macOS 15 Sequoia: nested virtualization for M3+ Macs

[Sven G]

https://developer.apple.com/documentation/virtualization/vzgenericplatformconfiguration/4360553-isnestedvirtualizationsupported?changes=latest_minor

Hopefully, this means that also Windows 11 ARM guests on Apple silicon (M3+) - besides Linux and macOS ones - will be able to take advantage of nested virtualization (see also WSL 2, etc.), as is currently possible on Intel Macs. This would be a very cool feature, for Parallels Desktop 20...

 

[SinanK2]

I'd be happier when they removed the 2 VM hard-limit on macOS VMs.
Any progress there at all?

 

[AndreasK27]

Now that Parallels Desktop 20 released, can someone please confirm, if they support nested virtualization? I only have 2 M2 machines (with PD Pro licenses) and cannot test this.

 

[MTRabbit]

Now that Parallels Desktop 20 released, can someone please confirm, if they support nested virtualization? I only have 2 M2 machines (with PD Pro licenses) and cannot test this.

No, I'm using M3 MacBook Air with macOS 15.1 beta and Parallels 20 installed, my Windows 22H2 vm just complains about the processor doesn't support virtualization.

 

[SinanK2]

The two VM limit per device in macOS is utterly insufferable.

 

[Sven G]

Probably, the Apple virtualization framework doesn't yet support Windows guests, especially for the new nested virtualization feature available - but maybe only for macOS and/or Linux guests? - in macOS 15 Sequoia...? Hopefully, there will be some progress, in the future...

 

[Sven G]

... BTW, here's one of the first Parallels Desktop 20 quick reviews:

https://www.howtogeek.com/parallels-desktop-20-release-virtual-machine/

... where it also says: "However, there's still no sign of nested virtualization support for Apple Silicon Macs, so you still can't run WSL in a virtual machine or other similar uses cases."

Let's hope that this essential nested virtualization support will eventually be added also to Windows 11 ARM VMs...

 

[ArionL]

Shucks. I came to this thread hoping that nested virtualization support in MacOS 15 would mean I could run WSL2 in my Windows ARM guest..

 

[FredericM5]

Yeah, I'm awaiting for just the same thing!
@parallels20, any chance to see that happening in a near future release of our beloved software?
And for the 2VMs limit, there's a guy who took the time to investigate it.
Conclusion: you can get rid of it by.... booting off of a debug kernel with modified parameters, ouch!
cf https://khronokernel.com/macos/2023/08/08/AS-VM.html
P.S.: I've filled the macOS feedback form (https://www.apple.com/feedback/macos/)

 

[Sven G]

BTW, it looks like nested virtualization is now supported with M3+ also for the Hypervisor framework:

https://developer.apple.com/documentation/updates/hypervisor

 

[Sven G]

... So it will probably be implemented also in Parallels and Fusion, sooner or later.

 

[JamesF23]

Yeah, I'm awaiting for just the same thing!
@parallels20, any chance to see that happening in a near future release of our beloved software?
And for the 2VMs limit, there's a guy who took the time to investigate it.
Conclusion: you can get rid of it by.... booting off of a debug kernel with modified parameters, ouch!
cf https://khronokernel.com/macos/2023/08/08/AS-VM.html
P.S.: I've filled the macOS feedback form (https://www.apple.com/feedback/macos/)

What 2 VM limit? I have been running up to five VMs at the same time. You need to be more specific.

 

[JanneH3]

UTM has introduced nested virtualization support for Sequoia and M3+: https://github.com/utmapp/UTM/releases/tag/v4.6.0
I hope we can expect the same for Parallels app soon.

 

[JamesF23]

I noticed the other day that I was able to get WSL 2 working on a Windows 11 24H2 virtual machine working, I think that uses Nested Virtualization.

 

[JamesF23]

I noticed the other day that I was able to get WSL 2 working on a Windows 11 24H2 virtual machine working, I think that uses Nested Virtualization.

And I am running the M2 Ultra.

 

[JanneH3]

Just tested with latest Parallels version 20.1.1 (55740) on M3 Pro and Sequoia 15.0.1, still does not work.
WSL 1 works (as it did on M1 as well), but that's just using a compatibility layer on top of Windows kernel instead of being a real VM. When trying to enable WSL 2, it gives the error message.
Parallels UI does not have "Enable Nested Virtualisation" button, and the official documentation (updated Oct 11) says it's not supported on ARM Macs: "Nested virtualization is currently not supported for the Apple hypervisor and for macOS virtual machines hosted on both Intel Mac and Apple Silicon Mac."
https://kb.parallels.com/116239
I would think Parallels would announce the nested virtualization as a new feature in their release notes, as soon as they get it implemented.

 

[JamesF23]

Just tested with latest Parallels version 20.1.1 (55740) on M3 Pro and Sequoia 15.0.1, still does not work.
WSL 1 works (as it did on M1 as well), but that's just using a compatibility layer on top of Windows kernel instead of being a real VM. When trying to enable WSL 2, it gives the error message.
Parallels UI does not have "Enable Nested Virtualisation" button, and the official documentation (updated Oct 11) says it's not supported on ARM Macs: "Nested virtualization is currently not supported for the Apple hypervisor and for macOS virtual machines hosted on both Intel Mac and Apple Silicon Mac."
https://kb.parallels.com/116239
I would think Parallels would announce the nested virtualization as a new feature in their release notes, as soon as they get it implemented.

Interesting as this is what I have:

 

[JamesF23]

Of course I just realized the Ubuntu that was installed was WSL 1 even though WSL 2 is installed.

 

[MiselM]

@JamesF23 Which Mac CPU are you using?

 

[AndreasK27]

Of course I just realized the Ubuntu that was installed was WSL 1 even though WSL 2 is installed.

Your WSL --version has nothing to do with it still just being WSL1 - it's not WSL2 (my Surface Laoptop 7 with WSL2 shows the same WSL --version information as my M2 MacBook Air / macOS 15.1 / Parallels 20 with WSL1). The differentiation between WSL1 and WSL2 is shown in wsl -l -v.