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vGPU OS
Documentation: Requirements

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Requirements

What your computer needs to install vGPU OS: UEFI, virtualization, GPU, disk and wired network.

Alpha

This documentation covers vGPU OS 0.1.2, in alpha. Screens and commands may change between versions; to see the installed version, use vgpu-os version.

Documented requirements for vGPU OS 0.1.2.

The computer

Item Requirement
Architecture 64-bit (x86_64 / amd64)
Firmware UEFI. Legacy BIOS is not supported
Processor Intel or AMD with hardware virtualization (Intel VT-x or AMD-V)
GPU Intel, AMD, or NVIDIA with Vulkan 1.2 or later
Disk An entire disk: minimum 32 GB, 128 GB or more recommended
Network Ethernet (cable) with DHCP
USB drive To write the ISO, about 535 MB

Virtualization

Hardware virtualization must be enabled in the firmware (BIOS/UEFI), under names such as Intel Virtualization Technology, VT-x, SVM Mode, or AMD-V. Without it, macOS cannot run: the first setup warns you, and vgpu-os hw validate reports that KVM is missing.

IOMMU (VT-d / AMD-Vi) is not required for Reims vGPU. If the firmware offers it, the first setup asks whether to enable it in the kernel; it is optional.

Disk

The installer erases the entire disk you choose and creates two partitions on it: the UEFI boot partition (512 MB) and the system partition, which also holds the VMs.

  • Less than 32 GB: the installer rejects the disk.
  • Between 32 GB and 128 GB: the installer warns you and asks whether you want to use it anyway.
  • Each macOS VM takes up tens of GB. For more than one VM, plan for well over 128 GB.

Other disks in the computer are not modified, but vGPU OS was not made to share the machine with another system (dual boot).

Network

  • Installation works without internet.
  • The first setup needs internet over a network cable (Ethernet), with automatic addressing (DHCP).
  • Creating VMs also needs internet: macOS Recovery is downloaded from Apple.

Wi-Fi is not supported in this version. The ISO includes firmware for Realtek and Broadcom (bnx2/bnx2x) network cards; most Intel cards work with the kernel's own driver.

GPU

The driver is installed by the first setup, from the Debian repository. What has already been tested on real hardware, and compatibility with other GPUs through Vulkan, is covered in GPUs and drivers.

Important

Vulkan 1.2 is the technical baseline, not a guarantee that it will work. The virtualization and driver requirements still apply, and the result depends on the GPU model.

Secure Boot

vGPU OS 0.1.2 has not been validated with Secure Boot enabled. If the USB drive does not boot, or if the NVIDIA driver does not load, disable Secure Boot in the firmware.

Memory and processors

There is no defined minimum for vGPU OS itself. Each VM's memory and processors are chosen in OSX-REIMS, on each VM's first boot; reserve enough memory for the macOS you intend to run.

Versions

Component Version in ISO 0.1.2
System Debian 13 (trixie), kernel from Debian backports
OSX-REIMS 0.4.1
OpenCore for new VMs 1.0.8

OSX-REIMS offers macOS Ventura (13), Sonoma (14), Sequoia (15), and Tahoe (26) when creating VMs. Offering a version does not mean guaranteed compatibility.