Local VM
A separate Linux desktop in Docker or Podman on your own machine, shared or one per bot.
A Local VM is a Linux desktop that runs in a container on your own computer, separate from your own desktop. A bot sees and controls that desktop, not yours. It's free, apart from your own machine's memory and disk.
When to use it
Use it when a bot needs a full desktop, such as a browser plus downloads or a Linux app, and you don't want it anywhere near your own screen. It's also the way to give a bot a desktop on Windows, where This computer isn't available.
What you need
- A container runtime: Docker Desktop, Docker Engine, or Podman. Colima also works. Podman and Colima are free. Docker Desktop may need a paid license for larger companies and government use.
- On Windows, Podman is preferred.
- Enough memory and disk for the desktop image and each running desktop.
- An engine that can use it. Otherwise Murage says "This model engine cannot use the Local VM. Choose Claude or an ACP engine."
Set it up
Open Settings → Local VM. The Setup card walks you through four steps:
- Install a container runtime. Murage shows the install command for your system, or a link to Open the Podman installation guide.
- Start the container runtime. Open it and start its engine, then choose Re-check.
- Prepare the Cua desktop (one-time download and build). Choose Prepare Cua desktop.
- Create and start the Local VM, or in per-bot mode, Create a private desktop from each bot's Computer panel.
When the card at the top says Ready or Ready for per-bot desktops, you're set.
Shared or per bot
The Isolation card has two modes:
- Shared: one desktop that bots use one at a time, backed by one workspace.
- Per bot: each bot gets its own container, workspace, viewer, lease and idle timer. Different bots can work at the same time.
Maximum per-bot desktops sets how many can exist, from 1 to 4. Per-bot mode needs Docker or Podman. Apple's own container tool only works in shared mode.
Give a bot the Local VM
- Open the bot's chat and choose Bot's computer at the top.
- Under Runs on, choose Local VM.
- In per-bot mode, choose Create name's VM.
The panel shows a watch-only preview. From there:
- Open live desktop opens the desktop inside Murage.
- Take control pauses the bot's hands and opens the live desktop for you to drive.
- Open two desktops shows two Local VM bots side by side without pausing either. Only one pane holds control at a time. Choose a bot for the second pane from Choose a Local VM bot.
- Delete this bot's VM removes its desktop. Its private workspace stays. Stop the bot's turn first.
Limits and storage
- Each running desktop can use up to 4 GB of memory, 2 CPUs and 512 processes.
- An idle desktop stops after 8 hours without activity.
- Each bot's workspace is a private folder on your computer, mounted in the desktop at
/home/cua/workspace. Files and browser sign-ins there survive when the desktop is replaced. Everything else inside the desktop is disposable. - The viewer is only reachable from this computer. The desktop itself can still reach the internet.
Troubleshooting
The status line names the next thing to fix:
- "Install a supported container runtime first" or "Start Docker first": finish setup steps 1 and 2, then Re-check.
- "Prepare the Cua desktop image...": run step 3.
- "Per-bot mode requires Docker or Podman": switch from Apple's container tool to Docker or Podman, or use Shared.
- "The existing Local VM uses an older desktop or Cua Driver; recreate it", or any message ending "recreate it": choose Delete and recreate in Settings, or Replace name's VM in the bot's panel. The workspace folder is kept.
- "The Local VM started, but Cua Driver is not ready yet": wait a moment and check again.
- "Murage could not inspect the container runtime.": choose Re-check, or look at the app logs.
- "This VM is already controlled in another viewer. Hand it back there first.": release control in the other pane.
- Two desktops are slow on Windows. Both share the same Podman machine's CPU, memory and disk. Give that machine more resources in Podman Desktop.