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vGPU OS 0.3.0 · alpha · Debian 13

A whole computer dedicated to your macOS VMs.

vGPU OS is a bootable ISO that turns the machine into an OSX-REIMS appliance: it installs to a disk, detects the GPU, installs the graphics drivers by itself and boots straight into the VM console, with a web panel to look after them from another computer on the network. No Ubuntu, no desktop, no manual setup.

Access: Available to members with an active Hackintosh - vGPU OS membership at Universo Hackintosh.

I am already a member

vgpu-os · boot
The vGPU OS USB boot menu, with the purple chip logo, the subtitle dedicated appliance os and the entries Install vGPU OS, Install vGPU OS (safe graphics) and Advanced / Rescue.
macOS Sequoia 15.8 desktop in a vGPU OS VM, with About This Mac open: Mac Pro 2019, Apple Paravirtualized Graphics Device 64 MB graphics and 8 GB of memory. Serial number hidden.

From USB stick to macOS

Write the ISO, install, and let the first setup do the work: network, hardware, graphics drivers and OSX-REIMS, in that order.

Boots straight into your VMs

Every start opens the OSX-REIMS console full screen — or goes right into macOS, when a VM is set to start by itself. From another computer’s browser, the web panel does the same.

An experimental project, for study and testing, with no warranty and no technical support. It does not replace an Apple computer: performance and stability are not comparable to a Mac. To use macOS for real, every day, buy a Mac.

Real screenshots: the vGPU OS boot menu and macOS Sequoia 15.8 running in the VM.

  • Debian 13
  • Wayland
  • cage
  • Vulkan
  • Mesa
  • PipeWire
  • KVM
  • QEMU
  • OpenCore 1.0.8
  • Reims vGPU
  • OSX-REIMS 0.6.0
  • UEFI
  • amd64
the whole ISO, with Debian 13 and OSX-REIMS
553MB
from kernel to the OSX-REIMS console*
≈11s
graphics drivers to install by hand
0
GPU vendors: Intel, AMD and NVIDIA
3

* Measured on the test computer (Intel Core i9-14900K) over several boots. Varies with hardware.

01How it works

A second way to run OSX-REIMS.

OSX-REIMS is still installed as a .deb package on Ubuntu Desktop, exactly as today. vGPU OS is the other path: for when you want to hand a whole computer over to OSX-REIMS.

  • Ubuntu Desktop

    OSX-REIMS .deb

    Your Ubuntu, your way

    For people who already use Ubuntu and want macOS VMs next to everything else.

    • You install and maintain Ubuntu, the desktop and the drivers.
    • OSX-REIMS is one application among others.
    • Available on the Hackintosh - Avançado membership.
  • vGPU OS

    Bootable ISO

    Debian 13, minimal and dedicated

    For people who want a machine that exists only to run macOS VMs.

    • An installer that takes a whole disk and asks nothing it does not need.
    • A first setup that picks and installs the drivers for your GPU.
    • No desktop: the session is the OSX-REIMS console itself, full screen.
    • A web panel in another computer’s browser on the network, to create, start and follow the VMs.

The same VMs, the same Reims vGPU.

On both paths, OSX-REIMS creates the same macOS VMs, with the same built-in EFI, and fetches Reims vGPU from the same place, building it on your computer. What changes is the system underneath.

Who does what

  1. 01

    vGPU OS

    Installs the system, prepares the hardware and the session, and hands the machine to OSX-REIMS.

  2. 02

    OSX-REIMS (opens in a new tab)

    Creates, runs and maintains the macOS VMs, with the built-in EFI.

  3. 03

    Reims vGPU (opens in a new tab)

    Virtual GPU with Vulkan graphics acceleration, used by the VMs.

OSX-REIMS does not depend on vGPU OS

vGPU OS uses OSX-REIMS through the interfaces that already existed; OSX-REIMS keeps working the same on Ubuntu, with or without vGPU OS.

02Demo

See vGPU OS in action.

Excerpts from a real recording of vGPU OS 0.1.2 on a computer with an Intel Core i9-14900K and UHD 770 integrated graphics, from the USB boot to macOS. Pick an excerpt; the video is only loaded when you ask to play it.

  • Long waits, such as the Reims vGPU build, were shortened.
  • The videos have no audio; the descriptions explain each step.
  • No serial number appears in the published excerpts.

01 / 05

Installing vGPU OS

Recorded with vGPU OS 0.1.2 · Duration 0:30 · No audio

The computer boots from the USB stick and shows the vGPU OS menu. Under Install vGPU OS, the installer introduces the system, asks for the target disk, the confirmation and the password, installs and restarts the computer. The whole installation runs in a text interface and needs no internet.

The recordings show what the project does, not what your computer will do. Performance depends on the machine, the GPU and the drivers, and is not comparable to a Mac: a VM with a paravirtualized GPU does not deliver the Apple hardware experience.

Screenshots

Select a screenshot to enlarge it.

03Project limits

An experimental project. Not a replacement for a Mac.

Before joining, understand clearly what vGPU OS does not set out to be. These are not legal disclaimers: they are the real limits of what the solution does.

Need a stable macOS for everyday use?

Buy a Mac. That is the honest recommendation: to work with macOS reliably, with support, warranty and every feature working, the way is Apple’s official hardware.

vGPU OS does not compete with that and does not intend to. It exists for people who want to study and experiment, not for people who need a production tool.

  1. 01

    It does not replace an Apple computer

    A macOS VM accelerated by a virtual GPU is not a Mac. Features that depend on Apple hardware, services and integrations may not work, may half-work, or may stop working with any update.

  2. 02

    Performance is not comparable to a Mac

    The whole virtualization layer has a cost. Even with Vulkan acceleration, graphics, storage and power are far from what a Mac delivers. Do not expect parity: expect a difference.

  3. 03

    It takes the whole computer

    vGPU OS erases the chosen disk and is not meant to share the machine with another system. Reinstalling also erases the VMs, which live on the same disk. Use a computer — or at least a disk — just for it.

  4. 04

    It is for study, experiments and testing

    It is alpha software: it can fail, corrupt a VM or change behavior between versions. The purpose is to learn and experiment in a disposable environment, not to keep data you depend on.

  5. 05

    There is no technical support

    vGPU OS is provided without warranty and without support. The #vgpu-os-chat channel on Discord is a space for members to help each other, where you can report problems and share logs for analysis, but nothing guarantees a reply, a timeframe or a fix.

04From USB stick to macOS

vGPU OS walks you through every stage.

Everything you would do by hand to build a macOS VM machine, in the right order, with a confirmation before each important step.

The vGPU OS interface is text-based, in English, and only shows up when it needs an answer. After installation, the computer boots straight into the OSX-REIMS console.

  1. 01

    Install

    From the USB stick to the disk.

    • Boot menu with normal install, safe graphics or a rescue console.
    • Disk choice, with a warning when it is smaller than 128 GB.
    • Confirmation by typing ERASE: nothing is wiped before that.
    • Computer name and a password for the vgpu-user account.
    • No internet needed to install.
  2. 02

    Configure

    The first setup, on its own.

    • Checks the wired network.
    • Examines the processor, virtualization, IOMMU and every GPU.
    • Shows the driver and firmware plan and asks for confirmation.
    • NVIDIA driver only with your permission: the open one, from NVIDIA’s own repository, from the GTX 16xx on.
    • Restarts once if needed, and validates graphics for real.
  3. 03

    Prepare

    OSX-REIMS ready to create VMs.

    • The OSX-REIMS console opens by itself and shows its license.
    • Rust, Reims vGPU and its QEMU are downloaded and built on the computer.
    • Everything downloaded comes from the official source: Debian, Rust, Reims vGPU and Apple.
  4. 04

    Use

    An appliance, not a desktop.

    • Every boot shows a loading screen, then the console full screen.
    • macOS VMs full screen, with the Reims vGPU virtual GPU.
    • A VM can start by itself when the computer powers on.
    • A web panel, over HTTPS, to run the VMs and the computer from another computer on the network.
    • Backup and restore of each VM in a single file.
    • Sound in the VMs, a network address of their own for each VM (bridge), and the monitor’s resolution and refresh rate to choose from.
    • Restart and power off the computer from the console itself.
    • Full diagnostics with vgpu-os diagnostics, safe to share.

05Graphics drivers

The right driver for your GPU, no tutorial hunting.

The first setup identifies every graphics card in the computer and installs from the Debian archive only what it needs. None of it ships inside the ISO: it is chosen for your machine, on the spot.

Drivers installed by the first setup, by GPU vendor

  • Intel

    What gets installed
    Kernel i915 or xe driver, Mesa ANV (Vulkan) and Intel firmware
    Note
    Tested with UHD 770 integrated graphics.
  • AMD

    What gets installed
    Kernel amdgpu driver, Mesa RADV (Vulkan) and AMD firmware
    Note
    Tested with Radeon RX 6900 XT, RX 6600 and RX 580. Mesa 26, from Debian’s backports.
  • NVIDIA

    What gets installed
    From the GTX 16xx on, NVIDIA’s own driver with its open kernel modules, from NVIDIA’s repository for Debian 13; older cards, Debian’s driver (non-free)
    Note
    Tested with GeForce RTX 5060 and RTX 2060 (notebook). Needs Secure Boot off.

In every case the Vulkan loader, the verification tools and nvtop, to watch the GPU’s use, are installed too. With NVIDIA, only the driver’s libcuda1 library goes in, which its Vulkan needs; the CUDA Toolkit is never installed.

Tested on real hardware

  • Intel Core i9-14900K with UHD 770 integrated graphics as the only GPU.
  • The same computer with an AMD Radeon RX 6600 or an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 added, with the VM running on either of the two.
  • Intel Core i9-12900K and AMD Ryzen 9 5950X, each with a GeForce RTX 5060.
  • AMD Ryzen 9 5950X with a Radeon RX 6900 XT.
  • A notebook with an Intel Core i7-10750H, UHD graphics and a GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile.
  • AMD Radeon RX 580, in the early test rounds.

Compatible with Vulkan GPUs on Linux

Because Reims vGPU works on top of Vulkan, other NVIDIA GPUs and Intel Arc GPUs are compatible too: all have drivers with Vulkan support on Linux. Not every card and computer combination has gone through vGPU OS validation, so results may vary with the model and the driver.

More than one GPU

Each GPU is validated separately, and the one driving the monitor must answer Vulkan. In OSX-REIMS, each VM can pick the GPU it runs on; the picture goes out through the monitor’s GPU. If you move the monitor to another card, vGPU OS notices at the next boot.

Left out of the ISO, on purpose

The ISO carries no NVIDIA driver, CUDA, Vulkan driver, GPU firmware or Reims vGPU. Drivers come from the official Debian archive (and, for NVIDIA from the GTX 16xx on, from NVIDIA’s own repository) and Reims vGPU from its authors’ repository, after installation.

06Get started

Four steps to the OSX-REIMS console.

Access to vGPU OS goes through the official Universo Hackintosh channels.

  1. 1

    Join the Hackintosh - vGPU OS membership

    Membership is purchased on the Universo Hackintosh YouTube channel, through the official link.

    Become a member (opens in a new tab)
  2. 2

    Download the ISO on Discord

    Members with an active membership click Gerar meu link de download (Get my download link), in the pinned message of the #vgpu-os channel on the Universo Hackintosh Discord server, and get a personal link to download the ISO.

    Getting the ISO
  3. 3

    Write the USB stick and install

    Write the ISO to a USB stick, boot the computer from it in UEFI mode and pick Install vGPU OS.

    Installation guide
  4. 4

    Let the first setup do its work

    With the network cable plugged in, vGPU OS installs the drivers and OSX-REIMS and opens the console, ready for your first VM.

    First setup

07Requirements and versions

What your computer needs.

Documented requirements for vGPU OS 0.3.0.

Computer requirements

Architecture
64-bit (x86_64) computer with UEFI firmware. Legacy BIOS is not supported.
Virtualization
Intel or AMD processor with hardware virtualization (Intel VT-x or AMD-V) enabled in the firmware.
GPU
Intel, AMD or NVIDIA GPU with Vulkan 1.2 or later. The driver is installed by the first setup; with NVIDIA, Secure Boot must be off.
Disk
A whole disk dedicated to vGPU OS: at least 32 GB, 128 GB or more recommended. Everything on it is erased.
Network
A wired (Ethernet) connection with DHCP for the first setup, for creating VMs and for the web panel. Wi-Fi is not supported in this release.
USB stick
A USB stick to write the ISO to, about 553 MB.

The macOS VMs live on the same disk as the system, and each takes tens of GB. Memory and processors for each VM are chosen in OSX-REIMS.

Detailed requirements in the docs

What ships in the 0.3.0 ISO

System
Debian 13 (trixie)
OSX-REIMS
0.6.0
OpenCore for new VMs
1.0.8
Architecture
amd64 · UEFI

macOS offered by OSX-REIMS

  • Ventura (13)
  • Sonoma (14)
  • Sequoia (15)
  • Tahoe (26)

Options in the creation menu. The recording on this page shows macOS Sequoia 15.8.

This is not a compatibility matrix: the result depends on the computer, the GPU and the drivers.

Alpha stage

vGPU OS 0.3.0 is experimental software, in alpha, provided without warranty and without technical support. Features and behavior may change between versions, and there is no in-place update yet: a new version is installed again, erasing the disk. It is meant for study, experiments and testing — not for work you cannot afford to lose.

08Member access

Exclusive to Universo Hackintosh members.

vGPU OS is available to members with an active membership on the tier:

Members receive

  • vGPU OS ISO

    A bootable image to install vGPU OS on a dedicated computer.

  • #vgpu-os

    Access to the dedicated Discord channel, where the download button generates your personal ISO link.

Membership tier

Hackintosh - vGPU OS

Universo Hackintosh#vgpu-os

Membership is purchased on the Universo Hackintosh YouTube channel. It gives access to the ISO and the Discord channels; it does not include technical support or any warranty. vGPU OS may only be used while the membership is active.

Already a member?

Join the Universo Hackintosh Discord server, connect your profile to the YouTube account used for the membership and click the download button in the pinned message of the #vgpu-os channel.

Discord (opens in a new tab)Getting the ISO

The ISO is not distributed through this website: downloads happen only through the download button in the #vgpu-os Discord channel.

09FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Did not find your answer? Check the documentation, with installation, first setup, commands and troubleshooting.

What is vGPU OS?

A dedicated operating system, based on Debian 13, that exists only to run OSX-REIMS. It comes as a bootable ISO: you install it to a disk, the first setup prepares the graphics drivers and OSX-REIMS, and from then on the computer boots straight into the macOS VM console.

How is it different from OSX-REIMS on Ubuntu?

OSX-REIMS is the same in both cases, and so are the VMs and Reims vGPU. On Ubuntu, you install and maintain the system, the desktop and the drivers, and OSX-REIMS is one application among others.

On vGPU OS, the system is minimal, with no desktop, and takes care of the graphics drivers and the preparation by itself: the whole machine is dedicated to the VMs.

Do I need to install Ubuntu first?

No. vGPU OS is the computer’s system: it replaces whatever is on the chosen disk. You do not need Ubuntu, a desktop or to install drivers by hand.

Do I need to know Linux or Hackintosh?

Not to install and use it. The installer and the first setup ask what they need, and OSX-REIMS comes with a built-in EFI: no knowledge of EFI, OpenCore, Kexts or ACPI is required.

The vGPU OS and OSX-REIMS screens are in English. For diagnostics and rescue there is a Linux console, which is optional.

Can I install it next to Windows or another system?

That is not the idea. vGPU OS takes the whole disk you pick and is not meant for dual boot. Other disks in the computer are not touched, but the recommendation is to dedicate the machine to it.

Does it work over Wi-Fi?

Not in this release. The first setup and VM creation need internet over a network cable (Ethernet) with DHCP. The installation itself works without internet.

Is my GPU compatible?

The first setup installs the graphics drivers for Intel, AMD and NVIDIA GPUs. Tested on real hardware so far: Intel UHD 770 (integrated), AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT, RX 6600 and RX 580, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 and RTX 2060 (notebook).

NVIDIA, Intel Arc and AMD integrated GPUs are compatible with the project too, because they support Vulkan on Linux. The requirement is Vulkan 1.2 or later; results may vary with the GPU model and the driver.

What if the computer has an NVIDIA GPU?

The first setup identifies the card and asks before installing. From the GTX 16xx on (RTX 20, 30, 40 and 50 included), it installs NVIDIA’s own driver, with its open kernel modules, from NVIDIA’s repository for Debian 13; older cards get the driver from Debian’s non-free archive. No NVIDIA driver ships inside the ISO, and the CUDA Toolkit is never installed.

Secure Boot must be off: the driver’s module is built on your computer and is not signed. The GeForce RTX 5060 and a notebook RTX 2060 have been tested.

Can a VM start by itself when I power on the computer?

Yes. In OSX-REIMS, set the VM to start by itself: on power-on, vGPU OS opens the console and the VM starts right after, up to the macOS screen. The "Power on and land in macOS" demo shows that path.

Can I look after the VMs from another computer?

Yes. After the first setup, vGPU OS has a web panel: open the address shown on the OSX-REIMS console in a browser on another computer on the same network, and sign in with the user name and password set at installation.

From the panel you create, start, shut down and follow the VMs, see the computer’s hardware, choose the monitor’s mode and the sound output, back up the VMs, run OSX-REIMS’ maintenance and read logs and diagnostics. A running VM’s screen still appears on the monitor attached to vGPU OS.

Can I back up a VM?

Yes. In Backup & Restore, in the OSX-REIMS console or in the web panel, a whole VM becomes a single file, which can be restored over the VM itself or as a new VM.

The backups live on the same disk as the VMs: they protect from a mistake or an update gone wrong, not from a disk failure. To keep a backup safe, copy the file to another computer, over SSH.

How do I update vGPU OS?

There is no in-place update in this release. A new version is installed from the USB stick, which erases the disk — the VMs included, and their backups, which live on the same disk. Before reinstalling, copy anything important to another computer, such as the VMs’ backup files.

Does vGPU OS work inside a virtual machine?

It installs and boots, but without a real GPU there is only software rendering, and macOS is far too slow or does not start at all. vGPU OS is made to run directly on the computer.

Who can access it?

Universo Hackintosh members with an active Hackintosh - vGPU OS membership. Membership is purchased on the YouTube channel, through the official link.

What if I cancel, do not renew or change my tier?

vGPU OS may only be used while the Hackintosh - vGPU OS membership is active. If it is canceled, not renewed or changed to a lower tier, the license to use it ends and vGPU OS must be removed from the computer, along with the OSX-REIMS that comes with it.

To remove it, just install another system over the vGPU OS disk. The VMs live on that same disk: first copy elsewhere any files you created and want to keep.

Where do I download the ISO?

In the #vgpu-os channel of the Universo Hackintosh Discord server, open to Hackintosh - vGPU OS members: click Gerar meu link de download (Get my download link), in the pinned message of the channel, and the bot replies, visible only to you, with a personal download link. The ISO is not distributed through this website.

The link is valid for a single download, only downloads for your Discord account (the page asks you to sign in) and expires in 10 minutes if unused. Up to 3 downloads can be started every 24 hours. The full rules and the data recorded are in Download terms and privacy, in the site footer.

After becoming a member, how do I access Discord?

Just accept our invite to join our Discord server (Discord invite (opens in a new tab)).

After joining, remember to connect your user profile to the YouTube account you used to become a member of the channel. Discord then recognizes you as a member and assigns the member role automatically, unlocking access to the channels.

Can I use it instead of a Mac?

No. vGPU OS is an experimental project, for study and testing, and does not replace an Apple computer. Features that depend on Apple hardware, services and integrations may not work or may stop working with any update.

If you need macOS for everyday work, with stability and support, the honest recommendation is to buy a Mac.

Is vGPU OS made by the Reims vGPU team?

No. vGPU OS and OSX-REIMS are Universo Hackintosh projects, independent from Reims vGPU. They are not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by the Reims vGPU authors.

Reims vGPU is third-party open-source software: it does not ship in the ISO; OSX-REIMS downloads it from the original repository and builds it on your computer, under its authors’ license.

Is the project in alpha?

Yes. vGPU OS is at version 0.3.0, in alpha, and is provided without warranty and without technical support. OSX-REIMS and Reims vGPU are in alpha too. Features and behavior may change between versions.

Does the membership include technical support?

No. The membership gives access to the ISO and the Discord channels, but it does not include technical support or any guarantee that it will work.

The #vgpu-os-chat channel is a space for members to help each other: you can describe the problem there and share the logs from vgpu-os diagnostics --save for the community to look at. Help is voluntary, and there is no guarantee of a reply, a timeframe or a fix. Support requests by email are not answered.

Ready to dedicate a computer to your macOS VMs?

Join the Hackintosh - vGPU OS membership and get access to the #vgpu-os channel, where the ISO is downloaded with the download button.