OS X on OS X virtual machines

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Oliver Marshall - 11 Oct 2006 12:44 GMT

Do any know if any of the current range of virtualisation software for
OS X support
running OS X within a virtual machine? It would seem that parallels
only
supports Windows in a virtual machine.

I want to run virtual OS X machine to do tests on various things, and
be able to ditch that virtual machine, create a new one, and run more
tests, without screwing up my new lappy.

Olly

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Steve W. Jackson - 11 Oct 2006 20:37 GMT

> Do any know if any of the current range of virtualisation software
> for OS X support running OS X within a virtual machine? It would seem
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Olly

Parallels supports more than just Windows. It supports various versions
of Windows, whereas Boot Camp only supports XP. But it also supports
Intel versions of Linux.

I haven't heard of anything that virtualizes OS X. But is there any
reason why you can't simply use multiple accounts and Fast User
Switching to get closer? Clearly, that's not a complete solution if
you're trying to protect against crashes and such while testing admin
level actions. But it might be a start.

= Steve =

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Steve W. Jackson
Montgomery, Alabama

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Calum - 11 Oct 2006 21:16 GMT

>> Do any know if any of the current range of virtualisation software
>> for OS X support running OS X within a virtual machine? It would seem
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> I haven't heard of anything that virtualizes OS X.

FWIW, Mac-on-Mac did this, but for PPC only (and development stopped
before Tiger support was implemented).

http://maconmac.bastix.net/

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Mike Rosenberg - 11 Oct 2006 21:53 GMT

> But is there any reason why you can't simply use multiple accounts and
> Fast User Switching to get closer?

He could also just boot from an external hard drive.

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Steven de Mena - 12 Oct 2006 03:17 GMT

>> Do any know if any of the current range of virtualisation software
>> for OS X support running OS X within a virtual machine? It would seem
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> of Windows, whereas Boot Camp only supports XP. But it also supports
> Intel versions of Linux.

You should be able to install more than Windows XP natively on Intel
Macs. I have installed Windows Server 2003, and I imagine any of the
Linuxes will work if the appropriate drivers are out there. NICS and
System Board should be easy to find.

Steve

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Warren Oates - 12 Oct 2006 13:43 GMT

> You should be able to install more than Windows XP natively on Intel
> Macs. I have installed Windows Server 2003, and I imagine any of the
> Linuxes will work if the appropriate drivers are out there. NICS and
> System Board should be easy to find.

I installed Crux Linux http://crux.nu. It's pretty simple. You have to
set up the Parallels hd image with a couple of partitions and a reiserfs
on one of them (swap on the other). The necessary tools (fdisk, mkfs)
are on the Crux 2.2 iso; you don't even have to burn it, you can boot
from the image.

I assume you can install Darwin, and possibly OS X, if you set up your
hd image correctly. Parallels is pretty cool.

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W. Oates

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Paul - 12 Oct 2006 20:22 GMT

> I haven't heard of anything that virtualizes OS X. But is there any
> reason why you can't simply use multiple accounts and Fast User
> Switching to get closer? Clearly, that's not a complete solution if
> you're trying to protect against crashes and such while testing admin
> level actions. But it might be a start.

Mike Rosenberg wrote:

> He could also just boot from an external hard drive.

I have a similar need for virtualization that isn't met by either of
the above suggestions.

I am working with beta software that installs components into the top
level Application Support folder, and the readme specifically warns not
to install on your working machine because the beta components will
overwrite the current components and will screw up the current version.
Running a second user won't help because the components still need to
be installed in the central Application Support folder and screw up my
work environment.

I am currently running the beta off of an external boot disk, but the
boot disk is an intentionally clean system that doesn't have my
complete working environment on it (easier to isolate bugs). This means
I can't use the beta and use my tools at the same time. I take notes on
paper and reboot back into my main drive.

If I could run a second instance of OS X in a virtual machine, I could
use my normal working environment and keep the beta in a sandbox. I
think it's a reasonable request...why should we be able to do it with
Windows etc. and not OS X?

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Oliver Marshall - 12 Oct 2006 21:04 GMT

here here !

(or is that hear hear !?)

> > I haven't heard of anything that virtualizes OS X. But is there any
> > reason why you can't simply use multiple accounts and Fast User
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
> think it's a reasonable request...why should we be able to do it with
> Windows etc. and not OS X?

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inaequitas - 13 Oct 2006 07:57 GMT

> here here !
>
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
>> think it's a reasonable request...why should we be able to do it with
>> Windows etc. and not OS X?

Well OS X has been installed in VMWare. I find it unlikely that it will
be suitable for the people that need to test on it since it relied
heavily on Maxxus' hacks. Issue here is that Windows and off-the-shelf
`n*x variants today aim to support generic hardware - while OS X is
tailored for a specific hardware set-up that Apple offers.

YMMV but getting OS X to run in VMWare is, so far, your best choice.

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Mike - 14 Oct 2006 15:16 GMT

> Well OS X has been installed in VMWare. I find it unlikely that it will
> be suitable for the people that need to test on it since it relied
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> YMMV but getting OS X to run in VMWare is, so far, your best choice.

It's a simple matter to get OS X running in VMWare. In fact, it's
become a simple mater to get OS X running on *any* PC. If testing is
your objective, then either solution is fine.

Actually, if you a want a working OS X platform without paying the Apple
tax, either will suffice. I have done both, but running OS X natively
is, of course, a *much* better solution than VMWare.

Mike

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Warren Oates - 11 Oct 2006 21:43 GMT

> want to run virtual OS X machine to do tests on various things, and
> be able to ditch that virtual machine, create a new one, and run more
> tests, without screwing up my new lappy.

Is there a universal installer disk you can buy to try out? Otherwise,
you'll have to find a nice hacked one somewhere. Can you boot into
Darwin from one of those disks? You may have to format the drive image
with fdisk.

Good luck.

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W. Oates
Teal'c: He is concealing something.
O'Neil: Like what?
Teal'c: I am unsure, he is concealing it.

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Mac Forum / Applications / Mac Applications / October 2006

OS X on OS X virtual machines