---
name: "cnt"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "open-infrastructure-compute-tools"
version: "20250604-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/container"
---

# cnt(1)

Manage systemd-nspawn containers

Part of [container(1)](/container/1.md).

## NAME

container - Manage systemd-nspawn containers

## SYNOPSIS

```
container 'COMMAND' ['OPTIONS']
container 'COMMAND1','COMMAND2',... 'COMMANDn'
```

## DESCRIPTION

compute-tools provides the system integration for managing containers using systemd-nspawn.

## OPTIONS

The following **container** common options are available:

- **-n, --name='NAME':**

  Specify container name.

## COMMANDS

The following **container** commands are available:

- **build:**

  Build a new container, see [container-build(1)](/container-build/1.md).

- **start:**

  Start a container, see [container-start(1)](/container-start/1.md).

- **rebuild:**

  Rebuild a container, see [container-rebuild(1)](/container-rebuild/1.md).

- **restart:**

  Restart a container, see [container-restart(1)](/container-restart/1.md).

- **stop:**

  Stop a container, see [container-stop(1)](/container-stop/1.md).

- **remove:**

  Remove a container, see [container-remove(1)](/container-remove/1.md).

- **move:**

  Rename a container, see [container-move(1)](/container-move/1.md).

- **console:**

  Attach console to a container, see [container-console(1)](/container-console/1.md).

- **enter:**

  Enter a container namespace, see [container-enter(1)](/container-enter/1.md).

- **run:**

  Execute commands in a container namespace, see [container-run(1)](/container-run/1.md).

- **info:**

  Show specific information of a container, see [container-info(1)](/container-info/1.md).

- **key:**

  Manage GnuPG keyring for container operations, see [container-key(1)](/container-key/1.md).

- **limit:**

  Limit resources of a container, see [container-limit(1)](/container-limit/1.md).

- **list:**

  List container on the system, see [container-list(1)](/container-list/1.md).

- **log:**

  Show container log, see [container-log(1)](/container-log/1.md).

- **status:**

  Show container status, see [container-status(1)](/container-status/1.md).

- **top:**

  Dynamic list of container on the system, see [container-top(1)](/container-top/1.md).

- **update:**

  Update the packages installed in a container.

- **version:**

  Show container version, see [container-version(1)](/container-version/1.md).

## FILES

The following files are used:

- **/etc/compute-tools/container.conf, /etc/compute-tools/container.conf.d/\*.conf:**

  Container configuration files.

- **/usr/bin/container, /usr/bin/cnt:**

  Container program.

- **/usr/bin/container-shell, /usr/bin/cntsh:**

  Container shell program.

- **/usr/libexec/container:**

  Container commands.

- **/usr/share/compute-tools/:**

  Container shared data.

- **/usr/share/doc/compute-tools:**

  Container documentation files.

- **/var/cache/container:**

  Container cache directory.

- **/var/lib/machines:**

  Container root directory.

- **/var/log/compute-tools:**

  Container log files.

## SEE ALSO

```
machinectl(1),
systemd-nspawn(1).
```

## HOMEPAGE

More information about compute-tools and the Open Infrastructure project can be found on the homepage ( \<https://open-infrastructure.net\> ).

## CONTACT

Bug reports, feature requests, help, patches, support and everything else are welcome on the Open Infrastructure Software Mailing List \< \<software@lists.open-infrastructure.net\> \>.

Debian specific bugs can also be reported in the Debian Bug Tracking System ( \<https://bugs.debian.org\> ).

## AUTHORS

compute-tools were written by Daniel Baumann \< \<daniel.baumann@open-infrastructure.net\> \> and others.