Proxmox CLI - pct

| May 3, 2024 min read

Proxmox VE pct Commands

The pct command allows you to manage containers within Proxmox VE. Here are some commonly used pct commands:

  • List Containers:

    • pct list: Shows a list of all containers with their IDs and names.

  • Information about a Container:

    • pct info <container_id>: Displays detailed information about a specific container, including its ID, name, OS, CPU, memory, and status.

  • Start/Stop/Restart a Container:

    • pct start <container_id>: Starts a stopped container.
    • pct stop <container_id>: Stops a running container.
    • pct reboot <container_id>: Restarts a running container.

  • Create a Container:

    • pct create <container_id> <template>: Creates a new container using a specified template. Replace <container_id> with your desired ID and <template> with the name of the template.

  • Delete a Container:

    • pct destroy <container_id>: Deletes a container. Use with caution!

  • Enter Container Console:

    • pct console <container_id>: Opens a console window where you can interact directly with the container.

  • Backup and Restore:

    • vzdump <container_id> <backup_file>: Creates a backup of a container. Note: vzdump is a separate command but often used with pct.
    • pct restore <container_id> <backup_file>: Restores a container from a backup created with vzdump.

  • Advanced Options:

    • pct help: Provides a full list of available pct commands and options.
    • man pct: Displays the manual page for the pct command with detailed explanations and examples.

Remember: Replace <container_id> with the actual ID of your container whenever applicable.

For comprehensive information and further options, refer to the Proxmox VE documentation: https://pve.proxmox.com/pve-docs/pct.1.html