FreeBSD · ZFS · jails

FreeBSD jails.
ZFS underneath.

Create and manage jails with a familiar shell-based interface. Use shared base releases, templates, clones and snapshots without hiding the underlying ZFS storage.

Read the quick start Download v2.3.0

Release notes All releases

A small, direct interface

# iocell create release=15.1-RELEASE tag=www01 vnet=off
# iocell start www01
# iocell exec www01 /bin/sh
# iocell snapshot www01@before-update
# iocell clone www01@before-update tag=staging

After pool activation and release preparation.

ZFS-native workflows

Snapshots, clones, quotas and image transfers work with native ZFS datasets. Keep recovery points and inspect the storage directly when you need to.

Basejails and templates

Share read-only release files between basejails. Prepare a template for an application, then clone it for another instance.

Networking and limits

Choose shared-IP networking or VNET isolation. Apply optional RCTL resource limits when supported by the host kernel.

Start with an existing jail pool

Install. Prepare. Create.

Install the FreeBSD package or port, or download the tagged source. Packages can lag the current source release.

This example assumes an existing dedicated pool named jailpool, not the host's boot pool. Choose a jail release compatible with your host.

Installation and first jail →

pkg install iocell

iocell activate jailpool
iocell fetch release=15.1-RELEASE
iocell create release=15.1-RELEASE tag=www01 vnet=off
iocell start www01

Keep the useful references close.

Documentation Usage, networking and storage workflows → Known limitations Command restrictions and recovery boundaries → Command reference The released help text → Issues and contributions Report a problem or help improve iocell →

Documentation follows master. Source downloads use the latest stable release tag.