Run Linux on Mac without rebooting

We’ve outlined how to run Linux on Mac® and how easy it is to get started!

Linux is an incredibly versatile operating system that has been designed to run on a wide range of devices—from mobile devices, to desktop computers, and even servers. Due to the open-source nature that ensures code has active community support, Linux is widely loved by developers. Think of Linux as an operating system “of the people, by the people, for the people.” (Yes, we just quoted the Gettysburg Address to enable readers to understand Linux as a whole.)

Users online have expressed a desire to run Linux on their Mac computer without rebooting. This is where Parallels Desktop® for Mac enters as a solution. Virtualization of Linux is a powerful and easy installation process that allows for an interruption-free environment.

Parallels Desktop provides several popular distributions of Linux for free directly in the product itself. Additionally, Parallels Desktop users can download .ISO files of and install other Linux distributions (for example: Kali Linux & use Vagrant to download and setup Linux environments like a pro!)

The free included systems are shown below. There’s no need to take any additional steps to find the right Linux distribution for you. We’ve made it very easy to run Linux on Mac!

Ubuntu: One of the most popular open-source softwares; based on the Debian GNU/Linux distribution.

Fedora: Formerly Fedora Core. Based on the Linux kernel, developed by the community-supported Fedora project, and sponsored by Red Hat.

CentOS: Provides a stable, predictable, manageable, and reproducible platform.

Debian GNU/Linux: A popular Unix-like operating system that is composed entirely of free software, which is utilized for personal computers and network servers.

Linux Mint: An easy-to-use free distribution that requires little maintenance and goes with full multimedia support.

Android: A Linux-based operating system for mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablet PCs.

All of these Linux distributions are free and easy to install as a virtual machine on your Mac through Parallels Desktop. Linux distributions can be located under the “Free Systems” options available to users within the Installation Assistant when creating a new virtual machine. See the full list of free systems below:

Get started with Linux on Mac with Parallels Desktop and try a free 14-day trial now.