How to Install Incus Container in Ubuntu Linux

Incus is a free system container and virtual machine manager. It is a community fork of the LXD project. It runs containers with LXC and virtual machines with QEMU, so you can run both on the same computer and keep each workload isolated from the others.

You can run Incus on a single desktop or scale it across a cluster of servers. On Ubuntu, setup takes a few terminal commands. You need a user with sudo rights and an internet connection.

Install Incus container on Ubuntu Linux

To install Incus on Ubuntu, you add the Incus package repository and download its signing key, so Ubuntu trusts the packages it downloads from that repository. After that, Incus installs and updates with the normal package manager, like any other package.

Run all the commands in a terminal. Open it with Ctrl+Alt+T on most Ubuntu desktops. Commands that change the system need administrator rights, so you may be asked for your password. Nothing shows on screen as you type it, which is normal.

Start by installing 💿 the prerequisite packages.

1. Copy the command below and paste it into the terminal.
2. Press Enter and enter your password if asked.
3. Confirm any prompt. When the prompt returns, the prerequisites are installed. If they were already installed, apt tells you so and changes nothing.

Next, download the ⬇️ Incus repository GPG key. The key is a cryptographic signature. Ubuntu uses it to check that packages come from the Incus project and were not altered on the way to you.

1. Run the command below.
2. Wait for it to finish without errors. If it fails, check your internet connection and any proxy settings, then run it again.

sudo curl -fsSL https://pkgs.zabbly.com/key.asc -o /etc/apt/keyrings/zabbly.asc

Then create the repository file. This file tells apt where to find the Incus packages.

3. Run the command below. It opens a new, empty file in a text editor.

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list.d/zabbly-incus-stable.sources

Now add the repository details to that file.

4. Copy the content provided below.
5. Paste it into the open file.
6. Before you save, edit the highlighted placeholder, as explained after the screenshot.

Enabled: yes
Types: deb
URIs: https://pkgs.zabbly.com/incus/stable
Suites: jammy
Components: main
Signed-By: /etc/apt/keyrings/zabbly.asc

Replace the highlighted placeholder with your Ubuntu version's codename. The codename is the release name, such as jammy for Ubuntu 22.04 or noble for Ubuntu 24.04. You can find it in the /etc/os-release file.

7. Open the /etc/os-release file in a second terminal window, or read it before you edit the repository file.
8. Find the line that holds your release codename.
9. Type that codename in place of the placeholder.
10. Save the repository file and close the editor.

A wrong codename is the usual cause of a "repository does not have a Release file" error in the next step. If you see it, reopen the file and correct the name.

Finally, update your package list and install Incus.

1. Run the command below.
2. Watch the output. The package list should refresh with no errors from the new repository, and Incus should then download and install.
3. Wait for the prompt to return. No restart is needed.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install incus

Once the install finishes, check that Incus is available on your system.

1. Run the command below.
2. Check the output. If it prints version information, Incus is installed. If the terminal says the command is not found, the install did not complete, so go back and check the earlier steps for errors.

incus version
incus --help

If you no longer need Incus, you can remove it with one command.

1. Back up or export anything you want to keep from your containers and virtual machines first. Removing the software can make the instances hard to reach.
2. Run the command below.
3. Confirm the prompt if apt asks.

To undo the removal, install Incus again with the install command from earlier. Removing the package does not necessarily delete the repository file you created, so remove it by hand if you want it gone.

sudo apt remove --autoremove incus
sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/zabbly-incus-stable.sources
sudo rm /etc/apt/keyrings/zabbly.asc

That completes the installation. Incus is now ready for you to set up and use.

Before you create your first instance, Incus needs some initial configuration, such as storage and networking. The official guide linked below walks through it.

For more information and help creating instances, follow the link below.

Incus Containers

Incus gives you a lightweight, open-source way to manage containers and virtual machines on Ubuntu Linux. The key points are below.

• The Incus Container provides a lightweight, open-source solution for managing containers and virtual machines in Ubuntu Linux.
• Its cloud-like experience lets you scale from a developer's laptop to a cluster of up to 50 servers.
• By following the steps above, you can install Incus and start using it to manage your applications. Add the signing key and repository first, then install the package, and verify it before you go further.
• For additional guidance on creating instances and further information, visit the Incus Containers page.