Parallels for MacBook M1: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you interested in running a headless server or installing a virtual machine on your MacBook M1? Look no further! This article provides a detailed guide on how to install and configure Parallels Desktop, a popular hypervisor for macOS.

Firstly, it's essential to note that this article assumes users want to make full use of the tools, including Xorg configuration. If you're only looking to run a headless server, you can skip over the sections relating to X.

To improve interoperability between your host and guest operating systems, Parallels provides a package called 'Parallels Tools,' which contains kernel modules and userspace utilities. You can download this package from the official Parallels website or through the Parallels Desktop interface on your MacBook M1.

Once you've downloaded the Parallels Tools package, follow these steps to install it:

1. Open the Parallels Desktop application on your MacBook M1.

2. Click on 'File' and then select 'Parallels Tools' from the drop-down menu.

3. Follow the installation instructions to complete the installation process.

If you want a plain image right away, you can download a VM from the official Parallels website and follow the installation guide for Arch Linux in the Parallels Knowledgebase.

Parallels Desktop supports Linux guests out of the box, but only offers support for a few Linux distributions – excluding Arch Linux. If you're looking to install Arch Linux as your guest operating system, you'll need to manually configure it.

For those who don't want to use Parallels Tools, installation is as simple as choosing 'Other Linux' when creating a new virtual machine and proceeding as you would on any real machine. However, keep in mind that this method has not been tested by the vendor and may require some manual intervention to work under Arch.

Parallels Desktop is a powerful tool for anyone looking to run multiple operating systems on their MacBook M1. With its user-friendly interface and robust features, it's an excellent choice for both beginners and advanced users alike.

For more information on virtualization, you can refer to Wikipedia or the official Parallels website.

Parallels for macbook m1