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Getting Started with Multipass: Launch Ubuntu VMs Instantly

O

Ohidur Rahman Bappy

MAY 25, 2025

If you're looking for a fast and easy way to spin up Ubuntu virtual machines (VMs) locally, Multipass by Canonical is the tool for you. With just a single command, you can launch and configure lightweight Ubuntu VMs that simulate a cloud-like environment right on your machine.

What is Multipass?

Multipass is a quick, hassle-free VM manager developed by Canonical. It allows you to:

  • Launch and run Ubuntu VMs with a single command.
  • Configure VMs using cloud-init just like in public clouds.
  • Prototype cloud deployments locally for free.

It's ideal for developers and sysadmins looking to test, build, or prototype cloud software in a local environment.

Installation Guide

Select your OS

To get started, choose your operating system:

  • Linux
  • Windows
  • macOS

Installing Multipass on Linux

Run the following command to install Multipass via Snap:

sudo snap install multipass

If you don’t have Snap installed, follow this guide to get set up.

First Steps with Multipass

Let’s go through a quick five-minute journey with Multipass:

1. Launch an Instance

By default, this launches the latest Ubuntu LTS release:

multipass launch --name foo

2. Run Commands in the Instance

You can execute commands directly in the VM:

multipass exec foo -- lsb_release -a

To access the shell:

multipass shell foo

(Use logout or Ctrl+D to exit.)

3. Manage Instances

  • List Instances:

    multipass list

  • Stop/Start Instances:

    multipass stop foo
multipass start foo

  • Delete and Purge Instances:

    multipass delete foo
multipass purge

4. Discover and Use Alternate Images

Browse other available images:

multipass find

5. Use Cloud-init

You can pass a cloud-init configuration file when launching:

multipass launch -n bar --cloud-init cloud-config.yaml

Learn more about cloud-init usage here.

Getting Help

To explore more commands and options:

multipass help
multipass help <command>

Conclusion

Multipass is an incredibly powerful yet lightweight tool for quickly launching and managing Ubuntu VMs. Whether you’re prototyping a cloud application or just testing an idea, it offers a seamless developer experience.

For detailed documentation, community support, and more, visit the Multipass official site.

Tags:

cloudubuntu