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Is it possible to create an LXC container that you maintain only for the purpose of copying as a template? If so, how does one properly copy an LXC container?

3 Answers 3

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Yes, an LXC container is some config files and a directory within the whole server. If you copy this directory and config files and adjust the parameters you can use it as a template. Just tar it and untar it to the new machine's directory.

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  • Where do I configure the cgroup? The copy is trying to use the same one as my "original" Dec 21, 2011 at 16:16
  • nevermind...i shouldn't copy live machines :) Dec 21, 2011 at 18:21
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This can be easily obtained using BTRFS filesystem in combination with snapshots.

The template filesystem must reside in a subvolume on a btrfs filesystem, say

btrfs subvolume create /mnt/btrfs/template

After which you can populate it.

To create the snapshot:

btrfs subvolume snapshot /mnt/btrfs/template /mnt/btrfs/node-1

Afterwards remove the snapshot with:

btrfs subvolume delete delete /mnt/btrfs/node-1

Advantages are that:

  • creation and removal is fast
  • no extra space is needed, only changed files (blocks) occupy extra space

Further on, if you want to provide your container with some writable private directories on top of a read-only template filesystem you could use mount -o bind from within the container

 mount -o bind /mnt/btrfs/node-1/var /var
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I also use a main template for all my containers.

If you are using Ubuntu 14.04, lxc-clone is your friend to create new container based off a template.

lxc-clone -o template_container -n new_container

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