# What is Incus Environment?

“**Incus environment**” usually means the **runtime environment created and managed by Incus**, which is a **system container and virtual machine manager** (a community-driven fork of LXD).

Think of it as:

> *“The OS-level sandbox where your applications or services run, isolated from the host but sharing its kernel (for containers).”*

Let’s break it down simply.

## What is Incus?

**Incus** is a tool for running:

* 🧱 **System containers** (full Linux OS in a container)
    
* 💻 **Virtual machines**
    

It’s often used as an alternative to:

* Docker (for **system containers**, not just app containers)
    
* LXD (Incus is its fork)
    
* Lightweight VMs (KVM-based)
    

## Incus environment

An **Incus environment** refers to the **isolated execution context** that Incus provides, including:

### 1\. Container environment

Inside an Incus **container**, you get:

* A full Linux filesystem (`/etc`, `/usr`, `/var`, etc.)
    
* Its own:
    
    * Processes
        
    * Network interfaces
        
    * Users & groups
        
    * Package manager (apt, dnf, apk, etc.)
        
* Shared host kernel (like Docker, but more OS-like)
    

Example:

```plaintext
incus launch images:ubuntu/22.04 mycontainer
```

➡️ `mycontainer` is now its own **Incus environment**

### 2\. Virtual machine environment

Incus can also run **full VMs**:

* Separate kernel
    
* Stronger isolation
    
* Uses KVM/QEMU
    

Example:

```plaintext
incus launch images:ubuntu/22.04 myvm --vm
```

## How is it different from Docker?

| Feature | Incus | Docker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Purpose | System containers & VMs | App containers |
| OS inside | Full Linux OS | Minimal runtime |
| Init system | Yes (systemd) | Usually no |
| SSH | Common | Rare |
| Long-running services | Natural | Extra setup |

👉 Incus environments feel like **mini-servers**, not just app sandboxes.

## What is an Incus environment used for?

Common use cases:

* 🧪 Development & testing environments
    
* 🏗️ Micro-VM / micro-server hosting
    
* 🔐 Security isolation
    
* 🧰 CI/CD build runners
    
* 🌐 Hosting databases, web servers, background services
    

## Simple mental model

* **Host OS** → your real machine
    
* **Incus environment** → a *contained Linux system* running inside it
    
* Like a **VM-lite**, faster and more efficient
    

## Try It

[https://linuxcontainers.org/incus/try-it/](https://linuxcontainers.org/incus/try-it/)