--- title: MAAS 2.8 – new features description: This new release of MAAS brings three key new benefits; 1) Virtual machines with LXD (Beta), 2) Tighter, more responsive UX, 3) External/remote PostgreSQL database. Let's dive in and explore these further. url: https://canonical.com/blog/maas-2-8-new-features?format=md --- 1. [Blog](https://canonical.com/blog) 2. Article --- [Eduardo Aguilar Pelaez](https://canonical.com/blog/author/edu-ap "More about Eduardo Aguilar Pelaez") 24 June 2020 # MAAS 2.8 – new features [edge](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/edge) [GUI](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/gui) [LXD](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/lxd) [MAAS](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/maas) [sc:snap:maas](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/scsnapmaas) [Security](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/security) [ssh](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/ssh) [Virtual Machines](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/virtual-machines) [VM](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/vm) [web apps](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/web-apps) --- Share the article ## What’s new? This new release of MAAS brings three key new benefits: 1. Virtual machines with LXD (Beta) 2. Tighter, more responsive UX 3. External/remote PostgreSQL database If you know what you want, go to [maas.io/install](https://maas.io/install), otherwise let’s dive in and explore these further. ## Virtual machines (VMs) with LXD (Beta) MAAS 2.8 can set up [L XD](https://linuxcontainers.org/lxd/introduction/)-based VM hosts and virtual machines. This is an additional option to the existing libvirt-based VM hosts/VMs functionality. LXD VMs are manageable without requiring SSH access to the VM host, unlike libvirt KVMs. As a system administrator, using LXD VMs for other staff members means that you don’t have to give them SSH access to the bare metal servers meaning better permission control of the estate. Finally, LXD has a clear API making it easy to deploy and manage. ## Tighter, more responsive UX Machine listings have been improved, some of the most visible changes involve the way that long lists are presented within categories, as shown below. Among those other changes are * persisting UI state for grouping * new grouping options * bookmarkable URLs with filter and search parameters, and many other performance improvements This was achieved by building the interface from the ground up in [React](https://reactjs.org/) and [Redux](https://redux.js.org/). If you’re interested in more details, see these blogs on the [framework](https://ubuntu.com/blog/building-a-cross-framework-ui-with-single-spa-in-maas-2-8?_ga=2.131396303.1132025686.1592994797-1009554828.1584637079) used and [speed improvements](https://ubuntu.com/blog/making-the-maas-machine-list-fast-with-react). ## External/remote PostgreSQL database The MAAS 2.8 snap now has a separate database to allow for scalability. This means that the MAAS database can be located outside the snap either on localhost, or on a remote server altogether. This will be the approach going forward so we have prepared guides covering set up, management and configuration. If you are testing MAAS we provide a test DB configuration that embeds the database in a separate snap that can easily be connected to MAAS. To learn more please go to [maas.io/docs/install-from-a-snap](https://maas.io/docs/install-from-a-snap) ## Other improvements This release also includes many fixes to ensure a high quality user experience and operations. If you’d like to read more you can read more [here](https://maas.io/docs/release-notes#heading--bug-fixes). ## Sign up for our newsletter Get the latest Canonical news and updates in your inbox. Work email: \*I agree to receive information about Canonical's products and services. By submitting this form, I confirm that I have read and agree to [Canonical's Privacy Policy](https://canonical.com/legal/dataprivacy). 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