Apple Virtualization NixOS ISO

README.md

Run NixOS ISO using Apple Virtualization framework (for example UTM)

• local: Download ISO
  • 22.05 or build ISO: nix-build -A iso_minimal.aarch64-linux '<nixpkgs/nixos/release.nix>'
  • 22.11 Minimal 64-bit ARM
• local: Mount hdiutil mount *.iso
• local: Copy kernel and initrd: cp /Volumes/nixos-minimal-2?/boot/{Image,initrd} ..
• local: Find and copy kernel params: less /Volumes/nixos-minimal-2?/EFI/boot/grub.cfg
• local: Append console=hvc0 to params.
• UTM: Create a new "drive". 16 GB is comfortable, 64 GB is plenty. Attach to your VM.
• UTM: Attach the ISO.
• UTM: Put kernel, initrd and set kernel params.
• VM: Follow https://nixos.org/manual/nixos/stable/index.html#ch-installation. Partition with "Legacy Boot (MBR)" scheme to be able to use boot.loader.generationsDir. Later disable Grub as below:
• VM: configuration.nix:

  # Switch to true if you want to check the current default kernel params. /boot/grub/grub.cfg will be created.
  boot.loader.grub.enable = false;
  boot.loader.grub.device = "nodev";
  
  # Creates /boot/default/kernel, /boot/default/initrd and a new subdirectory for each kernel and initrd upgrade under /boot. Makes it easier to copy these to host and simplify kernel params below.
  boot.loader.generationsDir.enable = true;
  
  # Recently started producing kernels unbootable by Apple Virtualization, so it's disabled until a fix can be found
  # boot.kernelPackages = pkgs.linuxPackages_latest;
  
  services.openssh = {
    enable = true;
  };

• VM: nixos-install
• VM: Enable root SSH login in your installation VM
• local: copy new kernel and initrd from your new VM: scp root@vm:"/mnt/boot/nixos-{kernel,initrd}" .
• VM: poweroff the installer
• UTM: Use kernel, initrd and kernel params in VM's settings: console=hvc0 boot.shell_on_fail init=/boot/default/init loglevel=4
• UTM: Boot your VM

Brilliant, thanks, that worked. I upgraded to the latest NixOS ISO from the link, and updated to the latest nixos-kernel and nixos-initrd files, and I'm in!