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Setting up LXD

LXD leverages the Linux Container (LXC) system to create light, effective system containers. However, before we begin to use LXC/LXD, we need to ensure we have it properly installed, initialized, and otherwise configured. In this lab, we will install LXD 3.0 Stable on Ubuntu 18.04 and ensure it's up and running.

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Lab Info
Level
Beginner
Last updated
Sep 02, 2025
Duration
15m

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Table of Contents
  1. Challenge

    Install LXD

    Install LXD via snap:

    sudo snap install lxd --channel=3.0/stable
    
  2. Challenge

    Add cloud_user to lxd Group

    Ensure the cloud_user can execute lxc/lxd commands by adding it to the lxd group:

    sudo usermod cloud_user -aG lxd
    

    Log out then log back in.

  3. Challenge

    Initialize LXD

    Initialize LXD and answer the prompts presented:

    lxd init
    

    Respond to the prompts as follows:

    Would you like to use LXD clustering? (yes/no) [default=no]: no

    Do you want to configure a new storage pool? (yes/no) [default=yes]: yes

    Name of the new storage pool [default=default]: default

    Name of the storage backend to use (btrfs, ceph, dir, lvm, zfs) [default=zfs]: zfs

    Create a new ZFS pool? (yes/no) [default=yes]: yes

    Would you like to use an existing block device? (yes/no) [default=no]: yes

    Path to the existing block device: /dev/nvme1n1

    Would you like to connect to a MAAS server? (yes/no) [default=no]: no

    Would you like to create a new local network bridge? (yes/no) [default=yes]: yes

    What should the new bridge be called? [default=lxdbr0]: lxdbr0

    What IPv4 address should be used? (CIDR subnet notation, “auto” or “none”) [default=auto]: auto

    What IPv6 address should be used? (CIDR subnet notation, “auto” or “none”) [default=auto]: auto

    Would you like LXD to be available over the network? (yes/no) [default=no]: yes

    Address to bind LXD to (not including port) [default=all]: all

    Port to bind LXD to [default=8443]: 8443

    Trust password for new clients: anypassword

    Again: anypassword

    Would you like stale cached images to be updated automatically? (yes/no) [default=yes] yes

    Would you like a YAML "lxd init" preseed to be printed? (yes/no) [default=no]: no

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