Managing containers with MicroOS, Cockpit, and Podman
Mission Control

© Lead Image © Valery Kachaev, 123RF.com
If you want to run containers without the hassle of managing the host operating system, openSUSE MicroOS has you covered. Combined with Cockpit as a web interface, running and managing Podman containers has never been easier.
Running containers with platforms such as Docker [1] or Podman [2] can be accomplished on any Linux distribution. However, because configuring and managing the containers is already quite involved, you probably don't want to deal too much with the host operating system as well. An immutable operating system can prove invaluable. After its initial configuration, there's no need for manual management tasks. The immutable operating system just works as a robust foundation for your containers.
In an earlier Linux Magazine article [3], I covered openSUSE MicroOS [4], an immutable version of the openSUSE Linux distribution. I'll use openSUSE MicroOS as the host operating system to run Podman containers. For more detailed information on the operating system, consult my earlier article. To simplify managing and monitoring my containers, I'll use Cockpit [5], a web-based user interface for servers.
MicroOS requires at least 1GB of RAM, though more is advisable if you plan to run many containers. The root partition must be at least 5GB, and the partition where /var
is mounted should also be at least 5GB. Again, more space may be necessary, depending on your container workloads. I have installed MicroOS in a virtual machine with 1.5GB of RAM, a 13GB root partition, and a 20GB /var
partition. This setup has been operating smoothly with 11 containers for over six months. To be a bit more future-proof, increasing the RAM to 2GB and adding a few more gigabytes to the root partition could be beneficial, but, so far, it has been working flawlessly.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
System76 Releases COSMIC Alpha 7
With scores of bug fixes and a really cool workspaces feature, COSMIC is looking to soon migrate from alpha to beta.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.