Podman Machine Setup for x86_64 on Apple Silicon

This repository helps setting up a Podman machine (QEMU) on Apple Silicon, which will run amd64 (x86_64) containers.

There are 2 ways:

1. Enable multi-architecture support (including x86_64) on a normal aarch64. This way keeps performance high (but it still runs a base aarch64 machine).
2. Fully emulated x86_64 machines. Maximizes compatibility but it is slow.

Try always 1 before going to 2 (only use 2 if really needed).

Requirements

• homebrew
• homebrew bundle
• podman
• qemu (dependency of podman, included automatically)
• jq

Note: qemu is included in the list because it is necessary to pin the version too.

The required packages can be found in the Brewfile.

install the dependencies if not otherwise done:

brew bundle install

1. Setup multi-arch support on current podman machine

This step will install the required package in the current machine. the setup.sh script will take care of this process.

export PODMAN_MACHINE_NAME="podman-machine-default" # change this machine name if you want to setup another machine.
./setup.sh

Afterwards start the machine as usual.

Podman should now be able to run multiple architecture images with a performance penalty applied only to x86_64 containers.

2. Setup x86_64 full emulation

Note: this step is only required if the solution 1 is not enough for you.

The setup will create a Podman machine with the name x86_64 and the default parameters.

Create a Podman machine

./setup-x86_64.sh [optional podman machine parameters]

Example 1: Default size podman machine

./setup-x86_64.sh

Example 2: Custom size podman machine

./setup-x86_64.sh --cpus 8 --memory 16384 --disk-size 24

Start the Podman machine

Note: The Podman machine needs to be started after every reboot and it might take a very long time to start, specially the first time (as it configures itself with ignition).

podman machine start x86_64

Change the settings afterwards

You will have to modify the x86_64.json file and then restart the Podman machine.

podman machine stop x86_64
code $HOME/.config/containers/machines/x86_64.json
podman machine start x86_64