In reply to a post by andynormancx:

the M1 Mini can’t run x86 virtual machines.

Not using VirtualBox? I used to run this on an admittedly Intel mini, can you really not use it on M1?

But there are so may flavours and options, I may be confused or generally wrong...

In reply to a post by Woolwich:

Not using VirtualBox? I used to run this on an admittedly Intel mini, can you really not use it on M1?

No virtualbox on ARM architecture (M1 etc). I can't find the link, but it was confirmed by Oracle. (the developers).

If you buy Parallels or VMWare they have preview versions of their products that run on M1 and can run ARM architecture operating systems, not Intel. So you can run versions of Linux, and you can (as a home user) sign up to MS Insider and get test versions of Win11 for ARM, but you CANNOT run Intel operating systems.

Its causing a bit of "fun" at work.... people whom chose Mac years ago and then got upgraded to new M1 kit and its nice and fast then find they can't prototype their applications in a Linux or Windows virtual machine. Now time to use the Cloud and rent a VM

Edited by jchamier (Fri 09-Sep-22 17:03:53)

In reply to a post by andynormancx:

The Mac mini is never likely to be a good choice for this task. You want something that has at least two built in network interfaces (you don’t want to be messing around with USB ones). And you’d also be restricted to running router software that had ARM builds available, the M1 Mini can’t run x86 virtual machines.

One of the low power Intel based mini PCs with multiple network adapters is a far better option, or running the router in a VM on an x86 machine.

LOL, no the Mac mini is not going to be for a router, I saved up money for the mac mini, but I am waiting to see what they do, if they bring a new one out I will buy that, I will see what money is left over and then decide if i am going to buy a small computer for a router.


i am still putting money aside, i have £1,132 in the account i have set up for it. I doubt a new mac mini what ever CPU they stick in it will cost that.

In reply to a post by jchamier:

In reply to a post by Woolwich:

Not using VirtualBox? I used to run this on an admittedly Intel mini, can you really not use it on M1?

No virtualbox on ARM architecture (M1 etc). I can't find the link, but it was confirmed by Oracle. (the developers).

If you buy Parallels or VMWare they have preview versions of their products that run on M1 and can run ARM architecture operating systems, not Intel. So you can run versions of Linux, and you can (as a home user) sign up to MS Insider and get test versions of Win11 for ARM, but you CANNOT run Intel operating systems.

Its causing a bit of "fun" at work.... people whom chose Mac years ago and then got upgraded to new M1 kit and its nice and fast then find they can't prototype their applications in a Linux or Windows virtual machine. Now time to use the Cloud and rent a VM

I'm running Win 11 and Ubuntu 22.04 (desktop + server variants) under Parallels 18 on a MBP M1 Max. Works like a charm.

For x86_64 stuff, including Win Server 2022 and various other bits and bobs, mostly Ubuntu based, I'm virtualising them on a little ProxMox cluster of four ThinkCentre M720q tiny boxes. A couple of nodes have 4-port Intel (i350-T4) 1Gbs cards and one has a 2 x 10Gbs Intel NIC in it for testing.

Keeping the architectures separate seems to be the simplest and most efficient way to go.

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

I'm running Win 11 and Ubuntu 22.04 (desktop + server variants) under Parallels 18 on a MBP M1 Max. Works like a charm.

Yes, PCPro magazine had a few articles about running ARM versions of OSes on the M1 using Parallels (and VMWare have a version of Fusion in beta that does the same). However my commercial advisors say that the Insider release isn't suitable for "business" and MS currently won't actually SELL a licence for ARM Windows. Many have assumed they are in some exclusive contract with Qualcomm due to the SQ1 processor in one of the Surface laptops.

For x86_64 stuff, including Win Server 2022 and various other bits and bobs, mostly Ubuntu based, I'm virtualising them on a little ProxMox cluster of four ThinkCentre M720q tiny boxes. A couple of nodes have 4-port Intel (i350-T4) 1Gbs cards and one has a 2 x 10Gbs Intel NIC in it for testing. Keeping the architectures separate seems to be the simplest and most efficient way to go.

I like those tiny ThinkCentre machines.

Which are saying 34p per kWh. I wonder if they will be proved right! I hope so as I don't happen to use gas.

I think I missed a trick there. Although I'm signed up to the Insider program I downloaded a version of Windows 11 from Microsoft via Parallels without giving my Insider credentials and had to purchase a licence from Microsoft which they then validated. So they do seem to be selling Windows 11 for ARM, at least to me.

My W11 for ARM instance is also fully activated and properly licensed. Wasn’t really an issue.

In reply to a post by Michael_Chare:

Which are saying 34p per kWh. I wonder if they will be proved right! I hope so as I don't happen to use gas.

I think anyone hoping for the electric unit rate to be 34p even before adding on 5% VAT (35.5p) are likely to be disappointment, as @candlerb has said its likely to be around the 37p rate inclusive of the 5% VAT, the magic figure you are looking at getting to for just electric is £1250 when using 2900KWh of electric and a year's worth of daily standing charges.

Edited by deleted (Sat 10-Sep-22 15:09:36)

I didn't realise I had to pay for it *as well* as being in the Insider program. I wondered if they'd dropped the Insider program requirement.