Install Linux VM on Apple Silicon

I have a new Apple-Silicon iMac and I’d like a fully functional Linux virtual machine running on it for everyday, general-purpose use. My first choice is Linux Mint, so please plan around that flavour; if you believe another distribution such as Ubuntu, Fedora or Debian would be noticeably more stable on Apple Silicon, feel free to explain the trade-offs, but Mint is the goal. Here’s what I need from you: • Recommend the most suitable virtualization platform (Parallels Desktop, VMware Fusion, VirtualBox, or another option) and justify the pick in terms of performance, native-chip support and ease of maintenance. • Install and configure the VM, including guest additions, shared folders, clipboard sync and network access so it feels seamless within macOS. • Apply all system updates, set up basic security (firewall, automatic updates) and enable hardware acceleration where possible. • Provide a concise, step-by-step hand-over document so I can replicate or adjust the setup later. Acceptance criteria: the VM must boot to a Mint desktop without errors, access the internet, share files with macOS and run everyday apps smoothly. If you’ve already navigated Apple Silicon quirks with Linux, this should be straightforward—we can jump on a quick call to confirm details before you start.

Project ID: 40217235