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# mac os x on kvm
- URL: https://wootangent.net/mac-os-x-on-kvm/
- Published: 2009-07-28T09:54:45.000Z
- Updated: 2009-07-28T09:54:45.000Z
- Author: Leigh Dyer
- Tags: Linux, Technical, #Migrated-1792830072870, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-10-24 08:21

While I no longer have a Mac, I still need one from time-to-time for development and testing purposes at work. My old MacBook Pro is still there, and runs just fine in that role, but for a laugh I thought if it would be possible to run Mac OS X in a virtual machine on my new laptop using KVM, the open-source virtualisation system built in to the Linux kernel. The answer, surprisingly, was yes:

[![](http://electronaut.linuxgamers.net/gallery/d/2741-1/macosx-kvm.png)](http://electronaut.linuxgamers.net/gallery/v/articleimages/macosx-kvm.png.html?g2%5FimageViewsIndex=1&ref=wootangent.net)

For the installation, I used iDeneb, a bootable Mac OS X installer DVD that's pre-patched and ready to boot on most PCs. The only trick to getting it working on KVM seems to be to use an alternative kernel -- the Voodoo 9.5.0 kernel worked for me -- and to find a virtual network card that both KVM and OS X support. In fact, I haven't quite figured that last one out yet, but I'm giving it another go right now.

The only real problem is the performance -- it's terrible! Dock bounces aren't scientific measure of how long it takes to start applications, but when you get to double-digits starting Terminal.app, you know you're in trouble. Even if I do get the networking issues sorted, I doubt it'll be usable for anything serious.