Easy Ubuntu Server Installation on MacBook Using VMware Fusion's Custom Vnet

How to Download the Ubuntu Image

Visit the official Ubuntu website at https://ubuntu.com/download/server and download the Ubuntu server version instead of the desktop version, as the server requires less RAM and hard disk space. The image size will be approximately 3 GB.

How to Install VMware Fusion on Mac

Go to https://support.broadcom.com/ and create a new account if you don’t have one. You can use your Gmail account for registration. Once logged in, you will see the landing page. Click on the dropdown, then navigate to VMware Cloud Foundation > My Downloads > Free Software Downloads available HERE. Search for Fusion, select VMware Fusion, choose the latest revision, and download it (click "I agree to the Terms and Conditions").

After clicking download, a prompt will appear. Click yes to proceed, fill in your details, and submit.

once you submit , You will be redirected to the download page again. Click on download to obtain VMware Fusion. You will receive a .dmg file; click on it to install Fusion.

Create a virtual machine in VMware Fusion

As mentioned above, we will use the Ubuntu image to create a virtual machine. However, before that, we need to create a custom virtual network (vmnet) with NAT enabled in VMware Fusion. This setup will allow us to create a virtual machine with internet access. By using a custom vmnet with NAT, we are not dependent on our local network, and the network range will always remain static. lets create custom vmnet now

Create a custom Vnet

Search for VMware Fusion on your MacBook and navigate to VMware Fusion > Settings > Network. Unlock the settings and click on the "+" button to add a new network.

now add a vnet and allow NATing

create Virtual machine

We will create a virtual machine using the Ubuntu image. It will have 2 GB of RAM and a 20 GB hard disk.

Click "+" > Create a custom virtual machine (continue) > Ubuntu 64-bit Arm > Create a new virtual disk >

Customize Settings (give the name of the VM) > Finish (it will create a machine without an OS disk, so close it)

Now, go to Settings > CD/DVD (SATA) to browse and connect the Ubuntu image, then select Network Adapter > custom vnet (vmnet3) and connect the Network Adapter.

Now start the VM, and the installation will begin.

Click "Try or Install Ubuntu Server" > "English" > "Continue without updating" > "Done" > "Ubuntu Server" > "Done," then you'll see an IP assigned by DHCP (we'll make it static later) > "Continue" > "Use an entire disk" > "Done," and then choose a username, server name, and password > continue ( skip Ubuntu pro)>

Install OpenSSH server > done > wait for the installation to finish

once finished , reboot the server

Once finished, reboot the server and log in with the username and password you set during installation.

Now you can SSH into the server using 192.168.39.128 (the firewall is disabled).

Note: You can't log in when you are connected to a VPN.

Enable root access and set up a static IP (optional)

Enable root access

grep -n PermitRootLogin /etc/ssh/sshd_config
sudo sed -i '/^#PermitRootLogin prohibit-password$/a PermitRootLogin yes' /etc/ssh/sshd_config

grep -n PermitRootLogin /etc/ssh/sshd_config

## restart ssh service
 sudo systemctl restart ssh

## to change the root password 
echo "root:ubuntu" | sudo chpasswd

ssh root@192.168.30.128

Configure a static IP

You can configure a static IP if you want.

check your gatway

ssh rohit@192.168.30.128 
sudo -i
cp 50-cloud-init.yaml 50-cloud-init.yaml.bkp

root@kubernetes-master:/etc/netplan# ls -l
total 8
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 391 May 22 07:35 50-cloud-init.yaml
-rw------- 1 root root 391 May 22 07:36 50-cloud-init.yaml.bkp

cat >50-cloud-init.yaml <<EOF
network:
  version: 2
  ethernets:
    ens160:
      dhcp4: no
      addresses: [192.168.30.128/24] ## check your subent and IP 
      routes:
        - to: default
          via: 192.168.30.2 ## check your gateway
      nameservers:
        addresses: [8.8.8.8, 4.4.4.4]
EOF

chmod 600 50-cloud-init.yaml

root@kubernetes-master:/etc/netplan# ip a show ens160
2: ens160: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 qdisc pfifo_fast state UP group default qlen 1000
    link/ether 00:0c:29:13:38:8e brd ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff
    altname enp2s0
    inet 192.168.30.128/24 brd 192.168.30.255 scope global ens160
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever
    inet6 fe80::20c:29ff:fe13:388e/64 scope link
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever

root@kubernetes-master:/etc/netplan# ip r
default via 192.168.30.2 dev ens160 proto static
192.168.30.0/24 dev ens160 proto kernel scope link src 192.168.30.128

root@kubernetes-master:/etc/netplan# ping -c3 8.8.8.8
PING 8.8.8.8 (8.8.8.8) 56(84) bytes of data.
64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=1 ttl=128 time=33.3 ms
64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=2 ttl=128 time=37.8 ms
64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=3 ttl=128 time=37.1 ms

--- 8.8.8.8 ping statistics ---
3 packets transmitted, 3 received, 0% packet loss, time 2006ms
rtt min/avg/max/mdev = 33.335/36.080/37.767/1.957 ms
root@kubernetes-master:/etc/netplan#
root@kubernetes-master:/etc/netplan# ping -c3 google.com
PING google.com (142.250.192.174) 56(84) bytes of data.
64 bytes from del11s11-in-f14.1e100.net (142.250.192.174): icmp_seq=1 ttl=128 time=26.0 ms
64 bytes from del11s11-in-f14.1e100.net (142.250.192.174): icmp_seq=2 ttl=128 time=27.7 ms
64 bytes from del11s11-in-f14.1e100.net (142.250.192.174): icmp_seq=3 ttl=128 time=26.1 ms

--- google.com ping statistics ---
3 packets transmitted, 3 received, 0% packet loss, time 2005ms
rtt min/avg/max/mdev = 26.035/26.611/27.683/0.758 ms