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marknorgren/tart-vm.md

Created January 29, 2026 14:59
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tart-vm.md

  1. Start the VM (bridged VNC) just vm2-vnc Note the printed vnc:// URL; complete macOS setup if needed. Note the printed vnc:// URL; complete macOS setup if needed.

  2. Enable Remote Login / Screen Sharing (in the guest)

    • System Settings → General → Sharing → enable Remote Login and Screen Sharing.
    • Optional: add your SSH public key to ~/.ssh/authorized_keys for passwordless SSH.

  3. Install Tart guest agent (clipboard sync)

    curl -L https://github.com/cirruslabs/tart-guest-agent/releases/latest/download/tart-guest- agent.pkg -o /tmp/tart-guest-agent.pkg sudo installer -pkg /tmp/tart-guest-agent.pkg -target / sudo launchctl load -w /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.cirruslabs.tart-guest-agent.plist sudo launchctl list | grep tart-guest-agent # verify

    • If curl fails, use a pinned version: .../releases/download/v0.4.0/tart-guest-agent.pkg.

  4. Verify clipboard sync

    • Connect via Screen Sharing/VNC (the URL from step 1).
    • Copy text from host → guest and guest → host.

  5. (Optional) Prepare for file transfer

    • Ensure SSH works: ssh admin@ (or with your key).
    • Then rsync backups from the host/other Mac into the new VM.
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