> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://vastai-80aa3a82-cln-2792-remove-disable-bundling.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Virtual Machines

> Learn how Vast.ai virtual machines (VMs) provide full Linux instances with init manager support, process tracing, and nested containerization for advanced workloads.

<script
  type="application/ld+json"
  dangerouslySetInnerHTML={{
__html: JSON.stringify({
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "TechArticle",
"headline": "Vast.ai Virtual Machines Guide",
"description": "Guide to using Vast.ai virtual machines (VMs) for full Linux instances with init manager support, process tracing, and nested containerization.",
"author": {
  "@type": "Organization",
  "name": "Vast.ai"
},
"articleSection": "Instances Documentation",
"keywords": ["virtual machines", "VMs", "systemd", "Docker in Docker", "Kubernetes", "GPU", "vast.ai"]
})
}}
/>

Vast.ai offers full virtual machines (VMs) in addition to [Docker-based instances](/documentation/instances/docker-environment). VMs provide a complete Linux environment, making them ideal for workloads that require init managers, nested containerization, or process tracing.

## Feature Comparison

VMs offer capabilities not available in Docker-based instances:

* **Init manager support** (e.g., `systemd`) — required for running Docker, Kubernetes, Snap, or other containerization tools inside your instance
* **Process tracing** (`ptrace`) support

However, VMs come with some trade-offs:

* Slower creation and boot times
* Higher disk overhead
* Smaller selection of available machines
* Fewer preconfigured templates
* Only SSH launch mode is currently supported

## Creating a VM

<Warning>
  Make sure you have added your SSH keys to your [Account page](https://cloud.vast.ai/account/) before creating a VM. SSH keys cannot be edited on running VMs, and SSH is currently the only supported connection method.
</Warning>

Use one of the templates below to get started. These templates automatically filter for VM-capable machines and will launch a VM when you rent:

| Template                                                                                                     | Description                                 | Provides     | Use Cases                                               |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------- | ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Ubuntu 22.04 VM](https://cloud.vast.ai/?ref_id=62897\&creator_id=62897\&name=Ubuntu%2022.04%20VM)           | Ubuntu 22.04 server with CLI access         | CUDA, Docker | Docker Compose applications, CUDA performance profiling |
| [Ubuntu Desktop (VM)](https://cloud.vast.ai/?ref_id=62897\&creator_id=62897\&name=Ubuntu%20Desktop%20\(VM\)) | Ubuntu desktop with a graphical environment | CUDA, Docker | GUI applications, visual development workflows          |

<Note>
  Environment variables in VMs are written to `/etc/environment`.
</Note>

## Customizing VM Templates

VM images are packaged as Docker images from the `docker.io/vastai/kvm` repository. All VM templates must use one of these images, specified with the fully qualified name (e.g., `docker.io/vastai/kvm:ubuntu_terminal`).

<Tip>
  Add `vms_enabled=true` to the **Extra Filters** field of the template to filter for machines that support VMs.
</Tip>

### Docker Options

VM templates support the following flags in the **Docker options** field, which behave the same as in Docker-based instances:

| Option                    | Example                         | Description                                 |
| ------------------------- | ------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| **Environment variables** | `-e JUPYTER_DIR=/ -e TEST=OK`   | Written to `/etc/environment` inside the VM |
| **Ports**                 | `-p 8081:8081 -p 8082:8082/udp` | Expose additional ports                     |

For more details on these options, see [Docker Environment](/documentation/instances/docker-environment).

### Launch Modes

Currently only **SSH** is supported. See the [SSH guide](/documentation/instances/connect/ssh) for connection details.

## Differences from Docker-Based Instances

* **Data copy**: The cloud copy utility for VMs only supports migrating the entire VM — individual folder copies are not available.
* **Copy scope**: Copy is only supported between two VMs, not between VMs and external cloud storage providers.
* **Copy command**: Use `vastai vm copy $SRC $DEST` to invoke the VM copy utility.