Prerequisites:

• A Mac computer running a supported version of macOS.
• Sufficient free disk space (at least 20-30 GB recommended for the VM, plus space for VMware Fusion).
• An internet connection to download the necessary files.

Part 1: Download and Install VMware Fusion

VMware Fusion is the virtualization software for macOS. Fusion Player has been discontinued for purchase, and Fusion Pro is now available for free for personal use.

1. Go to the VMware Fusion Download Page: Open your web browser and navigate to the official VMware Fusion download page on the Broadcom website. You can usually find this by searching for "Download VMware Fusion".
2. Download the Installer: Find the download link for the latest version of VMware Fusion for macOS. Click to download the disk image file (.dmg). You may need to create a Broadcom account to access the download.
3. Open the Disk Image: Once the download is complete, open the downloaded .dmg file. This will mount a virtual disk.
4. Install VMware Fusion: In the mounted disk image window, double-click the "Install VMware Fusion" icon.
5. Follow the Installation Wizard:
   • Agree to the license agreement.
   • Drag the VMware Fusion application icon to the Applications folder alias to install it.
   • You may be prompted to enter your macOS user password.
   • Follow any additional on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
6. Launch VMware Fusion: Once installed, launch VMware Fusion from your Applications folder or Launchpad.
7. License Information: Similar to Workstation Pro, when you launch Fusion Pro for the first time, select the option to use it for personal, non-commercial purposes when prompted about the license.

Part 2: Download the Ubuntu Server ISO Image

The process for downloading the Ubuntu Server ISO is the same regardless of your host operating system.

1. Go to the Ubuntu Server Download Page: Open your web browser and go to the official Ubuntu website's server download section. Search for "Download Ubuntu Server".
2. Choose the LTS Version: For a stable environment suitable for DevOps, download the latest Long Term Support (LTS) version. Look for the download link for the Server Install Image (ISO file) for the latest LTS release (e.g., Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or 24.04 LTS).
3. Download the ISO File: Click the download link. The ISO file is large, so the download may take some time. Save the ISO file to a location you can easily find on your Mac (e.g., your Downloads folder).

Part 3: Create and Install the Ubuntu Server Virtual Machine in VMware Fusion

Now you will create a new virtual machine in VMware Fusion and install Ubuntu Server using the downloaded ISO image.