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VMware Fusion Tech Preview Brings Windows 11 to Apple Silicon Macs

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VMware this week announced that its latest VMware Fusion update brings Windows 11 support to both Intel and Apple silicon Macs. Available as a free tech preview, the 2H22 version of Fusion will finally allow Apple silicon Mac users to download and use Windows on their machines through virtualization.

vmware-fusion-windows.jpg

Features include Windows 11 support with 2D GFX and networking, VMtools installation for Windows on Apple silicon machines, improved Linux support on Apple silicon machines, and more.
  • Windows 11 on Intel and Apple Silicon with 2D GFX and Networking
  • VMtools installation for Windows 11 GOS on M1
  • Improved Linux support on M1
  • 3D Graphics HW Acceleration and OpenGL 4.3 in Linux VMs* (Requires Linux 5.19+ & Mesa 22.1.3+)
  • Virtual TPM Device
  • Fast Encryption
  • Universal Binary
While the new functionality was designed with Windows 11 in mind, VMware says the tools can be used with other VMs too. At the current time, Fusion on Apple silicon devices is "still a work in progress" and there are some limitations to be aware of.
  • Fusion will not support running VMs across different architectures. (I.e. no x86_64 VMs on M1 Macs).
  • macOS virtual machines are out of scope for this release, but it's something we're looking into.
  • Ubuntu 20.04.4 and 22.04 for arm64 are not currently booting (Ubuntu 20.04.4 builds from July 5 and onward) We are working to resolve this.
VMware says that it is looking for feedback from users in order to iron out kinks and add new capabilities in preparation for more formal support later this year. While in the testing period, VMware Fusion will be free to use. The VMware Fusion Tech Preview can be downloaded from the VMware website.

Article Link: VMware Fusion Tech Preview Brings Windows 11 to Apple Silicon Macs
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2022/07/29/vmware-tech-preview-apple-silicon-macs/
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No macOS virtual machines makes me sad. This was a big reason why I still have Intel Macs in my arsenal. (Otherwise, I can virtualize all other x86-64 platforms on an x86-64 Windows 10/11 PC). Eventually, I won't need to care about OSes older than Monterey and virtualizing them on Apple Silicon will be automatically more compelling. But, for now, this is an annoying limitation.

Here's hoping that VMware allows for more control in making a Windows 11 for ARM64 VM in Fusion than Parallels does with its product. The fact that Parallels only allows manual control over VM creation and customization for Linux OSes is maddening.
 
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It's kind of dead out of the gate without the x86 W11 capability. I know that the limitations and difficulties aren't VMware's fault - its a huge downside for me of the AS platform as Windows VMs were so handy for my line of work. I moved ahead anyway as I couldn't stand the noise of those i9s any longer.
 
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MacRumors said:


  • Ubuntu 20.04.4 and 22.04 for arm64 are not currently booting (Ubuntu 20.04.4 builds from July 5 and onward) We are working to resolve this.
Click to expand...
Nah keep this unresolved. Stop using Ubuntu. That entire distro is bloatware and a shell of it's former self. There's better ARM Linux distros you can be using. Use Arch, Fedora, or Asahi instead. Asahi especially is specialty built for Apple chips.
 
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dlewis23 said:
Likely not going to happen. As long as there is Windows on Arm this will be the focus.
Click to expand...
Windows 11 has an x64 emulator out of the box.

Introducing x64 emulation in preview for Windows 10 on ARM PCs to the Windows Insider Program

Updated 11/16/2021: x64 emulation for Windows is now generally available in Windows 11. For those interested in experiencing this, a PC running Windows 11 on Arm is required. Today, we're releasing the first preview of x64 emulation
blogs.windows.com
 
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Yebubbleman said:
No macOS virtual machines makes me sad. This was a big reason why I still have Intel Macs in my arsenal. (Otherwise, I can virtualize all other x86-64 platforms on an x86-64 Windows 10/11 PC). Eventually, I won't need to care about OSes older than Monterey and virtualizing them on Apple Silicon will be automatically more compelling. But, for now, this is an annoying limitation.

Here's hoping that VMware allows for more control in making a Windows 11 for ARM64 VM in Fusion than Parallels does with its product. The fact that Parallels only allows manual control over VM creation and customization for Linux OSes is maddening.
Click to expand...
You can run macOS natively in apples built in emulator: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/202...-apps-to-safely-test-the-macos-ventura-betas/
 
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randomthoughts said:
Windows 11 has an x64 emulator out of the box.

Introducing x64 emulation in preview for Windows 10 on ARM PCs to the Windows Insider Program

Updated 11/16/2021: x64 emulation for Windows is now generally available in Windows 11. For those interested in experiencing this, a PC running Windows 11 on Arm is required. Today, we're releasing the first preview of x64 emulation
blogs.windows.com
Click to expand...
Thanks for mentioning this. I switched to the DEV channel and am installing the updates now. I have some64 bit games I'd love to get working.

Tom
 
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