Launch and `--cloud-init` on Windows

Multipass
1

Is it possible to cloud-init on Windows?

PS C:\Users\me\Documents> multipass launch -n test -v -cloud-init .\cloud.yaml
launch failed: Unable to find an image matching “.\cloud.yaml”

2

Hi @sundmoon!

Sure, it’s definitely possible. It looks like your command line is slightly wrong.

You have -cloud-init (single dash) whereas it should be --cloud-init (double dash).

Thanks and good luck!

3

@townsend
Thank you, it works
Could you provide any examples/shortcuts for making custom init.yaml ?

Being a windows guy,
I’d like to automate installing docker, powershell and customizing sshd_config:

Subsystem powershell /usr/bin/pwsh -sshs -NoLogo -NoProfile

4

@sundmoon,

Sure, all of the documentation can be found at https://cloudinit.readthedocs.io/en/latest/index.html.

6

@townsend
But at the very first look I see things irrelevant to multipass/Windows
for example I can’t fing logs
https://cloudinit.readthedocs.io/en/latest/topics/faq.html#faq

I would be nice to have some more focused howto’s provided

7

And what about local windows vhdx images?

multipass launch -n testwin image file:d:\win1909.vhdx
doesn’t work for me
Too many arguments supplied

8

Hi @sundmoon, Multipass can only run Linux guests, so even if you used the correct syntax (image is extraneous), it wouldn’t work.

Also, launching local images like this is not currently supported on Windows and Mac.

9

@saviq
@townsend

Thank you for clarifications
What about Packer? Will it work on Windows?

10

Hello
This is my very first attempt to write a working yaml
All works for me but I also need to inject a line into sshd_config

Please help me to refine it in any linux/ubuntu way :slight_smile:

#cloud-config
#write_files:
#  - path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config

Please help me to inject a single line

Subsystem powershell /snap/bin/pwsh -sshs -NoLogo -NoProfile

runcmd:
# netplan --debug apply
    - apt-get -y update
    - add-apt-repository universe
    - apt-get -y clean
    - apt-get -y autoremove --purge
      
package_update: true
package_upgrade: true
package_reboot_if_required: true

packages:
 - docker.io

snap:
    commands:
        00: snap install powershell --classic
       

power_state:
  delay: now
  mode: reboot
  message: Rebooting the OS
  condition: if [ -e /var/run/reboot-required ]; then exit 0; else exit 1; fi
11

Sorry for the bad formatting: I am also new to Discourse

12

Hi @sundmoon2, you just need to add a cat "Subsystem powershell /snap/bin/pwsh -sshs -NoLogo -NoProfile" >> /etc/ssh/sshd_config to the commands list.

Also I think package_reboot_if_required should be enough if you’re not creating /var/run/reboot-required yourself.

1 Like
13

@saviq
Seems it is not working

ubuntu@test:~$ sudo su -
root@test:~# cat "Subsystem powershell /snap/bin/pwsh -sshs -NoLogo -NoProfile" >> /etc/ssh/sshd_config
cat: 'Subsystem powershell /snap/bin/pwsh -sshs -NoLogo -NoProfile': No such file or directory
root@test:~# ls /snap/bin/pwsh
/snap/bin/pwsh
14

Sorry @sundmoon, brain fart, this should’ve been echo, not cat :slight_smile:

15

@saviq
That’s why there are declarative provisioners
What is the advantage of multipass?

16

@saviq
That’s my final version
Reboot is required, or at least sshd restart

runcmd:
    - apt-get -y update
    - add-apt-repository universe
    - apt-get -y clean
    - apt-get -y autoremove --purge
  
    - echo "Subsystem powershell /snap/bin/pwsh -sshs -NoLogo -NoProfile" >> /etc/ssh/sshd_config    
      
package_update: true
package_upgrade: true
package_reboot_if_required: true

packages:
 - docker.io

snap:
    commands:
        00: snap install powershell --classic

power_state:
  delay: now
  mode: reboot
  message: Rebooting the OS
17

Sure, it’s just the case here that cloud-init’s ssh module does not have the functionality you need. You could’ve used write-files with append: true, too:

write_files:
- path: /etc/ssh/sshd_config
  contents: Subsystem powershell /snap/bin/pwsh -sshs -NoLogo -NoProfile
  append: true

Over?

18

@saviq

Thanks!

Vargant?

19

We are working with a slightly different focus - simplicity and usability are our driving goals, but also focus on an ideal experience for Ubuntu instances. We will likely never reach feature parity, but we don’t necessarily want that. We’ll deeply consider it before adding new features - will it make it more confusing to use? Can we make it intuitive and work across all platforms?

Have a look at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21836528 for what our users say about those differences.