---
title: Installing MicroK8s with Multipass
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/microk8s/docs/install-multipass?format=md
---

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# Installing MicroK8s with Multipass

[Multipass](https://multipass.run) is the fastest way to create a complete Ubuntu virtual machine on Linux, Windows or macOS, and it’s a great base for using MicroK8s.

For snap-capable operating systems, it can be installed with a single command:

```
sudo snap install multipass
```

**Note:** For other platforms, please check out [How to install Multipass](https://multipass.run/docs/install-multipass) on the Multipass website.

With multipass installed, you can now create a VM to run MicroK8s. At least 4
Gigabytes of RAM and 40G of storage is recommended – we can pass these
requirements when we launch the VM:

```
multipass launch --name microk8s-vm --mem 4G --disk 40G
```

We can now find the IP address which has been allocated. Running:

```
multipass list
```

… will return something like:

```
Name                    State             IPv4             Release
microk8s-vm             RUNNING           10.72.145.216    Ubuntu 18.04 LTS
```

Take a note of this IP as services will become available there when accessed
from the host machine.

To work within the VM environment more easily, you can run a shell:

```
multipass shell microk8s-vm
```

Then install the MicroK8s snap and configure the network:

```
sudo snap install microk8s --classic --channel=1.30/stable
sudo iptables -P FORWARD ACCEPT
```

The iptables command is necessary to permit traffic between the VM and host.

From within the VM shell, you can now follow along the rest of the
[quick start instructions](https://canonical.com/microk8s/docs)

#### Useful Multipass commands

* Get a shell inside the VM:

  ```
  multipass shell microk8s-vm
  ```
* Shutdown the VM:

  ```
  multipass stop microk8s-vm
  ```
* Delete and cleanup the VM:

  ```
  multipass delete microk8s-vm
  multipass purge
  ```

Last updated 2 years ago. [Help improve this document in the forum](https://discuss.kubernetes.io/t/installing-microk8s-with-multipass/21544).