Multipass from Linux distributor Canonical is a solution for virtualisation, which lets users easily create and manage Ubuntu VMs (virtual machines) on different operating systems.

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What is Multipass?

Multipass is a lightweight virtualisation software designed specifically for developers and system administrators who want to test or use Ubuntu in an isolated environment or create a new Ubuntu environment with a single command. It allows you to create, start and manage Ubuntu VMs with minimal effort and offers a simple command line interface (CLI).

When comparing virtualisation software, Multipass stands out above all due to its Ubuntu focus and a quick VM setup. Its native cross-platform support for Windows, macOS, and Linux further sets it apart from other solutions, such as KVM, for example.

Requirements for the use of Multipass

To use Multipass, the following requirements must be met:

  • Operating system: Multipass supports Windows 10 (64-bit), macOS and Linux distributions.
  • Hardware: A system with a 64-bit processor and at least 4 GB RAM is recommended to run the virtual machine efficiently.
  • Administrator rights: Administrator rights are required for installing and operating Multipass.

How to install Multipass step by step

The installation of Multipass varies depending on the operating system.

Installation on Windows

On Windows, you need a dedicated installation program to install Multipass.

Step 1: Download the installation program

Visit the official Multipass website and download the installation program for Windows.

Step 2: Run the installation program

Next, ensure that your local network is set to private, as Multipass cannot start on Windows if the network is public. Once this is done, double-click the downloaded file to launch the installation program and follow the instructions provided by the installation wizard.

Step 3: Complete the installation

Once installation is complete, you can use Multipass via the command prompt or PowerShell.

Installation on macOS

On macOS, you can download Multipass using the Homebrew package manager. If you haven’t installed Homebrew yet, follow this Homebrew installation before installing Multipass.

Step 1: Download via Homebrew

Firstly, launch your terminal and run the following command to update Homebrew and install Multipass:

brew install --cask multipass
bash

Homebrew should now automatically download and install Multipass.

Step 2: Check the installation

You can check if Multipass has been successfully installed by entering the command multipass version in the terminal.

Installation on Linux

Various installation methods are available for Ubuntu and other Linux distributions:

Option 1: Installation on Ubuntu via APT

Update the package management system APT and install Multipass on Ubuntu with the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install multipass
bash

Option 2: Installation on other distributions via Snap

If your distribution supports the package management Snap, you can install Multipass by executing the command below:

sudo snap install multipass
bash

No matter which installation method you use for Multipass on Linux, you can verify that the virtualisation tool has been installed correctly by running the command multipass version in your terminal.

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How to create a virtual machine with Multipass?

Once Multipass is installed, you can start creating and managing Ubuntu VMs.

Step 1: Create a virtual machine

To create a new VM, use the launch command. This command downloads the latest Ubuntu image and starts a new VM. You can specify a custom name for the VM using the optional --name parameter, which is recommended to avoid a random, less meaningful name being generated.

multipass launch --name test-vm
bash

Step 2: Determine Ubuntu version

To use a specific version of Ubuntu, you can first list all available versions with this command:

multipass find
bash

You’ll receive a list of different Ubuntu versions and their aliases. To view more information about a specific version, use the command multipass info [versionname/alias]. You can then specify your favorite version in the launch command. Ubuntu 22.04 LTS is installed here:

multipass launch --name test-vm 22.04
bash

Step 3: Check the status of the VMs

To display a list of all active VMs, use the following command which displays all running VMs, their status, IP address and other relevant information.

multipass list
bash

Step 4: Connect to a VM

To access a running VM, use the shell command:

multipass shell test-vm
bash

The command launches an SSH session to the specified VM so that you can work with it directly.

Step 5: Manage and control VMs

Multipass offers a number of commands to manage your VMs:

  • Suspend a VM: multipass suspend test-vm
  • Start a previously suspended VM: multipass start test-vm
  • Deleting a VM: multipass delete test-vm
  • Remove all deleted VMs: multipass purge (deleted VMs remain in deleted state until they are finally removed this way).
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