Getting started · Quick guide

From order to ready,
about 4 minutes

Rent a dedicated physical Mac mini, choose a location and billing period, and get your connection details in the console after payment. Follow the steps below until you can run your first xcodebuild command or start an MLX service.

The 4-minute estimate illustrates the process; it is not a delivery-time guarantee. Check real-time availability in the console.

Illustration of the setup flow. Actual configuration, availability and charges are shown in the console.
Before ordering · 6 checks

Choose for your workload

Deciding on your workload, memory and location upfront is easier than changing your setup after payment. Check each item; no client installation is required.

  • Define your workloadChoose your main task: MLX inference, iOS device testing or CI builds. If you’ll run several processes at once, add up their memory requirements.
  • Check unified memoryVMR Lab M4 comes with M4, 16GB memory and a 256GB SSD; VMR Lab Pro comes with M4 Pro, 64GB memory and a 2TB SSD. Leave room for model weights, context and persistent processes.
  • Choose a nearby locationChoose from Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong and the US West. Consider where you and your users are located; availability at checkout is shown in real time in the console.
  • Check the billing periodChoose daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly billing. For a short test, consider daily billing; for ongoing builds or inference, compare longer periods and check the start and end dates on your order.
  • Estimate storageModel files, DerivedData and assets can grow quickly. Need more space? Check the +1TB SSD or +2TB SSD options in the order setup and confirm the add-on price for your billing period.
  • Prepare your payment methodPay in USD with USDT-TRC20 or, via Stripe, Visa, Mastercard or Amex. Available payment gateways are shown at checkout.
Order flow · Estimated times

Four steps to your first login

These times are estimates to help you plan; individual orders may take longer or less time. Check payment and machine allocation status in the console.

  1. 01

    Choose a model and location

    About 1 min

    Choose VMR Lab M4 or VMR Lab Pro on the setup page, then select a location and daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly billing. Only options available for the selected model are shown. Check the SSD add-on and total price before placing your order.

  2. 02

    Confirm your payment

    About 1 min

    Choose USDT-TRC20 at checkout, or pay with Visa, Mastercard or Amex via Stripe. After payment, check your order status; closing the payment page doesn’t confirm that your order is complete.

  3. 03

    Wait for your physical machine

    About 1.5 min

    The console shows your order and instance status. Wait for machine allocation and system readiness; don’t place another order before the status updates. If the status needs checking, sign in to the console and submit a support ticket with your order number.

  4. 04

    Get credentials and connect

    About 0.5 min

    Find your SSH connection details and VNC instructions in the instance details. First verify your login and command line over SSH, then open the graphical desktop if needed. Don’t share connection credentials in public repositories or chat logs.

About 4 minutes in total. Network conditions, payment confirmation and instance readiness can affect the actual time. If something goes wrong, start troubleshooting with the console records.

First run · Command examples

Log in and run your first workflow

These examples show SSH, an Xcode build, a TestFlight upload and an MLX service. The logs illustrate output format; they are not performance results from a real task. Get your connection details in the console, then set the required environment variables in the commands.

vmrental — ssh Activity log / Example

01 · Verify SSH login

ssh -i ~/.ssh/vmr_lab "$VMR_USER@$VMR_HOST"

After connecting, your terminal will show the remote macOS command prompt.

02 · Build and distribute

xcodebuild -project "$PROJECT" -scheme "$SCHEME" build
fastlane beta

On success, you’ll see ** BUILD SUCCEEDED **; fastlane will report the upload result.

03 · Start an MLX inference service

python3 -m pip install mlx-lm
python3 -m mlx_lm.server --model "$MODEL_PATH" --host 127.0.0.1 --port 8080

After starting the service, check its logs, then access port 8080 locally through an SSH tunnel.

Before you start: VMR_USER and VMR_HOST should match the instance details; PROJECT, SCHEME and MODEL_PATH should point to your project or model directory. fastlane beta requires you to configure your own release pipeline in advance. Don’t bind the inference service directly to a public address.

After your first login · 3 things to do

Set up access before starting long-running tasks

Set up a reliable, revocable access path first. That way, you won’t have to work out access again when automating builds or sharing a model with your team.

01 / Keys

Set up SSH keys

Generate a key pair locally or choose a dedicated one, then add the public key to your instance as instructed in the console. Keep the private key on a trusted device. Use a separate key for CI and document its purpose so you can revoke it later.

Verify the host fingerprint on first connection. If multiple collaborators need access, don’t share the same private key among team members.

02 / Desktop

Use the VNC desktop when needed

For Xcode, the Simulator or video workspaces, follow the VNC instructions in your instance details. Keep command-line builds in SSH so you don’t need to maintain a graphical session just to check logs.

Remote desktop is available after you sign in to the instance. Get connection details from the console and don’t put credentials in public documentation.

03 / Ports

Tunnel your inference port

Run mlx_lm.server on the machine’s local address, 127.0.0.1:8080, then access it with SSH local port forwarding. This lets you debug the API from your own computer without exposing the service directly to the public internet.

ssh -i ~/.ssh/vmr_lab -L 8080:127.0.0.1:8080 "$VMR_USER@$VMR_HOST"
Next · Explore by workload

Once your first command works

For help with installation, connections or billing periods, start at the Help Center. To decide how to use a machine for builds, inference or audio and video tasks, explore the relevant workflows.

Tech tips / Connections & MLX

Having trouble with a command or connection?

Find steps for installing MLX and starting a service, SSH tunneling, VNC and billing FAQs. When troubleshooting, note the command, full error message and instance status. For order issues, submit a support ticket through the console.

Workflows / 4 use cases

Connect a machine to your workflow

Explore workflows for individual development, CI, AI experiments, and audio and video. See how to plan builds, model services and storage for each task. Test the setup with a small task before moving long-running work over.

Ready to get started?

Start your first task on a dedicated physical Mac

Choose a model, location and billing period. Final configuration and availability are shown in real time in the console. Want to compare prices first? Explore the two plans.