Apple @ Work is proudly sponsored by Mosyle, the sole Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the one-stop solution that consolidates all the necessary tools required to effortlessly and automatically deploy, manage, and secure Apple devices in the workplace. More than 45,000 organizations rely on Mosyle to prepare millions of Apple devices for work with minimal effort and at a cost-effective price.Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and discover why Mosyle has everything you need to operate with Apple.
I transitioned to being a Mac user nearing the conclusion of the PowerPC era. Following the switch to Intel, virtualization became a vital aspect for users who wanted to harmonize their macOS experience with Windows applications. Over the past twenty years, the reasons for utilizing virtualization have shifted and progressed, but it remains an essential component of many workflows. With Apple’s transition to its own chips (Apple Silicon) in 2020, virtualization kept pace, although it faced hurdles due to x86 virtualization challenges. Nevertheless, technological advancement is relentless, as x86 emulation is now in beta for macOS.
About Apple @ Work: Bradley Chambers has overseen an enterprise IT network from 2009 until 2021. Drawing from his experience in deploying and managing firewalls, switches, mobile device management systems, enterprise-grade Wi-Fi, thousands of Macs, and iPads, Bradley shares insights on how Apple IT managers deploy Apple devices, establish networks, train users, and communicates stories from the field of IT management. He also discusses potential improvements Apple could make to better serve IT departments.
Starting with Parallels Desktop 20.2.0, users can now utilize x86 emulation on Apple Silicon Macs, dating back to the M1 chip. This new feature enables the operation of some Intel-based (x86_64) virtual machines (VMs) on Apple Silicon through Parallels’ proprietary emulation engine.
However, there are several important limitations to be aware of:
- Boot times can vary from 2 to 7 minutes, and the responsiveness is confined to single-application usage. When Parallels describes this feature as being in beta, they truly mean beta.
- USB devices and sound are currently unsupported for x86 emulation, and the virtual machines are limited to one virtual CPU and a maximum of 8 GB of RAM.
- x86 emulation utilizes Apple’s hypervisor, which does not permit nested virtualization, restricting the use of certain developer-focused tools like WSL2.
- This emulation supports only 64-bit operating systems, though 32-bit applications can run. Compatibility issues may arise with earlier Windows versions (Windows 10, Windows 11, Windows Server 2019/2022 are “supported”) and some Linux distributions.
What’s the use case for this feature?
In essence, it revolves around testing and development. Currently, it is not designed to serve as a means for running essential Windows applications. Parallels has indicated that their clients have sought the capability to operate, develop, and test 32-bit Windows apps in a native environment since the shift to Apple Silicon. If Parallels can continue to refine this functionality, it could be crucial for businesses and developers relying on legacy applications that have not yet migrated to modern architectures.
What else is new?
Alongside the beta x86 emulation, Parallels Desktop 20.2.0 introduces several enhancements aimed at IT management:
- Hybrid Licensing and SSO Support: The Enterprise Edition now accommodates hybrid and single sign-on (SSO), simplifying the management of licenses and authentication.
- Configuration Profile Support: This feature optimizes deployment processes, minimizing the time and effort needed to manage extensive virtualized environments.
- Automatic Time Synchronization: macOS virtual machines on Apple Silicon now automatically synchronize time and time zones, simplifying setup for end users.
Click here to discover more about Parallels for macOS.
Apple @ Work is proudly sponsored by Mosyle, the sole Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the one-stop solution that consolidates all the necessary tools required to effortlessly and automatically deploy, manage, and secure Apple devices in the workplace. More than 45,000 organizations rely on Mosyle to prepare millions of Apple devices for work with minimal effort and at a cost-effective price.Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and discover why Mosyle has everything you need to operate with Apple.
