nixos-container

manages lightweight NixOS containers using Linux namespaces

TLDR

List the containers that exist

$ sudo nixos-container list

Create one from an inline configuration

$ sudo nixos-container create [name] --config '{ services.openssh.enable = true; }'

Create one from a configuration file

$ sudo nixos-container create [name] --config-file [path/to/configuration.nix]

Give it fixed private addresses on both sides of the link

$ sudo nixos-container create [name] --local-address [10.233.4.2] --host-address [10.233.4.1]

Have it start automatically at boot

$ sudo nixos-container create [name] --auto-start

Start a container

$ sudo nixos-container start [name]

Check whether it is running

$ sudo nixos-container status [name]

Find its IP address

$ sudo nixos-container show-ip [name]

Open a root shell inside it

$ sudo nixos-container root-login [name]

Run one command inside it

$ sudo nixos-container run [name] -- [command]

Rebuild it after editing its configuration

$ sudo nixos-container update [name]

Stop it

$ sudo nixos-container stop [name]

Kill it without a clean shutdown

$ sudo nixos-container terminate [name]

Delete it along with its filesystem

$ sudo nixos-container destroy [name]

SYNOPSIS

nixos-container command [options] [containername_]

nixos-container manages lightweight NixOS containers using Linux namespaces (systemd-nspawn). Each container runs a minimal NixOS system with its own configuration, services, and network namespace.Containers are configured using standard NixOS configuration files, enabling declarative management of containerized services. The container shares the host's kernel but has an isolated filesystem, process tree, and optionally network.Configuration files are stored in /var/lib/container/<name>/etc/nixos/ and can be edited directly before running update to apply changes.

PARAMETERS

list

List all containers

create _name_

Create a new container

start _name_

Start a stopped container

stop _name_

Stop a running container

terminate _name_

Forcefully terminate a container

destroy _name_

Remove a container and its configuration

status _name_

Show container status

run _name_ -- _command_

Execute a command inside the container

root-login _name_

Open an interactive root shell in the container

update _name_

Rebuild container after configuration changes

--config-file _path_

Nix configuration file for the container

INSTALL

nix profile install nixpkgs#nixos-container

CAVEATS

Requires root privileges. NixOS-specific; not available on other distributions. Containers share the host kernel, so kernel modules and versions are inherited. Network configuration requires explicit setup for external connectivity.