# Set up an Ubuntu Server VM on an Arm64 Mac
UTM is an open-source VM host for macOS^®^, which allows you to run other operating systems on Macs, including Ubuntu. The following figure shows the tasks involved in setting up an Ubuntu Server VM using UTM on an Arm64 Mac:
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> **Figure: Workflow to set up Ubuntu VM**
## Prerequisites to set up an Ubuntu Server VM on an Arm64 Mac
- Ensure that your host computer meets the system requirements listed in [Host computer requirements for Arm64 Mac](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80022-41/topic/set-up-an-ubuntu-vm-on-an-arm64-based-mac.html#hostmachinearm).
- Download the necessary software listed in [Ubuntu Server VM software requirements for Arm64 Mac](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80022-41/topic/set-up-an-ubuntu-vm-on-an-arm64-based-mac.html#softwarerequirementsarm).
### Host computer requirements for Arm64 Mac
The following table lists the host computer requirements to set up an Ubuntu Server VM on an Arm64 Mac:
| **Processor architecture** | Arm64 |
| --- | --- |
| **Processor architecture** | To verify that the architecture of your Mac is Arm64, run the `uname -a` command in a terminal window.
 |
| **CPU cores** | 8 or more |
| **RAM** | 8 GB or more |
| **Storage** | 400 GB of free space for the UTM VM |
| **Operating system** | macOS 14 |
| | |
### Ubuntu Server VM software requirements for Arm64 Mac
The following table lists the software requirements to set up an Ubuntu Server VM on an Arm64 Mac:
Table: Software requirements for Arm64 Mac
| **Software** | **Description** |
| --- | --- |
| UTM virtualization software | Download the UTM virtualization software from the [UTM website](https://mac.getutm.app/). |
| Ubuntu Server International Organization for Standardization (ISO) | Use one of the Ubuntu 22.04 64-bit Arm^®^ (ARMv8/AArch64) Server LTS versions. Qualcomm recommends that you download the latest version of Ubuntu Server 22.04 ISO (for example, `ubuntu-22.04.5-live-server-arm64.iso`) from the [Ubuntu website](https://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/22.04/release/). |
## Install UTM on an Arm64 Mac
To install the UTM virtualization software, do the following:
1. Double-click the `UTM.dmg` file downloaded earlier and drag the UTM
icon onto the Applications icon.
2. While installing UTM, if you see the following dialog, select
Open:
3. Open Launchpad, search for UTM, and select UTM.
The UTM main window appears.
## Create a VM in UTM on an Arm64 Mac
To create a VM for Ubuntu Server in UTM and configure the VM settings, do the following:
1. In the UTM main window, select Create a New Virtual Machine.
2. On the Start screen, select Virtualize.
3. On the Operating System screen, select the Linux OS.
4. On the Hardware screen, specify the memory and CPU cores you want
to assign to the Ubuntu VM, and select Continue. The
recommended values are as follows:
- Memory: About 70% of the available memory
- CPU cores: At least 50% of the available cores
If you leave the CPU Cores field blank or set it to `0`, UTM allocates all the host computer cores to the VM. Allocating all CPU cores to the VM can make the host computer slow or unresponsive.
To check the memory size and the CPU core count of a Mac host computer, see the instructions in the [macOS User Guide](https://support.apple.com/en-in/guide/mac-help/syspr35536/mac).
5. On the Linux screen, browse and select the Ubuntu ISO image you
downloaded, and select Continue.
6. On the Storage screen, specify the drive size for the VM, and
select Continue. Qualcomm recommends that you assign at least 400 GB of storage space for the VM.
7. If you want to share a directory between the host computer and the VM,
do the following on the Shared Directory screen:
1. Browse and select the directory.
2. Select Continue.
8. On the Summary screen, do the following:
1. Review the configuration summary for the VM that you are creating.
2. Provide a name for the VM.
3. Select Save. The UTM main window lists the newly created VM.
## Install Ubuntu Server in UTM on an Arm64 Mac
To install Ubuntu Server in the VM you created, do the following:
1. In the UTM main window, select the Play icon to run the Ubuntu ISO
image through virtualization.
2. Select Try or Install Ubuntu Server using the arrow keys and select Enter.
3. Choose a language and select Enter.
4. Optional: You may see a screen to update the installer. Choose one
of the following options and select Enter:
- Update to the new installer
- Continue without updating
5. Do the following:
1. Choose a keyboard layout.
2. Select the Ubuntu Server installation base.
3. Select the appropriate network interface.
4. Select the appropriate proxy configuration.
6. If necessary, configure the mirror address and wait until the mirror location passes all the tests, select Done, and select Enter.
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7. Select Use an entire disk > Set up this disk as an LVM group, select Done, and select Enter.
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8. Configure the storage space as follows:
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> 1. Under the USED DEVICES section, select ubuntu-lv, and
> select Enter to view more options.
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> 2. Select Edit, and select Enter.
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> 3. In the Size field, type `396.000G`, select Save, and select Enter. The updated size should now reflect for the ubuntu-lv entry.
> 4. Select Done and select Enter.
9. To set up your profile, specify the required details, select Save, and select Enter.
10. Skip the Ubuntu Pro upgrade option, select Continue, and select Enter.
11. Optional: Select Install OpenSSH Server to set up SSH, select
Done, and select Enter.
Note
OpenSSH isn’t required for syncing, compiling, and flashing Qualcomm Linux. Install the OpenSSH server only if you want to allow secure remote access for the Ubuntu VM.
12. Select a Docker snap, select Done, and select Enter.
Wait for the installation process to complete. The installation process may suggest multiple Docker channels, such as stable and candidate. Select an appropriate Docker channel to continue with the installation.
13. After the installation is successful, select the Power icon to shut down and stop the VM, and select OK.
14. After the VM stops, close the window.
## Launch the Ubuntu Server VM on an Arm64 Mac
To launch the Ubuntu Server VM, do the following:
1. In the UTM main window, in the CD/DVD drop-down list, select Clear.
2. Ensure that the ISO image association is empty against the CD/DVD option.
3. To run the Ubuntu VM, select the Play icon.
4. After the Ubuntu operating system boots successfully, enter the
credentials to sign in and access the shell.
5. Run the following commands to update the Ubuntu operating system and install the
graphical desktop environment, followed by a restart:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
Copy to clipboard
sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop -y
Copy to clipboard
reboot
Copy to clipboard
6. Sign in to the Ubuntu Server VM you created.
## Access the Qualcomm Linux development kit
To access the Qualcomm Linux development kit from the Ubuntu Server VM, do the following:
1. Connect the Qualcomm Linux development kit to the host computer.
The UTM software may ask you to confirm whether the Ubuntu operating system should have access to the Qualcomm Linux development kit.
1. If you see a dialog as follows, select Confirm:
2. After selecting Confirm, if you see the following USB
disconnection error, select OK to ignore it:
2. To verify if the Ubuntu VM can access the Qualcomm Linux development kit, run the `lsusb` command in a Linux terminal window.
The output shows the Qualcomm Linux development kit as follows:
If the Qualcomm Linux development kit isn’t detected in the Ubuntu VM, do the
following:
1. Select USB Devices in the toolbar of the UTM VM window.
2. Select QCMXXXX\_xxxxxxxx.
Note
If you don’t see the Qualcomm Linux development kit listed as one of the USB devices, do the following:
1. In UTM settings, select Input in the left panel.
2. In the Maximum Shared USB Devices field, set the value to `10`.
## Configure power settings for Arm64 Mac and Ubuntu Server
To ensure that the Mac host computer and the Ubuntu Server VM don’t go to sleep due to inactivity, do the following:
- To configure the sleep and wake settings for the Mac host computer, see [macOS User Guide](https://support.apple.com/en-in/guide/mac-help/mchle41a6ccd/mac).
- To configure the power settings for Ubuntu Server, do the following:
1. In System Settings for Ubuntu, select Power.
2. Turn off Automatic Suspend.
## Next steps
- [Sync, build, and flash Qualcomm Linux](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80022-254)
- [Fix network failures in the Ubuntu VM](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80022-41/topic/troubleshoot.html#fix-network-failures-in-the-ubuntu-vm)
- [Optimize slow or unresponsive Mac host computer](https://docs.qualcomm.com/doc/80-80022-41/topic/troubleshoot.html#slow-or-unresponsive-host)
Last Published: Apr 28, 2026
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