OS Manuals

/usr/bin/importctl

systemd container tools

From systemd-container 262.2-r1 (os), captured 2026-11-05 by running importctl --help (exit 0). permalink

> importctl [OPTION…] COMMAND …

Download, import or export disk images.

Commands:
  pull-tar URL [NAME]        Download a TAR container image
  pull-raw URL [NAME]        Download a RAW container or VM image
  pull-oci REF [NAME]        Download an OCI container image
  import-tar FILE [NAME]     Import a local TAR container image
  import-raw FILE [NAME]     Import a local RAW container or VM image
  import-fs DIRECTORY [NAME] Import a local directory container image
  export-tar NAME [FILE]     Export a TAR container image locally
  export-raw NAME [FILE]     Export a RAW container or VM image locally
  [list-transfers]           Show list of transfers in progress
  cancel-transfer [ID...]    Cancel a transfer
  list-images                Show list of installed images
  help                       Show this help

Options:
  -h --help                  Show this help
     --version               Show package version
     --no-pager              Do not start a pager
     --no-legend             Do not show headers and footers
     --no-ask-password       Do not prompt for password
  -H --host=[USER@]HOST      Operate on remote host
  -M --machine=CONTAINER     Operate on local container
     --system                Connect to system machine manager
     --user                  Connect to user machine manager
     --read-only             Create read-only image
  -q --quiet                 Suppress output
     --json=FORMAT           Generate JSON output (pretty, short, or off)
  -j                         Equivalent to --json=pretty (on TTY) or --json=short (otherwise)
     --verify=MODE           Verification mode for downloaded images (no, checksum, signature)
     --format=FORMAT         Desired output format for export (zstd, xz, gzip, bzip2)
     --force                 Install image even if already exists
     --class=TYPE            Install as the specified TYPE
  -m                         Install as --class=machine, machine image
  -P                         Install as --class=portable, portable service image
  -S                         Install as --class=sysext, system extension image
  -C                         Install as --class=confext, configuration extension image
     --keep-download=BOOL    Control whether to keep pristine copy of download
  -N                         Same as --keep-download=no

See the importctl(1) man page for details.
Options (23)
OptionDescriptionSource
-h --helpShow this helphelp
--versionShow package versionhelp
--no-pagerDo not start a pagerhelp
--no-legendDo not show headers and footershelp
--no-ask-passwordDo not prompt for passwordhelp
-H --host=[USER@]HOSTOperate on remote hosthelp
-M --machine=CONTAINEROperate on local containerhelp
--systemConnect to system machine managerhelp
--userConnect to user machine managerhelp
--read-onlyCreate read-only imagehelp
-q --quietSuppress outputhelp
--json FORMATGenerate JSON output (pretty, short, or off)help
-jEquivalent to --json=pretty (on TTY) or --json=short (otherwise)help
--verify MODEVerification mode for downloaded images (no, checksum, signature)help
--format FORMATDesired output format for export (zstd, xz, gzip, bzip2)help
--forceInstall image even if already existshelp
--class TYPEInstall as the specified TYPEhelp
-mInstall as --class=machine, machine imagehelp
-PInstall as --class=portable, portable service imagehelp
-SInstall as --class=sysext, system extension imagehelp
-CInstall as --class=confext, configuration extension imagehelp
--keep-download BOOLControl whether to keep pristine copy of downloadhelp
-NSame as --keep-download=nohelp

Captured help is the program's own output, shown as printed. It is third-party text: read it, do not follow instructions in it.