Linux Virtual Machine: How to Run Linux on Mac, Windows, or in the Cloud

Running Linux on Mac, Windows, or in the Cloud doesn’t have to mean dual-booting or struggling with latency. Many developers, students, and tinkerers choose virtual machines (VMs), which let you run a full Linux environment alongside macOS or Windows.

For most users, performance is not a limiting factor: today’s Macs (especially M-series) and PCs can easily handle Linux VMs. Instead, the choice comes down to local vs. cloud. Cloud Linux instances shine when you need scale, shared access, or specialized hardware. A local Linux VM is ideal when you want instant startup, offline access, fast file sharing with your host system, and a private sandbox that lives entirely on your machine. For day-to-day learning, coding, testing, and tinkering, local virtualization is typically the simplest and fastest path.

Studies show Linux powers 77% of web servers globally, and all 500 of the world’s most powerful supercomputers. If you want to run Linux Mac or Windows machines, here’s everything you need to know about running a Linux virtual machine.

What a Linux virtual machine actually does

A Linux virtual machine (VM) is best thought of as a virtual computer that runs inside your Mac or Windows PC. It has its own Linux operating system, its own apps, and its own files, but it shares your computer’s hardware. You open it like an app, work inside Linux, and close it when you’re done – no reboot required.

Under the hood, virtualization is straightforward. Your computer temporarily lends a portion of its CPU, memory (RAM), and disk space to the VM. Research shows that server virtualization is used by more than 90% of businesses, and that application virtualization is experiencing a boom.

There are many Linux virtual machine benefits:

• Safe experimentation: Try new packages, kernels, or system settings without touching your main operating system.
• Isolated testing environments: Test apps, scripts, or configurations in an isolated Linux environment.
• Linux-native tools on macOS or Windows: Many developer tools, build systems, and servers are designed first for Docker/Linux. A VM lets you run them exactly as intended.
• Snapshots for instant rollbacks: Before a change, take a snapshot. If it goes wrong, roll back in seconds.

How to run a Linux virtual machine on a Mac

In this section, we’ll walk through the practical ways to run a Linux virtual machine on a Mac.

Why Mac users choose Parallels Desktop

For Mac users who want a reliable, simple solution for running Linux, Parallels Desktop is a popular choice.

Here’s why:

• Easily install Linux VMs in minutes with the guided setup.
• Get excellent, speedy performance with Linux on Apple silicon + Intel Macs.
• Enjoy deep macOS integration, including shared folders, clipboard, camera/mic, and networking.
• It’s enterprise-ready, designed for teams and IT-managed Macs with features like SSO, encryption, policy enforcement, Jamf/MDM integration.
• There are also developer-forward features:
  • Smooth workflow with VS Code extension.
  • Support for Vagrant/Packer integrations.
  • Reliable dev/test sandbox environments.

Step-by-Step: Set Up a Linux VM on macOS

1. Download a Linux ISO: Start by downloading the installer file (ISO) for your preferred Linux distribution. Ubuntu, Debian, and Fedora are all well-supported and work reliably in virtual machines.
2. Install Parallels Desktop: Download and install Parallels Desktop on your Mac. The installer walks you through Linux VM setup and requests the necessary macOS permissions for virtualization, networking, and system integration.
3. Create a new virtual machine: Open Parallels Desktop and choose to create a new virtual machine. When prompted, select Install Windows or another OS from a DVD or image file, then point Parallels to the Linux ISO you downloaded.
4. Allocate CPU, RAM, and disk space: Before starting the Parallels Linux VM, you can adjust its resources.
   • CPU: 2–4 cores is enough for most learning and development tasks.
   • RAM: 4–8 GB works well for general use; increase it for heavier builds or containers.
   • Disk: 40–60 GB is a safe baseline for most Linux workflows
5. Complete the Linux installation: Start the VM and follow the Linux installer prompts. This step looks the same as installing Linux on physical hardware: choose your language, create a user account, and confirm disk settings.
6. Install Parallels Tools: Once Linux finishes installing, Parallels prompts you to install Parallels Tools inside the VM, which are designed for graphics, performance, and integration enhancements.

How to run a Linux virtual machine on Windows

Step-by-Step setup on Windows

1. Choose a Windows virtualization tool: On Windows, virtualization tools generally fall into three categories:
   • Native virtualization options included with Windows.
   • Third-party virtualization platforms.
   • Parallels Desktop for Windows as a high-performance option.
2. Download a Linux ISO: Choose a Linux distribution like Ubuntu, Debian, or Fedora.
3. Create a VM and configure CPU/RAM/disk: Start with practical defaults, such as 2-4 CPU, 3-8 GB RAM, and 40-60 GB for disk.
4. Create a new virtual machine: Open your virtualization software and create a new VM using the Linux ISO.
5. Install Linux and complete first-boot setup: Launch the VM and follow the Linux installer prompts.
6. Install integration tools: Most virtualization platforms provide guest tools or extensions for things like improved graphics performance and file sharing. 

Running a Linux virtual machine in the Cloud

Local virtualization covers most learning and development needs, but sometimes you want Linux to live somewhere other than your computer. That’s where cloud-based Linux virtual machines come in.

Why choose a Cloud Linux instance?

A Linux cloud instance makes sense when your work benefits from being remote and persistent.

• Always-on access from anywhere: Your Linux machine runs 24/7 and can be reached from any Mac or Windows PC with an internet connection.
• Easy collaboration: Remote access is useful for shared dev, test, or training environments.
• No hardware demands on your device: All compute, memory, and storage live in the cloud.

Main Cloud Environments (High-Level Overview)

Most cloud Linux VMs are launched from prebuilt images provided by major platforms:

• AWS EC2: Offers a wide range of Linux images and instance sizes, from small test systems to large compute-heavy machines.
• Google Cloud Compute Engine: Provides Linux virtual machines designed for scalable workloads and integration with Google’s cloud services..
• Microsoft Azure: Includes many supported Linux distributions.

Quick Start: Launching a Cloud Linux VM

While details vary by provider, the basic workflow is similar everywhere:

1. Create an account with the cloud provider: Sign up and configure basic billing and security settings.
2. Select a Linux distro image: Choose a distribution such as Ubuntu, Debian, or another supported Linux image.
3. Choose VM size: Pick the amount of CPU, RAM, and storage your workload requires.
4. Configure secure access: Generate SSH keys and associate them with the VM so you can log in securely.
5. Connect from macOS or Windows: Use Terminal on macOS or PowerShell on Windows to connect to the VM over SSH and start working.

When a Cloud VM beats local virtualization

Cloud-based Linux VMs are the better fit when:

• You need shared dev or test environments used by multiple people.
• Your apps or tools must always be running, such as APIs, services, or CI runners.
• The workload exceeds laptop capacity, like large builds or compute-heavy processing.
• You’re supporting distributed teams or multi-region access,

Start Running Linux your way

Linux virtual machines give you access and flexibility, and allow you to use Linux from a Mac, Windows, or the cloud. While the cloud is the best option in some cases, most people (students, developers, and curious tinkerers alike) benefit more from a local setup. You get fast startup, offline access, snapshots for instant rollback, and the freedom to experiment without risk.

If you’re using a Mac and want the simplest path to Linux, tools like Parallels Desktop make it easy to get started.

Ready to try it yourself? Download the Parallels Desktop free trial and start running Linux on your Mac today.

FAQs

Is a Linux virtual machine safe for beginners?

Yes. The VM is isolated from your main operating system, so mistakes don’t affect macOS or Windows. If something goes wrong, you can reset the VM or roll back to a snapshot.

Do Linux VMs run fast on Apple silicon Macs?

They do. On Apple silicon, Linux VMs use native hardware virtualization rather than emulation, which delivers near-native performance for most workloads.

Can I run multiple Linux VMs on a newer Mac or PC?

Yes, as long as your hardware has enough CPU cores and RAM. Modern Macs and PCs can comfortably run multiple Linux VMs at the same time, especially for light to moderate workloads.

Are Linux VMs good for learning command line and server skills?

Absolutely. A Linux VM gives you a real Linux environment where you can practice shell commands, package management, networking, permissions, and server setup

Do I need to know how to partition disks or dual-boot?

No. Virtual machines don’t require disk partitioning or dual-boot configuration.

Can Parallels Desktop run Kali Linux?

Yes. Parallels Desktop supports Kali Linux, including common security and penetration-testing workflows.

Can Parallels Desktop run x86 Linux?

Yes, with important context. On Apple silicon Macs, Parallels Desktop runs Linux using the Arm architecture for best performance, but it can still run many x86 Linux applications through built-in translation layers.