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Installing Ubuntu on iMac

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  • 17-10-2012 5:12pm
    #1
    BlackEdelweiss
    Registered Users Posts: 1,534 ✭✭✭


    I need to install Ubuntu on my iMac to run some software. Can anybody direct me to a good guide to do this or can anybody tell me how to do it.

    It is a fairly demanding bit of software used for fire simulation so it might need a good bit of free hard drive space.

    I also want to keep my normal iMac going, not to replace it.


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    #2
    croo
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 1,334 Mod ✭✭✭✭croo


    Why not install virtualbox on the mac and install linux & the software you need in a virtual machine.


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    #3
    BlackEdelweiss
    Registered Users Posts: 1,534 ✭✭✭BlackEdelweiss


    croo wrote: »
    Why not install virtualbox on the mac and install linux & the software you need in a virtual machine.

    I have virtualbox installed and it is set to run Ubuntu but when I click it it says "No bootable medium found! System halted"

    Do I have to do something else to activate it?


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    #4
    croo
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 1,334 Mod ✭✭✭✭croo


    No, you on't nee to do anythng special.
    Did you complete the install in the virtual machine or just run the live-cd?


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    #5
    BlackEdelweiss
    Registered Users Posts: 1,534 ✭✭✭BlackEdelweiss


    I got it up and running, well my 11 year old son did, it was him who had virtualbox installed in the first place, he just hadent installed ubuntu from a disk yet.
    The software I am trying to install uses a lot of computing power, will virtual box be able to handle this?


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    #6
    BlackEdelweiss
    Registered Users Posts: 1,534 ✭✭✭BlackEdelweiss


    My iMac is 64 bit, should I choose the 64 bit version for linux as well, probably a stupid question.


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    #7
    croo
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 1,334 Mod ✭✭✭✭croo


    The software I am trying to install uses a lot of computing power, will virtual box be able to handle this?
    With a modern cpu and the Hardware Virtualization enabled on VM (i..e Settings->System->Acceleration tab and the VT-x/AMD-V options enable) I found performance to be excellent. I haven't run any formal performance tests, I just based this on the building & deployment of a large, java based, ERP type app. I found the time taken by the VM to be comparable with that of the host system itself.

    re: 64/32 bit
    Actually unless I need access to very large amounts of memory or, more commonly, need to test the 64bit version of something - I generally stick to 32bit for the VM (the host I alwyas ru 64bit). I don't think it makes a whole lot of difference. But since your needs are so cpu intensive perhaps a small difference is important!? In which case just create two VM and compare both!


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    #8
    T-K-O
    Registered Users Posts: 6,309 ✭✭✭T-K-O


    Have you tired bootcamp


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    #9
    BlackEdelweiss
    Registered Users Posts: 1,534 ✭✭✭BlackEdelweiss


    T-K-O wrote: »
    Have you tired bootcamp

    I was going to try that first but I am very new to iMac's and have done nothing more than surfing the net on this so far. I like the mac but I have to admit I am still lost on how to use it properly.
    Do I need to burn my data to a disk to back it up? I was trying something online but I got stuck at this point as I have no blank disks left.


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    #10
    T-K-O
    Registered Users Posts: 6,309 ✭✭✭T-K-O


    BlackEdelweiss wrote: »
    I was going to try that first but I am very new to iMac's and have done nothing more than surfing the net on this so far. I like the mac but I have to admit I am still lost on how to use it properly.
    Do I need to burn my data to a disk to back it up? I was trying something online but I got stuck at this point as I have no blank disks left.

    It takes a little time to get to grips with OSX but it will happen..

    I haven't tried to install ubuntu but I have installed windows 7 and I understand the process is more or less the same.

    Basically you create a partition with bootcamp restart the machine and load the new os. You can find tutorials online.

    If you dont backup your data I recommend that you back up before using bootcamp. I didnt experience any problems but you never know. If you have an external hard drive, connect it to the mac and run time machine.


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