---
name: "container-create-debootstrap"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "open-infrastructure-container-tools"
version: "20210101-1"
release: "Debian 11 (Bullseye)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/container-create-debootstrap"
---

# container-create-debootstrap(1)

Create a basic Debian based container with debootstrap or mmdebstrap

## NAME

container-create-debootstrap - Create a basic Debian based container with debootstrap or mmdebstrap

## SYNOPSIS

**container create -s debootstrap** \[*OPTIONS*\] **cnt cr -s debootstrap** \[*OPTIONS*\]

**container create -s mmdebstrap** \[*OPTIONS*\] **cnt cr -s mmdebstrap** \[*OPTIONS*\]

## DESCRIPTION

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

This script creates 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 stretch.

- **-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

**Create a Debian 9 (stretch) based container with same architecture as the host system using debootstrap:**

sudo container create -s debootstrap -n stretch.example.net

**Create a Debian 9 (stretch) based container with different architecture as the host system using mmdebstrap:**

sudo container create -s mmdebstrap -n stretch-i386.example.net — -a i386

## SEE ALSO

[compute-tools(7)](/compute-tools/7.md), [container(1)](/container/1.md).

## HOMEPAGE

More information about compute-tools and the Open Infrastructure project can be found on the homepage at 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 at https://bugs.debian.org.

## AUTHORS

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