---
name: "podman-system-connection"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "podman"
version: "6.1.4-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/podman-system-connection"
---

# podman-system-connection(1)

Manage the destination(s) for Podman service(s)

## NAME

podman-system-connection - Manage the destination(s) for Podman service(s)

## SYNOPSIS

**podman system connection** *subcommand*

## DESCRIPTION

Manage the destination(s) for Podman service(s).

The user is prompted for the ssh login password or key file passphrase as required. The **ssh-agent** is supported if it is running.

Podman manages the system connection by writing and reading the **podman-connections.json** file located under **$XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME/containers** or if the env is not set it defaults to **$HOME/.config/containers**. Or the **PODMAN\_CONNECTIONS\_CONF** environment variable can be set to a full file path which podman will use instead. This file is managed by the podman commands and should never be edited by users directly. To manually configure the connections use **service\_destinations** in containers.conf.

If the ReadWrite column in the **podman system connection list** output is set to true the connection is stored in the **podman-connections.json** file otherwise it is stored in containers.conf and can therefore not be edited with the **podman system connection** commands.

## COMMANDS

| | | |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Command** | **Man Page** | **Description** |
| add | [podman-system-connection-add(1)](/podman-system-connection-add/1.md) | Record destination for the Podman service |
| default | [podman-system-connection-default(1)](/podman-system-connection-default/1.md) | Set named destination as default for the Podman service |
| list | [podman-system-connection-list(1)](/podman-system-connection-list/1.md) | List the destination for the Podman service(s) |
| remove | [podman-system-connection-remove(1)](/podman-system-connection-remove/1.md) | Delete named destination |
| rename | [podman-system-connection-rename(1)](/podman-system-connection-rename/1.md) | Rename the destination for Podman service |

## EXAMPLE

List system connections:

```
$ podman system connection list
Name URI                                           Identity	      Default  ReadWrite
devl ssh://root@example.com/run/podman/podman.sock ~/.ssh/id_rsa  true     true
```

## SEE ALSO

**[podman(1)](/podman/1.md)**, **[podman-system(1)](/podman-system/1.md)**

## HISTORY

June 2020, Originally compiled by Jhon Honce (jhonce at redhat dot com)