OS Manuals

/usr/bin/portablectl

systemd container tools

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

> portablectl [OPTION…] COMMAND …

Attach or detach portable services in the local system.

Commands:
  [list]                       List available portable service images
  inspect NAME|PATH [PREFIX…]  Show details of specified portable service image
  attach NAME|PATH [PREFIX…]   Attach the specified portable service image
  detach NAME|PATH [PREFIX…]   Detach the specified portable service image
  reattach NAME|PATH [PREFIX…] Reattach the specified portable service image
  is-attached NAME|PATH        Query if portable service image is attached
  read-only NAME|PATH [BOOL]   Mark or unmark portable service image read-only
  remove NAME|PATH…            Remove a portable service image
  set-limit [NAME|PATH] LIMIT  Set image or pool size limit (disk quota)

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
  -q --quiet                   Suppress informational messages
  -p --profile=PROFILE         Pick security profile for portable service
     --copy=MODE               Pick copying or symlinking of resources (copy, auto, symlink, mixed)
     --runtime                 Attach portable service until next reboot only
     --no-reload               Don't reload the system and service manager
     --cat                     When inspecting include unit and os-release file contents
     --enable                  Immediately enable/disable the portable service after attach/detach
     --now                     Immediately start/stop the portable service after attach/before
                               detach
     --no-block                Don't block waiting for attach --now to complete
     --extension=PATH          Extend the image with an overlay
     --force                   Skip 'already active' check when attaching or detaching an image
                               (with extensions)
     --clean                   When detaching, also remove configuration, state, cache, logs or
                               runtime data of the portable service(s)

See the portablectl(1) man page for details.
Options (19)
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
-q --quietSuppress informational messageshelp
-p --profile=PROFILEPick security profile for portable servicehelp
--copy MODEPick copying or symlinking of resources (copy, auto, symlink, mixed)help
--runtimeAttach portable service until next reboot onlyhelp
--no-reloadDon't reload the system and service managerhelp
--catWhen inspecting include unit and os-release file contentshelp
--enableImmediately enable/disable the portable service after attach/detachhelp
--nowImmediately start/stop the portable service after attach/before detachhelp
--no-blockDon't block waiting for attach --now to completehelp
--extension PATHExtend the image with an overlayhelp
--forceSkip 'already active' check when attaching or detaching an image (with extensions)help
--cleanWhen detaching, also remove configuration, state, cache, logs or runtime data of the portable service(s)help

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