Ubuntu Multipass

 Motivation

    Recently I have started a Elasticsearch 7 Udemy course. Really interesting and highly recommended. 

    Unfortunately my notebook has a Windows 10 and Elasticsearch only runs on Unix type systems. So to run and test it I had 3 possible options:

1. Oracle VM virtual box
2. Docker
3. Ubuntu Multipass
   

I have chosen Multipass because it is a chance to learn a new technology and i have a previous experience working with Linux systems.

Definition

 As it says on their site Multipass is a mini-cloud Ubuntu VM from Windows or Mac. It is a very simple way to start, configure and run multiple instances of Ubuntu VM. 

 First impression: Super easy to use. Small learning curve. Although to run Elasticsearch properly, I had to learn how to "hack"some configurations to improve memory and HD space.

Basic instructions

After you download and install the basic commands are:

1. Launch an instance (by default you get the current Ubuntu LTS)

multipass launch --name ubuntu-lts

 

2. Run commands in that instance, try running bash (logout or ctrl-d to quit)

multipass exec ubuntu-lts -- lsb_release -a

 

3. Pass a cloud-init metadata file to an instance on launch see using cloud-init with multipass for more details

multipass launch -n ubuntu-lts-custom --cloud-init cloud-config.yaml

 

4. See your instances

multipass list

 

5. Stop and start instances

multipass stop ubuntu-lts ubuntu-lts-custom multipass start ubuntu-lts

 

6. Clean up what you don’t need

multipass delete ubuntu-lts-custom multipass purge

 

7. Find alternate images to launch with multipass

multipass find

 

8. Get help

multipass help multipass help <command>

Future post: How to change instances memory and HD space.