Lxroot

Lxroot - a software virtualization tool

About Lxroot

lxroot is a lightweight alternative to chroot, Docker, and other software virtualization tools.

lxroot allows a non-root user to easily and safely create a "chroot-style" virtual software environment (via Linux namespaces), and then run one or more programs (a "guest userland") inside that environment.

lxroot has many different use cases.

Videos

• Lxroot presentation at PackagingCon 2021: abstract | slides | video

Lxroot and vland

While you can run lxroot directly, I recommend learning vland first.

vland is a virtual userland manager. vland is implemented as a convenience wrapper around lxroot. vland can automatically download, install, and configure a guest userland for use with lxroot. Both vland and lxroot operate without root access.

Supported guest Linux distributions

The below table summarizes the Linux distributions that I have used as guests with vland and lxroot.

Guest distro	Can install as guest?	Can install packages?	Can build packages?
Alpine	yes	yes	yes
Arch	yes	yes	yes
Ubuntu	work in progress	work in progress	probably
Void	yes	yes	probably

Other Linux distributions may also work inside lxroot. (Some level of custom shimming may be required.)

Due to lxroot's safety, simplicity, efficiency, and ability to run without root access, lxroot has a few limitations.

Learn more

• vland
  • use cases
  • tutorial - installation and usage
  • man page
  • wiki
• lxroot
  • tutorial - installation and usage
  • man page
  • limitations