Install VM on Mac

Using the BBB on macOS Catalina via Virtual Machine

The new macOS update, Catalina, has some major changes for mac-users. Apple has gone away with 32-bit app support and COMPLETELY reconfigured how they configure their drivers (for USB, ethernet, etc.). Drivers are now outside the kernel on a level called "user mode." Big thing for us is that when you plug in the Beaglebone Black (BBB), your computer will no longer recognise the device on its network (ie you cannot ssh onto the BBB).

There are ways around this: installing a virtual machine, trashing your Mac for Linux or reinstalling macOS Mojave. This guide walks you through installing a Linux Virtual Machine.

1. What to download

• VirtualBox
• Any Linux operating system image (.ISO file), for example, ubuntu

2. Load the image into VirtualBox

• Go to media

• Go to Optical disk and add your Linux subsystem image into VirtualBox:

3. Install Linux VM

• Go back to the Welcome page and click New

- Name your VM - Select the installation folder - Change *Type* to Linux - Change *Version* to match your image version - Adjust memory size

• Leave the above page as default
• Now you will be able to see your new VM on the Welcome page

Connecting the BBB

• Power on your VM
• Select your image then hit Start
• Follow the introduction to install system
• After installation, update apt and install sshfs:

$ sudo apt update
$ sudo apt-get install sshfs

• Remember to attach the BBB into VM:
  • Click the USB symbol on the bottom, then select the BBB
  • Once the ticket shows up, you can ssh and sshfs