Bluefin LTS Utility Scripts#

create-test-vm.sh#

Creates a test VM from a Bluefin LTS bootc image with SSH enabled, suitable for testing in Lima/QEMU.

Usage#

./scripts/create-test-vm.sh [VM_NAME] [IMAGE_TAG] [SSH_PUB_KEY]

Arguments:

• VM_NAME (optional, default: bluefin-test-ssh): Name for the VM
• IMAGE_TAG (optional, default: lts-hwe): Bluefin image tag to use
• SSH_PUB_KEY (optional, default: $HOME/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub): SSH public key to inject

Example#

# Create a test VM with default settings
./scripts/create-test-vm.sh

# Create a VM named "gnome50-test" using lts-hwe-testing image
./scripts/create-test-vm.sh gnome50-test lts-hwe-testing

# Create with specific SSH key
./scripts/test-vm.sh my-test lts-hwe ~/.ssh/mykey.pub

What It Does#

1. Pulls the specified Bluefin LTS image
2. Runs the container and enables SSH daemon using systemctl preset sshd
3. Commits the modified container to a new local image
4. Creates a 32GB disk image using bootc install to-disk
5. Injects the SSH public key for root login
6. Creates a Lima configuration file
7. Provides instructions for starting/managing the VM

Output#

The script creates:

• A modified container image: bluefin-lts-ssh-test:TIMESTAMP
• A disk image: /tmp/bluefin-vm-<VM_NAME>.img
• A Lima config: ~/.lima/<VM_NAME>/lima.yaml

Managing the VM#

# Start the VM
limactl start <VM_NAME>

# Connect via SSH
limactl shell <VM_NAME>

# Stop the VM
limactl stop <VM_NAME>

# Delete the VM
limactl delete <VM_NAME>

Requirements#

• podman - for container operations
• bootc - for disk image creation
• limactl - for VM management
• qemu - for running VMs (used by lima)
• Sudo privileges - for bootc install operations
• SSH key pair - for authentication

Notes#

• The script enables SSH by presetting the sshd service in the container
• SSH keys are injected during the bootc install process
• Default disk size is 32GB, memory is 8GB, and 4 CPUs
• The VM uses VNC for display output