LXC Cheatsheet

LXC (Linux Containers) provides lightweight virtualization through system containers. This section covers installation across different distributions, storage backend configuration, networking setup, and essential file locations.

LXC containers follow a lifecycle from creation to destruction. This section covers essential commands to manage containers through their various states, including creation, starting/stopping, freezing, cloning, and configuring autostart behavior.

LXC containers are configured through configuration files that define networking, resource limits, storage mounts, and security settings. These files control every aspect of container behavior and isolation.

Advanced LXC operations allow for sophisticated container management including snapshots, migration, templating, and more complex configurations that extend basic container functionality.

LXC networking provides multiple ways to connect containers to networks. The default bridge mode connects containers to a virtual switch, while macvlan allows containers to appear directly on the physical network. Advanced configurations enable fine-grained control over network isolation, addressing, and traffic routing.

LXC storage management allows administrators to create and manage storage pools, volumes, and implement quotas. Storage backends like ZFS, LVM, and directory-based storage can be configured and migrated as needed, with backup operations ensuring data safety.

LXC containers provide isolation through multiple Linux kernel security features. Properly configuring these mechanisms ensures containers remain secure while maintaining necessary functionality. These controls work together to create defense-in-depth for containerized applications.

Monitoring and troubleshooting LXC containers involves examining logs, tracking resource usage, and diagnosing network issues. These tools help identify and resolve problems affecting container performance and stability.

LXC provides remote management capabilities through its REST API, allowing you to control containers from different machines. This section covers setting up remote connections, managing certificates, and performing operations on remote LXC instances.