Running UO on a MAC

From DFI Wiki

Mac Users

A guide to getting UO + Razor on a Mac

Install VMWare Fusion http://www.vmware.com/products/fusion/

Obtain a Windows XP or Windows Vista install disc (Vista is unconfirmed)

Create a new Virtual Machine, selecting the version of Windows you will install

The VM will boot up and installation will begin as if you were installing on a real PC

After Windows installs, install UO, .Net, and Razor as you normally would

Software you can use

• Parallels Desktop for Mac -

This is a virtual environment under Mac OS X where another Operating System, Windows in this instance, is loaded, and UO is run from within this virtualized environment. This is limited to the newer Intel-based Macs, and has been confirmed by several people as working very well (within reason - as long enough memory has been provided) with the 2D Client. Later this year (2006), 3D acceleration is supposed to be enhanced in Parallels Desktop, and the 3D client as well as the Kingdom Reborn clients may run reasonably well under this. It runs best under dual-core Macs. Downside is that you have to have a copy of Windows to install.

• VMWare Fusion for Mac-

Another virtual machine player, the competitor to Parallels. Offers most of the same features, and newer versions have been known to perform more efficiently than Parallels. Also, like Parrallels, this requires a copy of Windows. Confirmed working UO and Razor.

• Apple Boot Camp -

this is a dual-boot setup, whereby the Mac is booted into either Windows or Mac OS X. If you boot into Windows, the machine acts as a normal Windows-based machine, however you must reboot into either Mac OS X or WIndows at startup, which can get annoying over time.

• CrossOver Mac -

A commercial application of the WINE project, which is a translation of Windows libraries to allow Windows-based applications to run natively on UNIX systems. Ultima Online does indeed install and run, but getting it to connect to Defiance has not been successful as of yet.

• Virtual PC from Microsoft -

Runs on PowerPC-based Macs and has been unsupported for quite some time. Not recommended, however UO 2D client will run. It’s extremely slow because of the translation between machine architectures (i.e. translation x86 instructions to PowerPC instructions).

• MacVM.com -

Site that tracks Virtualization and Emulation software for Macs.