---
title: Virtualize Linux on a Mac
framework: virtualization
role: collectionGroup
role_heading: API Collection
path: virtualization/virtualize-linux-on-a-mac
---

# Virtualize Linux on a Mac

Configure and run Linux guests on Apple silicon and Intel-based Mac computers.

## Overview

Overview Use VZVirtualMachineConfiguration to create a configuration that represents a specific Linux platform with the devices you want to use with your virtual machine (VM) — like VZVirtioSoundDeviceConfiguration or VZUSBKeyboardConfiguration. You use this configuration to load a Linux kernel image from disk that — using VZLinuxBootLoader — runs in a VZVirtualMachine that you control. For more information about running a Linux guest, including how to download kernel and RAM disk images, see Creating and Running a Linux Virtual Machine. For more information about running GUI Linux virtual machines, see Running GUI Linux in a virtual machine on a Mac.

## Topics

### Configurations

- [VZVirtualMachineConfiguration](virtualization/vzvirtualmachineconfiguration.md)
- [VZVirtualMachineStartOptions](virtualization/vzvirtualmachinestartoptions.md)
- [VZGenericPlatformConfiguration](virtualization/vzgenericplatformconfiguration.md)
- [VZPlatformConfiguration](virtualization/vzplatformconfiguration.md)

### Boot loaders

- [VZBootLoader](virtualization/vzbootloader.md)
- [VZLinuxBootLoader](virtualization/vzlinuxbootloader.md)
- [VZEFIBootLoader](virtualization/vzefibootloader.md)
- [VZEFIVariableStore](virtualization/vzefivariablestore.md)

## See Also

### Virtual machine setup

- [Running macOS in a virtual machine on Apple silicon](virtualization/running-macos-in-a-virtual-machine-on-apple-silicon.md)
- [Running Linux in a Virtual Machine](virtualization/running-linux-in-a-virtual-machine.md)
- [Running GUI Linux in a virtual machine on a Mac](virtualization/running-gui-linux-in-a-virtual-machine-on-a-mac.md)
- [Installing macOS on a Virtual Machine](virtualization/installing-macos-on-a-virtual-machine.md)
- [Creating and Running a Linux Virtual Machine](virtualization/creating-and-running-a-linux-virtual-machine.md)
- [Virtualize macOS on a Mac](virtualization/virtualize-macos-on-a-mac.md)
- [Running Intel Binaries in Linux VMs](virtualization/running-intel-binaries-in-linux-vms.md)
- [Accelerating the performance of Rosetta](virtualization/accelerating-the-performance-of-rosetta.md)