LXD Linux Containers | Installing Efficient Containers

Deploying LXD has made container management a breeze at IOFLOOD. LXD enhances the capabilities of LXC, making it easier to manage and deploy containers. This article explains how to install LXD on Linux, offering our clients a powerful tool for optimizing containerized applications on their dedicated remote servers.

In this guide, we will navigate you through the process of installing LXD on your Linux system. We will provide methods for both APT-based distributions like Debian and Ubuntu, and YUM-based distributions like CentOS and AlmaLinux. We’ll also delve into advanced topics like compiling LXD from source, installing a specific version, and finally, how to use the LXD command and ensure it’s installed correctly.

So, let’s dive in and start installing LXD on your Linux system!

TL;DR: How Do I Install An LXD Linux Container?

For an LXD Ubuntu install, you can use the command sudo apt-get install lxd. For other Linux distributions, you may need to build LXD from source.

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install lxd

# Output:
# 'Reading package lists... Done'
# 'Building dependency tree... Done'
# 'Reading state information... Done'
# 'lxd is already the newest version (4.0.0-0ubuntu1~18.04.1).'
# '0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.'

This command will update your package list and then install LXD on your Ubuntu system. The output indicates that the system is reading the package lists, building the dependency tree, and reading the state information. If LXD is already installed, it will show a message like ‘lxd is already the newest version’.

This is a basic way to install LXD on Linux, but there’s much more to learn about installing and using LXD. Continue reading for more detailed information and advanced usage scenarios.

Getting Started: LXD Container

LXD, pronounced ‘lex-dee,’ is a next-generation system container manager. It offers an experience similar to virtual machines but using Linux containers instead. It’s image-based with pre-made images available for a wide number of Linux distributions, and it can be used with a friendly user interface for all your container management needs.

Installing LXD Ubuntu with APT

On Ubuntu and other APT-based distributions, you can install LXD directly from the repositories.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install lxd

# Output:
# 'Reading package lists... Done'
# 'Building dependency tree... Done'
# 'Reading state information... Done'
# 'lxd is already the newest version (4.0.0-0ubuntu1~18.04.1).'
# '0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.'

This command will first update your package list and then install LXD. If LXD is already installed, it will show a message like ‘lxd is already the newest version’.

Installing LXD CentOS with YUM

If you’re on a YUM-based distribution like CentOS, you can install LXD using the EPEL repository.

sudo yum install epel-release
sudo yum update
sudo yum install lxd

# Output:
# 'Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, ovl'
# 'Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile'
# 'Resolving Dependencies'
# '--> Running transaction check'
# '--> Package lxd.x86_64 0:3.0.3-1.el7 will be installed'
# 'Finished Dependency Resolution'

This command will install the EPEL repository, update your package list, and then install LXD. The output indicates that the system is loading plugins, resolving dependencies, running transaction checks, and then installing LXD.

By following these steps, you can install LXD on your Linux system and start leveraging the power of containerization.

Install LXD Container from Source

Installing LXD from source code is a great option if you need the absolute latest version, if your distribution doesn’t provide a package, or if you want to contribute to the project.

sudo apt-get install -y golang golang-golint golint golang-gocui-dev golang-goprotobuf-dev protobuf-compiler git xz-utils liblxc-dev libsqlite3-dev gettext libtool-bin libacl1-dev libcap-dev
mkdir -p ~/go
export GOPATH=~/go
export PATH=$PATH:$GOPATH/bin

# Get the source code

git clone https://github.com/lxc/lxd.git $GOPATH/src/github.com/lxc/lxd

# Build and install

make deps
make
sudo make install

# Output:
# 'go get -t -v -d ./...'
# 'go get: added github.com/lxc/lxd 4.0.0'
# 'go install -v ./...'
# 'go: downloading github.com/lxc/lxd v4.0.0'
# 'go: downloading github.com/gorilla/mux v1.7.3'
# 'go: downloading gopkg.in/retry.v1 v1.0.4'

This script will install the necessary dependencies, download the LXD source code from the official GitHub repository, and then build and install it.

Install Different Versions of LXD

Install LXD Container Versions from Source

You can checkout a specific version of LXD from the source code using git. Here’s how you can checkout and install version 3.0.3, for example:

cd $GOPATH/src/github.com/lxc/lxd

# Checkout the desired version

git checkout lxd-3.0.3

# Build and install

make deps
make
sudo make install

# Output:
# 'HEAD is now at 2c97c75... lxd/storage: Fix migration with snapshots'
# 'go get -t -v -d ./...'
# 'go install -v ./...'

This script will checkout version 3.0.3 of LXD, then build and install it.

Installing Specific LXD Ubuntu Versions

On APT-based distributions, you can install a specific version of LXD using the apt-get install command with the = operator and the version number.

sudo apt-get install lxd=3.0.3-0ubuntu1~18.04.1

# Output:
# 'Reading package lists... Done'
# 'Building dependency tree... Done'
# 'Reading state information... Done'
# 'E: Version '3.0.3-0ubuntu1~18.04.1' for 'lxd' was not found'

Installing Specific Versions with YUM

On YUM-based distributions, you can use the yum install command with the -versionlock plugin to lock a package to a specific version.

sudo yum install yum-versionlock
sudo yum versionlock lxd-3.0.3-1.el7
sudo yum install lxd

# Output:
# 'Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, ovl'
# 'Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile'
# 'Resolving Dependencies'
# '--> Running transaction check'
# '--> Package lxd.x86_64 0:3.0.3-1.el7 will be installed'
# 'Finished Dependency Resolution'

This script will install the yum-versionlock plugin, lock the LXD package to version 3.0.3, and then install it.

Version Comparison

Different versions of LXD come with different features and compatibilities. Here’s a brief comparison of the major versions:

Use and Verify LXD Linux Container

Basic LXD Container Usage

You can create a new container using the lxc launch command. Here’s an example of creating a new Ubuntu container:

lxc launch ubuntu:18.04 my-container

# Output:
# 'Creating my-container'
# 'Starting my-container'

This command will create a new Ubuntu 18.04 container named ‘my-container’ and start it.

Verifying LXD Linux Container Installation

You can verify that LXD is installed and working correctly using the lxd --version command:

lxd --version

# Output:
# '4.0.0'

If LXD is installed correctly, this command will output the installed version of LXD.

Alternatives to LXD Linux Container

While LXD is a powerful tool for containerization in Linux, it’s not the only player in the field. Docker and Kubernetes are two other popular options for managing containers. Let’s explore these alternatives and see how they compare to LXD.

Docker: A Popular Choice for Containerization

Docker is a platform that automates the deployment, scaling, and management of applications within containers. It’s widely used due to its ease of use and extensive community support.

To install Docker on Ubuntu, use the following command:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io

# Output:
# 'Reading package lists... Done'
# 'Building dependency tree... Done'
# 'Reading state information... Done'
# 'docker-ce is already the newest version (5:20.10.6~3-0~ubuntu-bionic).'
# 'docker-ce-cli is already the newest version (5:20.10.6~3-0~ubuntu-bionic).'
# 'containerd.io is already the newest version (1.4.4-1).'
# '0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.'

This command will update your package list and then install Docker and its dependencies. If Docker is already installed, it will show a message like ‘docker-ce is already the newest version’.

Kubernetes: An Advanced Container Orchestration Tool

Kubernetes, also known as K8s, is an open-source platform designed to automate deploying, scaling, and operating application containers. It groups containers into ‘Pods’ for easy management and discovery.

To install Kubernetes on Ubuntu, use the following command:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl
sudo curl -fsSLo /usr/share/keyrings/kubernetes-archive-keyring.gpg https://packages.cloud.google.com/apt/doc/apt-key.gpg
echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/kubernetes-archive-keyring.gpg] https://apt.kubernetes.io/ kubernetes-xenial main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/kubernetes.list
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y kubectl

# Output:
# 'Reading package lists... Done'
# 'Building dependency tree... Done'
# 'Reading state information... Done'
# 'kubectl is already the newest version (1.21.0-00).'
# '0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.'

This command will update your package list, install the necessary dependencies, add the Kubernetes repository, and then install kubectl, the Kubernetes command-line tool.

Comparing LXD Container, Docker, and Kubernetes

While LXD, Docker, and Kubernetes all provide containerization, they each have their strengths and use cases. Here’s a brief comparison:

Ultimately, the best tool depends on your specific needs. If you need a lightweight and easy-to-use tool for managing system containers on a single host, LXD is a great choice. If you’re deploying application containers and need a tool with extensive community support, consider Docker. If you’re managing complex applications across a cluster of hosts, Kubernetes is an excellent option.

Troubleshooting LXD Container

Even with the best of guides, you may encounter some hiccups during the installation of LXD on your Linux system. Let’s explore some common issues and their solutions.

Issue: LXD Command Not Found

After installing LXD, you might find that the lxd command is not recognized. This could be due to the PATH environment variable not including the directory where the lxd command is installed.

To resolve this, you can add the directory to the PATH variable. Here’s an example:

export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/bin/lxd

# Verify the installation
lxd --version

# Output:
# '4.0.0'

This command adds ‘/usr/local/bin/lxd’ to the PATH variable. The lxd --version command should now work and display the installed version of LXD.

Issue: Unable to Access LXD Server

You might encounter an issue where you’re unable to access the LXD server after installation. This can happen if the LXD service is not running.

You can check the status of the LXD service with the following command:

systemctl status lxd

# Output:
# '● lxd.service - LXD - main daemon'
# '   Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/lxd.service; indirect; vendor preset: enabled)'
# '   Active: active (running) since Tue 2021-05-04 15:20:39 PDT; 1h 30min ago'
# ' Main PID: 1863 (lxd)'
# '    Tasks: 20 (limit: 4915)'
# '   CGroup: /system.slice/lxd.service'
# '           └─1863 /usr/bin/lxd --group lxd --logfile=/var/log/lxd/lxd.log'

If the LXD service is not running, you can start it with the systemctl start lxd command:

sudo systemctl start lxd

# Verify the status
systemctl status lxd

# Output:
# '● lxd.service - LXD - main daemon'
# '   Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/lxd.service; indirect; vendor preset: enabled)'
# '   Active: active (running) since Tue 2021-05-04 15:20:39 PDT; 1h 30min ago'
# ' Main PID: 1863 (lxd)'
# '    Tasks: 20 (limit: 4915)'
# '   CGroup: /system.slice/lxd.service'
# '           └─1863 /usr/bin/lxd --group lxd --logfile=/var/log/lxd/lxd.log'

This command starts the LXD service. The systemctl status lxd command should now show the service as ‘active (running)’.

Remember, troubleshooting is a normal part of any installation process. Don’t be discouraged by these issues – they’re stepping stones on your path to mastering LXD installation on Linux!

The Core of LXD Linux Containers

Before we delve further into the specifics of LXD, it’s important to understand the concept of containerization that underpins it. Containerization is a lightweight alternative to full machine virtualization that involves encapsulating an application in a container with its own operating environment.

This isolated environment contains everything the application needs to run, including system libraries, system tools, and runtime. As a result, you can run your application, reliably, from one computing environment to another. This makes it an incredibly powerful tool in the world of software development and deployment.

# Here's an example of a containerized application running in LXD
lxc launch ubuntu:18.04 my-app-container
lxc exec my-app-container -- /bin/bash -c "apt update && apt install -y nginx"

# Output:
# 'Creating my-app-container'
# 'Starting my-app-container'
# 'Hit:1 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic InRelease'
# 'Get:2 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-updates InRelease [88.7 kB]'
# '...
# 'Fetched 25.8 MB in 5s (5378 kB/s)'
# 'Reading package lists... Done'
# 'Building dependency tree... Done'
# 'Reading state information... Done'
# '...
# 'Setting up nginx (1.14.0-0ubuntu1.7) ...'
# 'Processing triggers for ufw (0.36-0ubuntu0.18.04.1) ...'

This series of commands creates a new Ubuntu 18.04 container named ‘my-app-container’, then installs the Nginx web server inside it. The output shows the container being created, the package lists being updated, and Nginx being installed.

The Power of LXD in Linux Containerization

LXD stands out in the world of Linux containers for several reasons. It’s image-based with pre-made images available for a wide number of Linux distributions, and it can be used with a friendly user interface for all your container management needs.

LXD is not just about creating containers. It also offers advanced features such as live migration, snapshots, and network and storage management, which makes it a powerful tool for developers.

By using LXD, you can maintain the speed and efficiency of Linux containers, while also benefiting from the user-friendliness and flexibility of virtual machines. This balance makes LXD a valuable tool for anyone looking to dive into the world of Linux containers.

Practical Uses of LXD Container

LXD shines when it comes to managing multiple containers for large-scale projects. Its powerful API and command-line interface allow you to script and automate container operations, making it an invaluable tool for DevOps and CI/CD pipelines.

# Here's an example of creating multiple containers with a bash script
for i in {1..5}; do
  lxc launch ubuntu:18.04 my-container-$i
  lxc exec my-container-$i -- /bin/bash -c "apt update && apt install -y nginx"
done

# Output:
# 'Creating my-container-1'
# 'Starting my-container-1'
# 'Creating my-container-2'
# 'Starting my-container-2'
# '...'

This script creates five Ubuntu 18.04 containers, each with Nginx installed. The output shows each container being created and started.

Advanced Container Networking and Security

LXD also provides advanced networking and security features. You can create and manage networks, configure network interfaces on your containers, and even set up network bridges for your containers to communicate with each other and the outside world.

LXD also supports unprivileged containers, which run as a non-root user inside the container. This adds an additional layer of security and is a recommended practice for running containers in production.

# Here's an example of creating an unprivileged container
lxc init ubuntu:18.04 my-secure-container -c security.privileged=false
lxc start my-secure-container

# Output:
# 'Creating my-secure-container'
# 'Starting my-secure-container'

This command creates an unprivileged Ubuntu 18.04 container named ‘my-secure-container’ and starts it. The output shows the container being created and started.

Further Resources for LXD Linux Containers

To further your understanding and mastery of LXD, here are some resources that offer in-depth tutorials, guides, and documentation:

1. LXD’s Official Documentation – Comprehensive guide and reference for LXD, maintained by the developers.

2. The New Stack’s LXD Tutorials – A series of tutorials on getting started with LXD, covering topics from installation to advanced usage.

3. Ubuntu’s LXD Guide – Ubuntu’s official guide on using LXD on their distribution, including installation, basic usage, and networking.

Recap: Lxd Linux Container Setup

In this comprehensive guide, we’ve delved into the process of installing LXD on Linux systems, a powerful tool for managing Linux containers. We’ve explored the basic installation methods, advanced usage, and even alternative approaches to containerization.

We began with the basics, demonstrating how to install LXD on Linux using package managers like APT and YUM. We then ventured into more advanced territory, showcasing how to install LXD from source, how to install specific versions, and how to use the LXD command. We also discussed alternative methods for containerization, including Docker and Kubernetes, and provided a comparison of these methods.

During our journey, we tackled common issues that you might encounter when installing LXD on Linux, and provided solutions to these problems. We also provided a background on the concept of containerization, the core principle that underpins LXD, and discussed how LXD can be applied in large-scale projects.

Here’s a quick comparison of the methods we’ve discussed:

Whether you’re just starting out with LXD or you’re looking to level up your Linux container management skills, we hope this guide has given you a deeper understanding of how to install LXD on Linux.

With its balance of ease of use, flexibility, and power, LXD is a valuable tool for anyone looking to leverage the power of Linux containers. Happy coding!