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

# container-build-debootstrap(1)

Build a basic Debian based container with debootstrap or mmdebstrap

## NAME

container-build-debootstrap - Build a basic Debian based container with debootstrap or mmdebstrap

## SYNOPSIS

```
container build -s debootstrap ['OPTIONS']
cnt b -s debootstrap ['OPTIONS']
```

```
container build -s mmdebstrap ['OPTIONS']
cnt b -s mmdebstrap ['OPTIONS']
```

## DESCRIPTION

The debootstrap container build script uses [debootstrap(8)](/debootstrap/8.md) or [mmdebstrap(1)](/mmdebstrap/1.md) to build a Debian based container.

This script builds a pure Debian system with three modificiations:

- •

  apt cache of packages downloaded during debootstrap is cleaned

- •

  hostname is set (container name) in /etc/hostname

- •

  root password is set (user specified or 16 random characters)

## OPTIONS

The following script options are available:

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

  Specify container name.

- **-a, --architecture='ARCHITECTURE':**

  Specify the Debian architecture, defaults to the host systems architecture.

- **-d, --distribution='DISTRIBUTION':**

  Specify the Debian distribution, defaults to 'trixie'.

- **-m, --mirror='MIRROR':**

  Specify the Debian mirror, defaults to ' \<https://deb.debian.org/debian\> '.

- **-p, --root-password='PASSWORD':**

  Specify the root password, defaults to a random 16 character password.

## EXAMPLES

Build a Debian 13 (trixie) based container with same architecture as the host system using debootstrap:

sudo container build -s debootstrap -n trixie.example.net

Build a Debian 13 (trixie) based container with different architecture as the host system using mmdebstrap:

sudo container build -s mmdebstrap -n trixie-i386.example.net -- -a i386

## SEE ALSO

```
compute-tools(7),
container(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.