Lab
Cloud

Creating a Multi-Machine Vagrant Environment

By using a "Vagrantfile within a Vagrantfile" structure, we can create code that allows Vagrant to provision an environment comprised of multiple machines. This lets us create Vagrant environments that closely mimic production, separating out databases, services, applications, and more as needed. In this hands-on lab, we use the LXC provider to create two different machines and establish that the machines can communicate.

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Path Info

Level

Beginner

Duration

30m

Last updated

Jul 29, 2025

Challenge

Create Two Machines

Move into the website directory and initialize a Vagrantfile:
```
cd website
vagrant init
```

Update the Vagrantfile so two containers are created:

vim Vagrantfile

Vagrant.configure("2") do |config|
  config.vm.box = "fgrehm/trusty64-lxc"
  config.vm.provider "lxc"
  config.vm.define "web" do |web|
  end
  config.vm.define "db" do |db|
  end
end

Challenge

Configure the Private Network

Still editing your Vagrantfile, add a private network to each guest:

Vagrant.configure("2") do |config|
  config.vm.box = "fgrehm/trusty64-lxc"
  config.vm.provider "lxc"
  config.vm.define "web" do |web|
    web.vm.network "private_network", ip: "192.168.2.110", lxc__bridge_name: "brdg"
  end
  config.vm.define "db" do |db|
    db.vm.network "private_network", ip: "192.168.2.111", lxc__bridge_name: "brdg"
  end
end

Save and exit the file.

Challenge

Test the Environment
1. Deploy the environment:
```
vagrant up
```
2. Log in to the web guest:
```
vagrant ssh web
```
3. View the IP of the guest:
```
ifconfig
```
4. ping the db from the web guest:
```
ping 192.168.2.111
```

Author

Pluralsight Skills

Pluralsight Skills gives leaders confidence they have the skills needed to execute technology strategy. Technology teams can benchmark expertise across roles, speed up release cycles and build reliable, secure products. By leveraging our expert content, skill assessments and one-of-a-kind analytics, keep up with the pace of change, put the right people on the right projects and boost productivity. It's the most effective path to developing tech skills at scale.

What's a lab?

Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.

Provided environment for hands-on practice

We will provide the credentials and environment necessary for you to practice right within your browser.

Guided walkthrough

Follow along with the author’s guided walkthrough and build something new in your provided environment!

Did you know?

On average, you retain 75% more of your learning if you get time for practice.

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