Add details about Type-2 virtualization options for EC2 Mac Instances

[scottmalkie]

We mention Type-2 Virtualization in the FAQ and link to the Anka blog, but we should provide more specific details about when/where to use Type-2 VMs compared to instances.

[thimslugga]

macOS virtualization related resources

• https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2022/10002/
• https://developer.apple.com/documentation/virtualization/running_macos_in_a_virtual_machine_on_apple_silicon_macs
• https://developer.apple.com/documentation/virtualization/running_intel_binaries_in_linux_vms_with_rosetta?language=objc
• https://developer.apple.com/documentation/hypervisor
• https://developer.apple.com/documentation/virtualization
• http://docs.oasis-open.org/virtio/virtio/v1.2/virtio-v1.2.html

VM Limit Resources:

• https://www.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/macOSVentura.pdf
• https://www.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/macOSMonterey.pdf
• https://mjtsai.com/blog/2022/08/04/how-apple-limits-vms/
• https://eclecticlight.co/2022/08/04/virtualisation-on-apple-silicon-macs-8-how-apple-limits-vms/

2B (iii), permits the user "to install, use and run up to two (2) additional copies or instances of the Apple Software, or any prior macOS or OS X operating system software or subsequent release of the Apple Software, within virtual operating system environments on each Apple-branded computer you own or control that is already running the Apple Software, for purposes of: (a) software development; (b) testing during software development; (c) using macOS Server; or (d) personal, non-commercial use."

Some solutions

• https://github.com/cirruslabs/tart
  • https://github.com/cirruslabs/macos-image-templates
  • https://github.com/cirruslabs/packer-plugin-tart
  • https://github.com/shapehq/tartelet
  • https://github.com/cirruslabs/orchard
  • https://github.com/cirruslabs/ansible-orchard
• https://github.com/insidegui/VirtualBuddy
• https://mac.getutm.app/

[fkorotkov]

Just want to note that Tart is now officially on AWS Marketplace and we did implement couple special features to improve integration with AWS ecosystem and things like ECR registry for storing Tart virtual machines.

Here is a blog post that describes how a Type 2 virtualization solution like Tart can compliment wonderful EC2 Mac Instances: https://tart.run/blog/2023/10/06/tart-is-now-available-on-aws-marketplace/