[Getting better] Trying x86 Pi Desktop image on Apple Silicon

[MiscBits]

Following on from the request to add a note that the Raspberry Pi Desktop Image for Macs only work on Intel machines (here) and my 'I must test that' note (here) I thought I would test creating the VM on an Intel Mac (2012 Mac mini as it happens) and move to my M1 iMac.

I used Parallels v18.2

Crash and burn was the result (expected TBH):



The link points to Rosetta being the issue still...

Rosetta can translate most Intel-based applications, but it can't translate the following executables:

Kernel extensions;
Virtual Machine applications that virtualize x86_64 computer platforms.

Splitting hairs - I am running an ARM VM hypervisor so do not need Rosetta for that just what's in it!

I may give UTM a go this week but the default Parallels Debian is good enough for my work at the mo.

Given I have the image downloaded, its tempting to do a scratch install on the Mac (it needs a reload after being used for testing and being left in a mess - never seen an admin user not be able to get to parts of the disk before today)...

[tinker2much]

When I got my M2 MacBookAir, I recycled my 2012 Mac MIni. Somewhat sorry I did so - I did occasionally run the Raspberry Pi Desktop or other x86-based Linux distributions on it for fun or for tests, from USB sticks.

On the M2, I've run the Arm64 version of bullseye under Apple's lightweight virtualization using Howard Oakley's excellent "liviable" utility: https://eclecticlight.co/2022/12/09/liv ... rosetta-2/, and he does show how to enable Rosetta 2 for x86 programs.

[MiscBits]

Well I fired up UTM and took the default machine settings (only dropping the 60GB HDD to 20GB) and lo it ran the installer...



Problem now is it seems to be stuck in the 'first run' set-up every time.

Very very slow install - left it running so I have no real idea of the total time (way over an hour) and boot takes an age but the mouse and keyboard are responsive...

Not convinced it's usable but will see if I can get past this config loop and try a few speed tests - first time I skipped the updates (impatient to see if it booted to the desktop) but this time around I'll let them install.

Note its possible that the machine is memory constrained - this iMac only has 8GB and QEMULauncher is eating 6.5GB at peak. CPU use is low at around 15%

Should be interesting to compare Parallels to UTM over the next month or so (with a Debian install) as my Parallels subscription runs out in June and I do not need it professionally any more...

When I got my M2 MacBookAir, I recycled my 2012 Mac MIni. Somewhat sorry I did so - I did occasionally run the Raspberry Pi Desktop or other x86-based Linux distributions on it for fun or for tests, from USB sticks.

On the M2, I've run the Arm64 version of bullseye under Apple's lightweight virtualization using Howard Oakley's excellent "liviable" utility: https://eclecticlight.co/2022/12/09/liv ... rosetta-2/, and he does show how to enable Rosetta 2 for x86 programs.

I still have a 2012 Mac Mini sat under the TV at home that gets dragged out for odd bits - very sweet machines (esp as they are sooo cheap on eBay for the basic specs). Last thing was a trial OBS install that was not a good idea.

Thanks for the link, added to the reading list.

[MiscBits]

Very quick update - the install of updates failed.

Maybe next week I can get some time for sitting and watching this but honestly - not sure why I want to

Other than its interesting...

[MiscBits]

Well - IT IS RUNNING

tl;dr: It runs similar to a Pi 4B for CPU tasks but GUI is worse than VNC over a poor WiFi link

I made a slight change to the VM - I forced it to have 2 CPUs but left it as a pc-q35-7.2 (whatever that means).

No real idea why it was looping but I powered off the VM and this time when starting it up I did not use 'pi' as a user and everything went through.

Response is not great in a window (still to test full screen etc) but CPU tasks are not bad (compared to a Pi 4B) using the basic sysbench 1.0.20 test:

Pi Desktop for Mac / PC under UTM (2 'processors / 4GB):

• CPU Events per second 74.98
• Total time 10.0099s
• Total events 751
• Latency 11.20 / 13.30 / 78.90 / 25.25 / 9988.73
• Threads fairness 751 / 9.9887

A Pi 4B (8GB 64bit Buster):

• CPU Events per second 118.76
• Total time 10.0056s
• Total events 1189
• Latency 8.33 / 8.41 / 25.24 / 8.43 / 10001.67
• Threads fairness 1189 / 10.0017

A Debian ARM64 Buster VM under Parallels (2 'processors' / 4GB / with Parallels tools installed):

• CPU Events per second 11011.56
• Total time 10.0001s
• Total events 110122
• Latency 0.09 / 0.09 / 0.90 / 0.09 / 9988.48
• Threads fairness 110122 / 9.885

I will see about setting up a native ARM Debian under UTM at some point soon and add the scores here.

edit: Set up a Debian ARM64 under UTM (2 'processors' / 4GB / Not using the Apple Virtualization backend):

• CPU Events per second 10980.64
• Total time 10.0001s
• Total events 109813
• Latency 0.09 / 0.09 / 5.15 / 0.10 / 9989.15
• Threads fairness 109813 / 9.9892

Close enough performance wise for me to continue testing UTM before my licence runs out on Parallels...

Interestingly, UTM again tried to go through the install till I powered off the machine and started it again. I think in this case it is not ejecting the CD but that does not explain the 'first boot' set up on the Pi image.

[iarpi]

Why not RPiOS on the Apple Silicon? At least the aarch64 version?

[MiscBits]

Why not RPiOS on the Apple Silicon? At least the aarch64 version?

I'm just playing.

I have Debian VMs for day to day use and not tried UTM so if you look at the two links in the first post you will see a few minor reasons that added up to a few hours of exploration just for the heck of it.