Multipass

Multipass: Instant Ubuntu VMs with Zero Fuss What Is It? Multipass isn’t trying to be a full-blown virtualization platform — and that’s its strength. Built by Canonical, it’s designed to spin up fresh Ubuntu environments locally with as little friction as possible. No ISO downloads, no multi-step wizards, no heavy GUI. Just one CLI command, and a new VM is ready to go.

It’s not built for production — and it doesn’t pretend to be. Multipass fits in those everyday moments: testing a script, stagi

Multipass: Instant Ubuntu VMs with Zero Fuss

What Is It?

Multipass isn’t trying to be a full-blown virtualization platform — and that’s its strength. Built by Canonical, it’s designed to spin up fresh Ubuntu environments locally with as little friction as possible. No ISO downloads, no multi-step wizards, no heavy GUI. Just one CLI command, and a new VM is ready to go.

It’s not built for production — and it doesn’t pretend to be. Multipass fits in those everyday moments: testing a script, staging a config, running an ephemeral dev box, or prototyping a deployment. When done, you delete the instance and move on. Simple.

Capabilities

Feature Details
Ubuntu Only Automatically fetches and runs latest LTS releases
Headless by Default CLI-first tool — no built-in GUI
Cross-Platform Works on Windows, Linux, macOS
Hypervisor Agnostic Uses Hyper-V, QEMU, or Hypervisor.framework depending on platform
Cloud-init Support Accepts YAML for automated provisioning
Folder Mounts Share directories between host and guest
Snapshots Save VM state and roll back as needed
REST API (Experimental) Optional API for programmatic control

Why It’s Useful

Multipass makes the most sense when speed and isolation matter more than UI polish or advanced VM features. It’s perfect for scripting, automation tests, local CI tasks, or giving every developer a fresh environment that resets with one line.

You don’t need admin privileges once it’s set up. You don’t have to care about virtual switches or complex storage controllers. And if something breaks — just delete and relaunch. No cleanup needed.

Installation Guide

1. Install Multipass
– Windows: download installer from https://multipass.run
– macOS: brew install –cask multipass
– Linux: sudo snap install multipass –classic

2. Verify Installation
multipass version

3. Launch a VM
multipass launch –name devbox –mem 2G –disk 10G

4. Access the VM
multipass shell devbox

5. Mount a Host Folder
multipass mount ./shared devbox:/home/ubuntu/shared

6. Tear Down
multipass delete devbox
multipass purge

Real-World Use Cases

– Running Ansible playbooks on throwaway Ubuntu VMs.
– Testing shell scripts or server config in isolation.
– Creating on-demand dev sandboxes without using Docker.
– Local CI jobs that don’t interfere with the host system.
– Teaching environments where each student gets a fresh VM.

Multipass: Streamlined Backup Solution for Offsite Data Protection

In today’s data-driven world, having a reliable backup strategy is crucial for businesses and individuals alike. Multipass is a powerful tool that simplifies the backup process, providing a secure and efficient way to protect your data. In this article, we will walk you through the process of using Multipass for offsite backups, highlighting its key features and benefits.

Understanding Multipass Backup Fundamentals

Multipass is a free, open-source backup software that offers a range of features to ensure your data is safe and easily recoverable. With Multipass, you can create repeatable jobs, set retention rules, and store your backups in encrypted repositories. This approach ensures that your data is not only protected but also easily accessible in case of a disaster.

One of the key benefits of Multipass is its simplicity. Despite its robust feature set, the software is easy to use, even for those without extensive technical expertise. This makes it an ideal solution for small businesses, individuals, and organizations with limited IT resources.

Setting Up Multipass for Offsite Backups

To get started with Multipass, you’ll need to download and install the software on your system. The installation process is straightforward, and you can find detailed instructions on the official Multipass website.

Once installed, you can set up your first backup job. This involves selecting the data you want to backup, choosing a storage location, and configuring the backup schedule. Multipass supports a range of storage options, including local disks, network shares, and cloud storage services like Amazon S3 and Google Cloud Storage.

Multipass Virtualization and containers

In addition to its core backup features, Multipass also provides a range of tools for managing your backups. These include reporting and monitoring capabilities, as well as the ability to test restore your backups to ensure they are complete and recoverable.

Multipass Local and Offsite Backup Strategy

A key benefit of Multipass is its ability to support both local and offsite backups. This allows you to create a comprehensive backup strategy that protects your data in multiple locations.

Local backups are stored on a device or disk attached to your system, providing fast and convenient access to your data. Offsite backups, on the other hand, are stored in a remote location, such as a cloud storage service or a secondary data center. This provides an added layer of protection against data loss due to local disasters or hardware failures.

Backup Type Location Benefits
Local Backup On-site device or disk Fast access, convenient storage
Offsite Backup Remote location (cloud or secondary data center) Added protection against local disasters, hardware failures

Multipass vs. Expensive Backup Suites

One of the key advantages of Multipass is its cost-effectiveness. Unlike expensive backup suites, Multipass is free and open-source, making it an ideal solution for businesses and individuals on a budget.

In addition to its cost benefits, Multipass also offers a range of features that are comparable to, or even surpass, those of commercial backup solutions. These include its robust backup and restore capabilities, as well as its support for multiple storage options and encryption.

Feature Multipass Commercial Backup Suites
Cost Free and open-source Expensive licensing fees
Backup and Restore Capabilities Robust and feature-rich Varies by product
Storage Options Local disks, network shares, cloud storage Varies by product

In conclusion, Multipass is a powerful and cost-effective backup solution that offers a range of features to protect your data. Its simplicity, flexibility, and robust feature set make it an ideal choice for businesses and individuals looking for a reliable backup strategy.

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