How to get started with Ubuntu 20.04 on Fusion Tech Preview 22H2 – Apple Silicon
Whenever I ask users what flavor of Linux they want to run on their machine as a VM, I hear only about one, and that’s Ubuntu Linux. Probably this is because of its user-friendliness and support for many development tools, and its interface as well .
As mentioned in my previous post, I got an instance of Ubuntu 20.04 up and running on my M1 mac without much of a jiffy under VMware Fusion Tech Preview 22H2 build. It was difficult with the last tech preview build but not anymore.
Let’s see how WE together can make it up and running on your Apple Silicon macs as well
All you need is the right step to follow to make installation more convenient.
What all is required?
- 22H2 Tech Preview builds of VMware Fusion.
Get the required link to download your copy from my last post
- The supported version of Ubuntu under Fusion for Apple Silicon Mac.
https://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/20.04/release/ubuntu-20.04.4-live-server-arm64.iso
Remember to choose the correct architecture (arc64) and version. Currently, you boot only into 20.04 instances, therefore hold your horses to try the very latest version of Ubuntu.
- Installation without network and OS updates disabled
- Install the desktop environment
Now you have everything so put your sleeves up and get your hands dirty
- Fire up your VMware Fusion Tech Preview build
- Select the option to create a new virtual machine
- Select Install from disc or image
- Attach the Ubuntu live server image which you downloaded in the previous step and continue.
- Provide a name to your virtual machine and continue
- Click settings and disable the network connection.
This is crucial else you’ll get stuck in an auto-update of guest OS which will eventually download the binaries we were shying from and won’t let the guest boot.
- Power on the Virtual Machine you just created and select the option *Install Ubuntu Server
Ubuntu installer will try to connect to the internet to download the binaries to run cloud-init for guest customization. Safely ignore this and have patience as it can take a good 1 minute or so on the same screen
- Install Ubuntu as you normally do on an Intel machine, there is virtually no difference in the on-screen instructions. If being asked for the network connection then select the option continue without network.
Continue without updating and allow the installer to finish the installation.
- Get booted into the OS and perform a user login and connect back the network option at this stage.
· After the login issue the command #sudo dpkg-reconfigure unattended-upgrades
Select the option ‘No’ so that any further auto updates will be disabled
Install the Desktop Environment
Since we installed the OS through live server iso. Desktop environment is not the default shipment with the image and is required to be installed separately.
· Issue the command # sudo apt install tasksel ; sudo tasksel install ubuntu-desktop
Hit Yes and allow system to install the desktop environment
Sit back and grab a Tea or Coffee as its gonna take some time
