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Incus 6.10 has been released

28 Feb 2025

Introduction

The Incus team is pleased to announce the release of Incus 6.10!

This release brings in an easier way to run Incus on a valid HTTPS certificate, a new way to send through provisioning data to VMs, a very welcome API enhancement and much more!

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As usual, you can try it for yourself online: https://linuxcontainers.org/incus/try-it/

Enjoy!

New features

ACME DNS-01 validation

New configuration keys have been added to allow for the DNS-01 challenge through ACME (most commonly Let's Encrypt).

This may provide an easier path at getting a valid TLS certificate on Incus servers.

Example configuration:

acme.agree_tos: true
acme.domain: foo.example.net
acme.email: admin@foo.example.net
acme.challenge: DNS-01
acme.provider: cloudflare
acme.provider.environment: |-
  CLOUDFLARE_EMAIL=admin@foo.example.net
  CLOUDFLARE_API_KEY=XYZ

Documentation: https://linuxcontainers.org/incus/docs/main/server_config/#server-options-acme

API wide filtering support

Incus already supported server-side filtering for instances, images and storage volumes.
The same logic has now been expanded to all remaining API collections.

All of them support the filter parameter with the same OData filters.
We expect to see the Incus command line tool making use of this over the next few releases.

Documentation: https://linuxcontainers.org/incus/docs/main/rest-api/#filtering

Support for SMBIOS11 provisioning in VMs

On systems with DMI tables (x86_64 or aarch64), it is now possible to seed data into the SMBIOS Type 11 table. This is a way for the hypervisor to provide data to the system without requiring a separate communication channel (network, serial, ...).

This is most notably supported by systemd where it can be used to pass in some provisioning data: https://www.freedesktop.org/software/systemd/man/latest/smbios-type-11.html

Example:

stgraber@dakara:~$ incus launch images:debian/12 d12 --vm -c smbios11.io.systemd.credential:foo=bar
Launching d12
stgraber@dakara:~$ incus exec d12 -- systemd-creds --system cat foo
bar

IOMMU support in VMs

Incus VMs now automatically get IOMMU support which will help with security and device passthrough.

This was introduced as default behavior in Incus 6.10.0, but following serveral reports of guest kernel and host platform combinations that led to broken PCIe in the guest, it has been moved to opt-in starting with Incus 6.10.1 using the security.iommu configuration option to control it.

root@u1:~# dmesg | grep -i iommu
[    0.406474] iommu: Default domain type: Translated
[    0.406481] iommu: DMA domain TLB invalidation policy: strict mode
[    0.534812] virtio_iommu virtio0: input address: 48 bits
[    0.534820] virtio_iommu virtio0: page mask: 0xfffffffffffff000
[    0.637345] pcieport 0000:00:02.0: Adding to iommu group 0
[    0.642755] pcieport 0000:00:02.1: Adding to iommu group 1
[    0.649614] pcieport 0000:00:02.2: Adding to iommu group 2
[    0.656700] pcieport 0000:00:02.3: Adding to iommu group 3
[    0.663517] pcieport 0000:00:02.4: Adding to iommu group 4
[    0.669419] pcieport 0000:00:02.5: Adding to iommu group 5
[    0.675831] pcieport 0000:00:02.6: Adding to iommu group 6
[    0.682967] pcieport 0000:00:02.7: Adding to iommu group 7
[    0.688303] pcieport 0000:00:03.0: Adding to iommu group 8
[    0.695646] pcieport 0000:00:03.1: Adding to iommu group 9
[    0.700994] pcieport 0000:00:03.2: Adding to iommu group 10
[    0.709613] pcieport 0000:00:03.3: Adding to iommu group 11
[    0.715130] pcieport 0000:00:03.4: Adding to iommu group 12
[    0.722208] virtio-pci 0000:01:00.0: Adding to iommu group 13
[    0.728419] virtio-pci 0000:01:00.1: Adding to iommu group 13
[    0.732362] virtio-pci 0000:01:00.2: Adding to iommu group 13
[    0.737953] virtio-pci 0000:01:00.3: Adding to iommu group 13
[    0.746652] virtio-pci 0000:01:00.4: Adding to iommu group 13
[    0.752491] virtio-pci 0000:01:00.5: Adding to iommu group 13
[    0.781052] virtio-pci 0000:02:00.0: Adding to iommu group 14
[    0.791255] virtio-pci 0000:03:00.0: Adding to iommu group 15
[    0.799383] virtio-pci 0000:03:00.1: Adding to iommu group 15
[    0.809692] virtio-pci 0000:04:00.0: Adding to iommu group 16
[    0.820005] virtio-pci 0000:05:00.0: Adding to iommu group 17
[    1.399721] xhci_hcd 0000:01:00.6: Adding to iommu group 13

VRF support for routed NICs

Systems using multiple VRFs (Virtual Routing and Forwarding) can now have specific routed NICs land in the VRF of their choice.

This is done through a new vrf property on routed type nic devices.

Documentation: https://linuxcontainers.org/incus/docs/main/reference/devices_nic/#nictype-routed

Creating profiles in a project through preseed

The Incus server preseed logic has been expanded to allow for profiles to be created in specific projects.

This is done through a new project key on the relevant profile entry.
The project then needs to also be defined within the preseed.

Documentation: https://linuxcontainers.org/incus/docs/main/howto/initialize/#configuration-format

LZ4 support for backups and images

lz4 is now a fully supported compression format within Incus.
Provided the matching tool is installed on the system, it's now possible to use LZ4 for both instance, volume and bucket backups (import/export) as well as for images.

Complete changelog

Here is a complete list of all changes in this release:

Full commit list
  • incusd/instance/drivers/qmp: Handle missing log directory
  • cmd/incus-user: keep track of socket path used to connect to the server
  • cmd/incus-user: unify logging, support --verbose and --debug
  • api: init_preseed_profile_project
  • shared/api: Add project support to profiles in preseed init
  • client: Add project support to profiles in preseed init
  • doc/rest-api: Refresh swagger YAML
  • incus/admin/init: use api.InitProfileProjectPost
  • incusd/network/ovn: Fix bad route check
  • incus/file/pull: Ensure we have a leading / in all paths
  • github: Fix shellcheck
  • doc/installing: mention incus group on NixOS
  • incus/file/pull: Read files in chunks
  • incus/file/pull: Actually make read buffer 1MiB
  • incusd/network/bridge: Fix deletion of tunnels and dummy devices
  • incusd/device/disk: Allow virtiofsd on non-x86
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  • Translated using Weblate (Chinese (Simplified Han script))
  • Translated using Weblate (Chinese (Simplified Han script))
  • Translated using Weblate (Chinese (Simplified Han script))
  • Translated using Weblate (Chinese (Simplified Han script))
  • Translated using Weblate (Chinese (Simplified Han script))
  • incusd/instance/drivers/qemu: Add IOMMU device
  • incus/file: Remove unused function
  • i18n: Update translation templates
  • incus/network/info (ovn): Fix object not found.
  • Translated using Weblate (Chinese (Simplified Han script))
  • incusd/instance/drivers: Improve NUMA balancing
  • incus/file: Move from path to filepath
  • github: Add linux-modules-extra (for vrf)
  • shared/archive: Added LZ4 support
  • api: instance_nic_routed_host_address
  • incus/server/ip: Add Master parameter for veth and tuntap
  • incus/server/ip: Add VRF parameter for IP Route
  • incus/server/device: Add vrf parameter for routed NIC devices
  • tests: Add test for routed NIC with VRF
  • doc: Add description for routed-nic VRF parameter
  • Translated using Weblate (Chinese (Simplified Han script))
  • Translated using Weblate (Chinese (Simplified Han script))
  • generate-database: Move into cmd package
  • generate-config: Move to cmd package
  • incus/storage/drivers: Fix issue with lvmcluster storage pool creation
  • generate-database: Rename from incus-generate
  • generate-config: Rename from incus-doc
  • github: Workaround permission problems
  • internal/instance: Move user config key doc string
  • internal/instance: Add environment config keys docstring
  • incusd/internal/server/instance: Add qemuEscapeCmdline
  • incusd/internal/server/instance: Use qemuEscapeCmdline
  • api: instance_smbios
  • internal/instance: Add smbios config keys
  • incusd/instance/drivers/qemu: Implement smbios config keys
  • doc: Update configs
  • incus: Fix instance copy error when using '--refresh' flag
  • doc/network_load_balancers: Fix backend add instructions
  • doc: Add frontend to wordlist
  • incusd/main_nsexec: Fix change_namespaces fallback to handle multiple namespaces
  • incusd/instance/utils: Only check uid/gid for containers
  • generate-database: Use types.Package
  • generate-database: Remove support for separate database package
  • generate-database: Separate Go package loading
  • incusd/instance/drivers: Check if disk is remote when migrating with an extra disk
  • incusd/instance/edk2: Look for bios.bin in /usr/share/seabios
  • generate-database: Add unified generate command
  • incusd/db: Use generate command
  • generate-database: Remove obsolete commands stmt and method
  • generate-database: Update README.md
  • generate-database: Reduce to single go:generate per package
  • incusd/db: Use Single generate per package
  • golangci: Update for new generate-database syntax
  • internal/cmd/table: Improve errors on modifiers
  • incusd: Add additional validation when joining a new cluster member
  • incusd: Upgrade flosch/pongo2 to v6
  • doc: Bump minimum kernel to 5.15
  • Makefile: Bump minimal Go to 1.23
  • doc: Bump minimum Go to 1.23
  • gomod: Update dependencies
  • github: Re-order code tests tasks
  • incusd/resources: Prevent concurrent runs and cache data for 10s
  • incusd/backup: Implement compatibility with old backups
  • incusd/backup: Detect incompatible backup files
  • fix: Don't attempt to download signatures for oci
  • incusd: Ensure directories have 755 permissions in 'incus file push -p' command
  • tests: Fix test for verifying directory permissions
  • devcontainer: Update Go to 1.23
  • generate-database: Make "Code generated" comment Go conformant
  • db/cluster: Update code generated by generate-database
  • generate-database: Add internal tool disclaimer
  • generate-config: Formatting README.md
  • generate-config: Add internal tool disclaimer
  • incusd/storage/drivers: Truncate the block file during custom volume migration
  • incusd/instance/qemu: Don't attempt to hotplug over the virtual IOMMU
  • incusd/device/disk: Remove diskAddRootUserNSEntry
  • incusd/device/disk: Use virtiofsd uid/gid handling
  • generate-database: Add error mapping
  • incusd/db: Use error mapping
  • incusd/db: Update generated code
  • generate-database: Make self-sufficient
  • incusd/db: Update generated code
  • generate-database: Improve case handling
  • incus/list: Remove unused arguments and parameters
  • incus/top: Fix handling of all-projects
  • incusd/storage/drivers: Refactor ceph discovery
  • incusd/instance/drivers: Let QEMU handle Ceph itself
  • incus/file: Simplify sftpCreateFile
  • incus/file: Change recursiveFilePush to use SFTP
  • incus/file: Change recursiveMkdir to use SFTP
  • incus/file: Change recursivePullFile to use SFTP
  • incus/file: Re-use SFTP as much as possible
  • internal/filter: Handle multiple in-line structs
  • api: api_filtering_extended
  • incusd: Add filtering to /1.0/networks
  • incusd: Add filtering to /1.0/networks/{networkName}/forwards
  • incusd: Add filtering to /1.0/networks/{networkName}/load-balancers
  • incusd: Add filtering to /1.0/networks/{networkName}/peers
  • incusd: Add filtering to /1.0/network-acls
  • incusd: Add filtering to /1.0/network-integrations
  • incusd: Add filtering to /1.0/network-zones
  • incusd: Add filtering to /1.0/network-zones/{zone}/records
  • incusd: Add filtering to /1.0/storage-pools
  • incusd: Add filtering to /1.0/storage-pools/{poolName}/buckets
  • incusd: Add filtering to /1.0/certificates
  • incusd: Add filtering to /1.0/profiles
  • incusd: Add filtering to /1.0/projects
  • doc/rest-api: Refresh swagger YAML
  • tests: Test more API filters
  • doc: Remove mention of limitations on filtering
  • gomod: Update dependencies
  • api: acme_dns01
  • incusd/cluster/config: Add extra ACME config keys
  • incusd/acme: Add DNS-01 support
  • gomod: Update dependencies
  • doc: Add resolvers to wordlist
  • doc: Update configs

Documentation

The Incus documentation can be found at:
https://linuxcontainers.org/incus/docs/main/

Packages

There are no official Incus packages as Incus upstream only releases regular release tarballs. Below are some available options to get Incus up and running.

Installing the Incus server on Linux

Incus is available for most common Linux distributions. You'll find detailed installation instructions in our documentation.

https://linuxcontainers.org/incus/docs/main/installing/

Homebrew package for the Incus client

The client tool is available through HomeBrew for both Linux and MacOS.

https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/incus

Chocolatey package for the Incus client

The client tool is available through Chocolatey for Windows users.

https://community.chocolatey.org/packages/incus/6.10.0

Winget package for the Incus client

The client tool is also available through Winget for Windows users.

https://winstall.app/apps/LinuxContainers.Incus

Support

Monthly feature releases are only supported up until the next release comes out. Users needing a longer support length and less frequent changes should consider using Incus 6.0 LTS instead.

Community support is provided at: https://discuss.linuxcontainers.org
Commercial support is available through: https://zabbly.com/incus
Bugs can be reported at: https://github.com/lxc/incus/issues

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