Virtualizing AMD64 Architecture on Apple M chips with UTM for QA: A Step-by-Step Guide
In the ever-evolving world of technology, the transition to Apple’s M chips has been nothing short of revolutionary. However, for those who require compatibility with AMD64 architecture, virtualization becomes a necessity. UTM application, a powerful desktop application that allows you to run virtual machines on your Apple M-powered device. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of virtualizing AMD64 architecture on your Apple M chip using UTM.
Step 1: Download UTM
To get started, visit the official UTM website (https://mac.getutm.app/) and download the application. UTM is an open-source project designed specifically for Apple’s M architecture, making it an excellent choice for virtualization and emulation tasks.
Step 2: Install UTM
Once the download is complete, drag the UTM application to your Applications folder. You may need to grant permissions for installation, so make sure you have administrative access.
Step 3: Download a Linux ISO
To create a virtual machine, you’ll need a Linux distribution ISO file. Popular choices include Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, or even Windows. Download your preferred ISO from the official website of the distribution. We will guide you through the process of emulation AMD64 architecture on Debiav destribution.
Step 4: Create a New Virtual Machine
Open UTM and click on the “+” icon to create a new virtual machine. Choose Emulate because actually we need not only to virtualize but also emulate AMD64 technology on an Apple Mac chip. Give your VM a name and select “Linux” as the operating system.
Welcome to UTM screen:
Choose a rabbit 🐇 or a turtle 🐢. Emulation may be a bit slower, but whatever:
Step 5: Configure Virtual Machine Settings
Next, you’ll need to configure your VM settings. Allocate an appropriate amount of RAM, CPU cores, and storage space based on your requirements. Make sure to select “x86_64” as the architecture. You can play with CPU options and even architectures, but just remember we need x86_64 for our experimentation.
Step 6: Install Linux
Mount the Linux ISO you downloaded in Step 3 to the virtual CD/DVD drive. Start the virtual machine, and it will boot from the ISO. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the Linux distribution just as you would on a physical machine. You may need to eject the ISO image after the installation process is completed so the VM actually can run.
Step 7: Fine-Tune UTM
After the installation is complete, you can fine-tune your virtual machine settings within UTM. Adjust display resolution, network settings, and other parameters to suit your needs. You may also need to install the SPICE guest agent tools on a Debian-based system in your new VM to get some back compatibility with the host machine like shared folders or clipboard which can ease your experience for handling the VM.
Step 8: Enjoy Your Virtualized AMD64 Environment
Congratulations! You now have a virtualized AMD64 architecture running seamlessly on your Apple M chip using UTM. You can install software, run applications, and perform tasks as if you were on a physical AMD64-based machine. By creating system snapshots or duplicating your VM image you can keep your VM in its any state in time or roll back when needed.
As an example of an application for a QA engineer, we were using VMs to check and confirm the web application installation script and docker-compose image for application setup, update, and deployment process to follow the full user flow, because the checking of this process has given us a full user experience and understanding of the narrow places of our product when it is actually in its initial state.
Another QA experience was the ability to share limited physical sign tokens on an MS Windows OS VM with QA colleagues from the remote working place without the need to even disconnect them from your Mac.
So as you see the applications for VMs can be quite wide and using VMs for testing applications just on different platforms can be quite trivial.
Conclusion
Virtualisation on the Apple M chips is no longer a daunting task, thanks to the UTM desktop application. By following this step-by-step guide, you can harness the power of AMD64 architecture on your Apple M chip, opening up a world of possibilities for software development, testing, and experimentation. Embrace the future of computing with this powerful combination of technology!
With UTM, your Mac is not just a personal computer — it’s a versatile platform for innovation, exploration and even sharing your experience and the tools with the Team.
