step 10 -- Play!
Once the updates are done, it's time to play with your Ubuntu virtual machine. The user interface is somewhat different from that of Mac OS X, so you'll have to get used to it. You can read Ubuntu's built-in help files by clicking on the question mark icon in the menu bar.
While I will leave the task of learning Ubuntu Linux up to you, one thing I will point out is the Add/Remove Software item under the Applications menu. This is your portal to a large library of software, all of which you can download with a click or two. Think of this as the "App Store" for Linux.
You also have a full office suite installed on your virtual Linux machine. The word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation applications of OpenOffice are all pre-installed with Ubuntu, along with calendar and email functions.
While your Ubuntu Linux virtual machine won't replace your Mac or the applications on it, you can certainly learn a lot more about the Linux world and about virtual machines for free through this tutorial. Have fun!
Step 9 -- Update Ubuntu
Once the installation is completed, you'll either be asked to log in with your password, or if you set the installer to log you in automatically, you'll be at the Ubuntu Linux desktop. Since your network connection is already set up, the next thing that will happen is that Ubuntu will check for updates. This is the Ubuntu equivalent of the Software Update in Mac OS X.
Step 10 -- Play!
Once the updates are done, it's time to play with your Ubuntu virtual machine. The user interface is somewhat different from that of Mac OS X, so you'll have to get used to it. You can read Ubuntu's built-in help files by clicking on the question mark icon in the menu bar.
While I will leave the task of learning Ubuntu Linux up to you, one thing I will point out is the Add/Remove Software item under the Applications menu. This is your portal to a large library of software, all of which you can download with a click or two. Think of this as the "App Store" for Linux.
You also have a full office suite installed on your virtual Linux machine. The word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation applications of OpenOffice are all pre-installed with Ubuntu, along with calendar and email functions.
While your Ubuntu Linux virtual machine won't replace your Mac or the applications on it, you can certainly learn a lot more about the Linux world and about virtual machines for free through this tutorial. Have fun!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
SuperMac said 1:16PM on 9-07-2009
But no 3D graphics like compiz, etc etc.
Reply
cornelius said 8:04AM on 9-08-2009
Accelerated 3D and Compiz work just fine (both on VirtualBox v2.2.4 and v3.0*). Did you install guest additions? If you haven't, the manual has the instructions to do it.
David Frantz said 1:18PM on 9-07-2009
Nice!
I want to here about using Virtual Box in a 100% 64 bit system. That is if VB is ready for 64 bit operation on the Snow Leopard release.
Dave
Reply
bill cant fart said 1:30PM on 9-07-2009
If you have a Windows partition you can use Wubi to setup a fake partition without the fuss and muss. Just run through an simple installer and you have tri-boot system.
Reply
davesweeps said 1:33PM on 9-07-2009
This is great.
I'm getting a weird warnign about needing to set my display to 32bit. Does anyone know what that means and what I should do?
Reply
Edsel said 1:33PM on 9-07-2009
But, OS X is essentially a Linux distribution. You don't need to install a thing to get Unix exposure.
Reply
Christian said 1:38PM on 9-07-2009
OSX is based on UNIX (and certified as fully UNIX compliant) but Linux is NOT in ANY way based on UNIX but merely UNIX compliant, so it's UNIX-like but not UNIX.
Edsel said 5:28PM on 9-07-2009
@Christian
Thanks for the clarification!
Christian said 1:38PM on 9-07-2009
Bah! And I thought it was about REALLY/ACTUALLY installing Ubuntu and not just stupid virtualization. What's the point of installing Ubuntu on a mac anyway? If you want to test it, the LiveCD is enough and if you want the commandline apps there is macports...
Reply
skalpa said 1:38PM on 9-07-2009
You completely missed the point.... Installing an O.S in a V.M is not the same at all, and as people said you'll be missing a lot of things like this: no 3D, no accelerated video ( chances are that if your Mac is at least two years old, Ubuntu with good drivers should play videos better than OS X ).
It's a pity as your initial assumption sounding like "It's linux, so it must be complicated or tricky, so I should do it in a V.M coz it will be 'easy' " was actually wrong, and you could have done it as easily as you installed Windows (Mostly, on a MacBook pro: 10 mins of googling just in case to be sure you won't face a bad surprise, and you're good ).
Reply
Joanna D said 1:42PM on 9-07-2009
Surely you didn't come to this blog expecting a post about technology, did you?
nickux said 1:55PM on 9-07-2009
Hey so since I can create the Virtual Box hard disk on an external- in other words I'm running Linux entirely from my ext. drive. Can I save the .iso on the external too and have it run completely fine? This is exciting thanks for the guide.
Reply
Joe said 2:11PM on 9-07-2009
Did you forget the last step - installing the VirtualBox "guest additions" - or do they not work with version of ubuntu that you chose?
The guest additions give you a much smoother experience and improve performance.
Reply
Mark Chance said 4:08PM on 9-07-2009
Anybody have com
ents comparing this to vmware fusion? It works pretty well for me. It has fullscreen mode in addition to 'integrated' desktop - I.e. Guest windows are separate windows, etc.
Reply
David owens said 4:45PM on 9-07-2009
I tried that once. After six months, I get the cd. No instructions. My Mac did not recognize the disk and it was a total joke.
You can send Ubuntu to Redmond.
Reply
Eric said 4:13PM on 9-07-2009
better check this out: http://refit.sourceforge.net/
Reply
William Jackson said 6:26PM on 9-07-2009
I just installed VirtualBox While running Snow Leopard booted into 64 bit mode. System profiler lists VirtualBox as 64 bit. I then installed the 64 bit version of Ubuntu 9.04 as per the directions above. Everything worked well, and Ubuntu did an update with out a problem.
Reply
gob bluth said 6:40PM on 9-07-2009
anyone know how to get higher than the 800x600 resolution?
Reply
Peter Garner said 11:05PM on 9-07-2009
I too would like to know how to get higher screen rez. Tried this solution (http://www.techquark.com/2009/09/get-higher-screen-resolution-in-virtual.html) but can't get the guest additions script to run. Any other ideas?
TheAngryPenguin said 12:40AM on 9-08-2009
If you're running 10.6, you may want to consider 3.0.6 b1 (http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/3.0.6_BETA1/VirtualBox-3.0.6_BETA1-51790-OSX.dmg), as it has apparently addressed a few bugs including the display issue reported above, as well as an issue where it sporadically prompts for your password.
Reply