--- title: Trusted open source for enterprises description: Canonical makes open source secure, reliable and easy to use, providing support for Ubuntu and a portfolio of enterprise-grade technologies. Founded in 2004, Canonical operates globally with team members in over 80 countries. url: https://canonical.com/maas/tutorials/build-a-maas-and-lxd-environment-in-30-minutes-with-multipass-on-ubuntu?format=md --- # Build a MAAS and LXD environment in 30 minutes with Multipass on Ubuntu ## 1. A potential MAAS test setup One way to try MAAS is to have a separate network with a switch, router, and several servers. One runs MAAS, the rest are targets for provisioning. In this tutorial, we automate all of this in a virtual machine with Multipass and use LXD to simulate machines MAAS can control. The setup looks something like this: --- [Suggest changes ›](https://discourse.maas.io/t/build-a-maas-and-lxd-environment-in-30-minutes-with-multipass-on-ubuntu/5360) about 0 minutes to go *Previous step* [*Next step*](https://canonical.com/maas/tutorials/build-a-maas-and-lxd-environment-in-30-minutes-with-multipass-on-ubuntu?format=md#2-1-setting-up-multipass-and-launching-the-vm) ## 2. 1. Setting up Multipass and launching the VM Multipass is a Canonical tool that simplifies the creation of virtual machines. This tutorial uses Multipass to build a self-contained VM that hosts both MAAS and an LXD environment. Requirements: * Ubuntu 18.04 LTS or higher, or Windows with Hyper-V * 16 GB RAM, 4-core CPU with virtualization support (VT or AMD-V) * 30 GB free disk space If you already have MAAS running locally, stop it: ``` sudo snap stop maas ``` Install and verify Multipass: ``` sudo snap install multipass multipass launch --name foo multipass exec foo -- lsb_release -a multipass delete --purge foo ``` Check for virtualization support: ``` sudo apt install cpu-checker kvm-ok ``` Output should include: ``` INFO: /dev/kvm exists KVM acceleration can be used ``` Launch the MAAS + LXD VM: ``` wget -qO- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/canonical/maas-multipass/main/maas.yml \ | multipass launch --name maas -c4 -m8GB -d32GB --cloud-init - ``` Confirm launch: ``` multipass list ``` Two IP addresses should be visible. One is internal (`10.10.10.1`), used by MAAS and LXD, and the other is for accessing MAAS from your host. --- [Suggest changes ›](https://discourse.maas.io/t/build-a-maas-and-lxd-environment-in-30-minutes-with-multipass-on-ubuntu/5360) about 0 minutes to go [*Previous step*](https://canonical.com/maas/tutorials/build-a-maas-and-lxd-environment-in-30-minutes-with-multipass-on-ubuntu?format=md#1-a-potential-maas-test-setup) [*Next step*](https://canonical.com/maas/tutorials/build-a-maas-and-lxd-environment-in-30-minutes-with-multipass-on-ubuntu?format=md#3-2-installing-and-configuring-maas-within-the-vm) ## 3. 2. Installing and configuring MAAS within the VM Visit MAAS in your browser: ``` http://:5240/MAAS ``` Login credentials: * Username: `admin` * Password: `admin` Walkthrough steps: * Confirm or set DNS (default: 8.8.8.8) * Continue past boot image import message (MAAS handles it automatically) * Skip SSH key screen (already set up in VM) Verification in MAAS UI: * KVM > LXD: confirms the LXD host is available * Controllers: both rack and region controllers visible with green status * Images: wait for them to sync (1 GB+ download) --- [Suggest changes ›](https://discourse.maas.io/t/build-a-maas-and-lxd-environment-in-30-minutes-with-multipass-on-ubuntu/5360) about 0 minutes to go [*Previous step*](https://canonical.com/maas/tutorials/build-a-maas-and-lxd-environment-in-30-minutes-with-multipass-on-ubuntu?format=md#2-1-setting-up-multipass-and-launching-the-vm) [*Next step*](https://canonical.com/maas/tutorials/build-a-maas-and-lxd-environment-in-30-minutes-with-multipass-on-ubuntu?format=md#4-3-setting-up-lxd-and-creating-virtual-machines) ## 4. 3. Setting up LXD and creating virtual machines Once the MAAS setup is verified: Create a nested VM guest: * Navigate to KVM > LXD > Select host > Add VM * Fill in: + Hostname: `AwesomeVM1` + RAM: `8000 MiB` + Storage: `8000 MiB` + CPU: `2 cores` * Click Compose machine The VM will show in the Machines tab and automatically begin commissioning. --- [Suggest changes ›](https://discourse.maas.io/t/build-a-maas-and-lxd-environment-in-30-minutes-with-multipass-on-ubuntu/5360) about 0 minutes to go [*Previous step*](https://canonical.com/maas/tutorials/build-a-maas-and-lxd-environment-in-30-minutes-with-multipass-on-ubuntu?format=md#3-2-installing-and-configuring-maas-within-the-vm) [*Next step*](https://canonical.com/maas/tutorials/build-a-maas-and-lxd-environment-in-30-minutes-with-multipass-on-ubuntu?format=md#5-4-commissioning-and-deploying-machines-using-maas) ## 5. 4. Commissioning and deploying machines using MAAS Commission the VM: * Monitor status in Machines tab → “Commissioning” → “Ready” Deploy Ubuntu: * Select machine → Actions > Deploy Confirm deployment: ``` multipass shell maas ping ssh ubuntu@ ping ubuntu.com ``` This confirms successful deployment and internet access. --- [Suggest changes ›](https://discourse.maas.io/t/build-a-maas-and-lxd-environment-in-30-minutes-with-multipass-on-ubuntu/5360) about 0 minutes to go [*Previous step*](https://canonical.com/maas/tutorials/build-a-maas-and-lxd-environment-in-30-minutes-with-multipass-on-ubuntu?format=md#4-3-setting-up-lxd-and-creating-virtual-machines) [*Next step*](https://canonical.com/maas/tutorials/build-a-maas-and-lxd-environment-in-30-minutes-with-multipass-on-ubuntu?format=md#6-summary) ## 6. Summary In this tutorial, we: * Installed Multipass and launched a nested MAAS VM * Set up and configured MAAS via browser UI * Created nested LXD VMs * Commissioned and deployed Ubuntu to them with MAAS * Verified VM guest functionality via SSH and ping --- [Suggest changes ›](https://discourse.maas.io/t/build-a-maas-and-lxd-environment-in-30-minutes-with-multipass-on-ubuntu/5360) about 0 minutes to go [*Previous step*](https://canonical.com/maas/tutorials/build-a-maas-and-lxd-environment-in-30-minutes-with-multipass-on-ubuntu?format=md#5-4-commissioning-and-deploying-machines-using-maas) [*Next step*](https://canonical.com/maas/tutorials/build-a-maas-and-lxd-environment-in-30-minutes-with-multipass-on-ubuntu?format=md#7-next-steps) ## 7. Next steps Explore editing the `maas.yml` file to fine-tune VM parameters. You can also expand this setup to a real physical environment or explore more advanced features of MAAS like tagging, scripts, and custom commissioning flows. You may also want to try using a local copy of MAAS with real hardware, which is a much simpler architecture: If you’re brave, you can try that in your homelab, with some simple, off-the-shelf NUCs or mini-PCs, using the instructions found [in this GitHub repository](https://github.com/canonical/maas-hw-tutorial). Learn more at: Was this tutorial useful? --- [Suggest changes ›](https://discourse.maas.io/t/build-a-maas-and-lxd-environment-in-30-minutes-with-multipass-on-ubuntu/5360) about 0 minutes to go [*Previous step*](https://canonical.com/maas/tutorials/build-a-maas-and-lxd-environment-in-30-minutes-with-multipass-on-ubuntu?format=md#6-summary) *Next step*