# limactl

> Virtual machine manager for Linux guests, with multiple VM templates available.
> Can be used to run containers on macOS, but also for generic virtual machine use cases on macOS and Linux hosts.
> More information: <https://github.com/lima-vm/lima>.

- List VMs:

`limactl list`

- Create a VM using the default settings and optionally provide a name and/or a template (see `limactl create --list-templates` for available templates):

`limactl create --name {{vm_name}} template://{{debian|fedora|ubuntu|…}}`

- Start a VM (this might install some dependencies in it and take a few minutes):

`limactl start {{vm_name}}`

- Open a remote shell inside a VM:

`limactl shell {{vm_name}}`

- Run a command inside a VM:

`limactl shell {{vm_name}} {{command}}`

- Stop/shutdown a VM:

`limactl stop {{vm_name}}`

- Delete a VM:

`limactl remove {{vm_name}}`