I followed the video instruction on Incus 6.16 has been released trying to setup a tmpfs-overlay device but it does not work. And incus doesn’t provide useful error message for me to findout what is going on.
$ incus image list
+--------------+--------------+--------+-------------------------------------+--------------+-----------+-----------+----------------------+
| ALIAS | FINGERPRINT | PUBLIC | DESCRIPTION | ARCHITECTURE | TYPE | SIZE | UPLOAD DATE |
+--------------+--------------+--------+-------------------------------------+--------------+-----------+-----------+----------------------+
| nixos/25.05 | 2a0aa6ad82fa | no | Nixos 25.05 amd64 (20251020_01:00) | x86_64 | CONTAINER | 151.24MiB | 2025/10/22 16:43 CST |
+--------------+--------------+--------+-------------------------------------+--------------+-----------+-----------+----------------------+
| ubuntu/24.04 | d328b74ad3a8 | no | Ubuntu noble amd64 (20251025_07:42) | x86_64 | CONTAINER | 133.61MiB | 2025/10/26 15:20 CST |
+--------------+--------------+--------+-------------------------------------+--------------+-----------+-----------+----------------------+
$ incus create ubuntu/24.04 c1
Creating c1
$ incus config device add c1 tmpfs-overlay disk path=/etc size=50MiB source=tmpfs-overlay:
Device tmpfs-overlay added to c1
$ incus start c1
Error: Failed to start device "tmpfs-overlay": Cannot find rootfs path for container
Try `incus info --show-log c1` for more info
$ incus info --show-log c1
Name: c1
Description:
Status: STOPPED
Type: container
Architecture: x86_64
Created: 2026/01/06 09:57 CST
Last Used: 1970/01/01 08:00 CST
Log:
$ incus version
Client version: 6.20
Server version: 6.20
The ubuntu/24.04 is the official image pulled from images.linuxcontainers.org. And I think I do basically the same as that showed in the video.
More info about c1 container and storage pool:
$ incus config show c1
architecture: x86_64
config:
image.architecture: amd64
image.description: Ubuntu noble amd64 (20251025_07:42)
image.os: Ubuntu
image.release: noble
image.requirements.cgroup: v2
image.serial: "20251025_07:42"
image.type: squashfs
image.variant: default
volatile.apply_template: create
volatile.base_image: d328b74ad3a8aa27095e81537ef025d29ffaf8e7b108c9f09141064045f67117
volatile.cloud-init.instance-id: a55a3d07-6f51-4ccb-a0b6-bfca94ea3e09
volatile.eth0.hwaddr: 10:66:6a:8f:3c:25
volatile.idmap.base: "0"
volatile.idmap.current: '[{"Isuid":true,"Isgid":false,"Hostid":1000000,"Nsid":0,"Maprange":1000000000},{"Isuid":false,"Isgid":true,"Hostid":1000000,"Nsid":0,"Maprange":1000000000}]'
volatile.idmap.next: '[{"Isuid":true,"Isgid":false,"Hostid":1000000,"Nsid":0,"Maprange":1000000000},{"Isuid":false,"Isgid":true,"Hostid":1000000,"Nsid":0,"Maprange":1000000000}]'
volatile.last_state.idmap: '[]'
volatile.uuid: c9a4b46b-d1d7-4d5d-ad16-35f931f7f615
volatile.uuid.generation: c9a4b46b-d1d7-4d5d-ad16-35f931f7f615
devices:
tmpfs-overlay:
path: /etc
size: 50MiB
source: 'tmpfs-overlay:'
type: disk
ephemeral: false
profiles:
- default
stateful: false
description: ""
$ incus profile show default
config: {}
description: Default Incus profile
devices:
eth0:
name: eth0
network: incusbr0
type: nic
root:
path: /
pool: default_zfs
type: disk
name: default
used_by:
- ...
- /1.0/instances/c1
project: default
$ incus storage show default_zfs
config:
source: zinfra/incus_pool
volatile.initial_source: zinfra/incus_pool
zfs.pool_name: zinfra/incus_pool
description: ""
name: default_zfs
driver: zfs
used_by:
- /1.0/images/2a0aa6ad82fac372437f8941120d6fe675908ae0cbde942a626b649565659eb9
- /1.0/images/d328b74ad3a8aa27095e81537ef025d29ffaf8e7b108c9f09141064045f67117
- /1.0/instances/c1
- ...
- /1.0/profiles/default
- ...
status: Created
locations:
- none
System info (if it matters):
$ incus info
config:
core.https_address: :8443
images.auto_update_cached: "false"
api_extensions:
- storage_zfs_remove_snapshots
- container_host_shutdown_timeout
- container_stop_priority
- container_syscall_filtering
- auth_pki
- container_last_used_at
- etag
- patch
- usb_devices
- https_allowed_credentials
- image_compression_algorithm
- directory_manipulation
- container_cpu_time
- storage_zfs_use_refquota
- storage_lvm_mount_options
- network
- profile_usedby
- container_push
- container_exec_recording
- certificate_update
- container_exec_signal_handling
- gpu_devices
- container_image_properties
- migration_progress
- id_map
- network_firewall_filtering
- network_routes
- storage
- file_delete
- file_append
- network_dhcp_expiry
- storage_lvm_vg_rename
- storage_lvm_thinpool_rename
- network_vlan
- image_create_aliases
- container_stateless_copy
- container_only_migration
- storage_zfs_clone_copy
- unix_device_rename
- storage_lvm_use_thinpool
- storage_rsync_bwlimit
- network_vxlan_interface
- storage_btrfs_mount_options
- entity_description
- image_force_refresh
- storage_lvm_lv_resizing
- id_map_base
- file_symlinks
- container_push_target
- network_vlan_physical
- storage_images_delete
- container_edit_metadata
- container_snapshot_stateful_migration
- storage_driver_ceph
- storage_ceph_user_name
- resource_limits
- storage_volatile_initial_source
- storage_ceph_force_osd_reuse
- storage_block_filesystem_btrfs
- resources
- kernel_limits
- storage_api_volume_rename
- network_sriov
- console
- restrict_dev_incus
- migration_pre_copy
- infiniband
- dev_incus_events
- proxy
- network_dhcp_gateway
- file_get_symlink
- network_leases
- unix_device_hotplug
- storage_api_local_volume_handling
- operation_description
- clustering
- event_lifecycle
- storage_api_remote_volume_handling
- nvidia_runtime
- container_mount_propagation
- container_backup
- dev_incus_images
- container_local_cross_pool_handling
- proxy_unix
- proxy_udp
- clustering_join
- proxy_tcp_udp_multi_port_handling
- network_state
- proxy_unix_dac_properties
- container_protection_delete
- unix_priv_drop
- pprof_http
- proxy_haproxy_protocol
- network_hwaddr
- proxy_nat
- network_nat_order
- container_full
- backup_compression
- nvidia_runtime_config
- storage_api_volume_snapshots
- storage_unmapped
- projects
- network_vxlan_ttl
- container_incremental_copy
- usb_optional_vendorid
- snapshot_scheduling
- snapshot_schedule_aliases
- container_copy_project
- clustering_server_address
- clustering_image_replication
- container_protection_shift
- snapshot_expiry
- container_backup_override_pool
- snapshot_expiry_creation
- network_leases_location
- resources_cpu_socket
- resources_gpu
- resources_numa
- kernel_features
- id_map_current
- event_location
- storage_api_remote_volume_snapshots
- network_nat_address
- container_nic_routes
- cluster_internal_copy
- seccomp_notify
- lxc_features
- container_nic_ipvlan
- network_vlan_sriov
- storage_cephfs
- container_nic_ipfilter
- resources_v2
- container_exec_user_group_cwd
- container_syscall_intercept
- container_disk_shift
- storage_shifted
- resources_infiniband
- daemon_storage
- instances
- image_types
- resources_disk_sata
- clustering_roles
- images_expiry
- resources_network_firmware
- backup_compression_algorithm
- ceph_data_pool_name
- container_syscall_intercept_mount
- compression_squashfs
- container_raw_mount
- container_nic_routed
- container_syscall_intercept_mount_fuse
- container_disk_ceph
- virtual-machines
- image_profiles
- clustering_architecture
- resources_disk_id
- storage_lvm_stripes
- vm_boot_priority
- unix_hotplug_devices
- api_filtering
- instance_nic_network
- clustering_sizing
- firewall_driver
- projects_limits
- container_syscall_intercept_hugetlbfs
- limits_hugepages
- container_nic_routed_gateway
- projects_restrictions
- custom_volume_snapshot_expiry
- volume_snapshot_scheduling
- trust_ca_certificates
- snapshot_disk_usage
- clustering_edit_roles
- container_nic_routed_host_address
- container_nic_ipvlan_gateway
- resources_usb_pci
- resources_cpu_threads_numa
- resources_cpu_core_die
- api_os
- container_nic_routed_host_table
- container_nic_ipvlan_host_table
- container_nic_ipvlan_mode
- resources_system
- images_push_relay
- network_dns_search
- container_nic_routed_limits
- instance_nic_bridged_vlan
- network_state_bond_bridge
- usedby_consistency
- custom_block_volumes
- clustering_failure_domains
- resources_gpu_mdev
- console_vga_type
- projects_limits_disk
- network_type_macvlan
- network_type_sriov
- container_syscall_intercept_bpf_devices
- network_type_ovn
- projects_networks
- projects_networks_restricted_uplinks
- custom_volume_backup
- backup_override_name
- storage_rsync_compression
- network_type_physical
- network_ovn_external_subnets
- network_ovn_nat
- network_ovn_external_routes_remove
- tpm_device_type
- storage_zfs_clone_copy_rebase
- gpu_mdev
- resources_pci_iommu
- resources_network_usb
- resources_disk_address
- network_physical_ovn_ingress_mode
- network_ovn_dhcp
- network_physical_routes_anycast
- projects_limits_instances
- network_state_vlan
- instance_nic_bridged_port_isolation
- instance_bulk_state_change
- network_gvrp
- instance_pool_move
- gpu_sriov
- pci_device_type
- storage_volume_state
- network_acl
- migration_stateful
- disk_state_quota
- storage_ceph_features
- projects_compression
- projects_images_remote_cache_expiry
- certificate_project
- network_ovn_acl
- projects_images_auto_update
- projects_restricted_cluster_target
- images_default_architecture
- network_ovn_acl_defaults
- gpu_mig
- project_usage
- network_bridge_acl
- warnings
- projects_restricted_backups_and_snapshots
- clustering_join_token
- clustering_description
- server_trusted_proxy
- clustering_update_cert
- storage_api_project
- server_instance_driver_operational
- server_supported_storage_drivers
- event_lifecycle_requestor_address
- resources_gpu_usb
- clustering_evacuation
- network_ovn_nat_address
- network_bgp
- network_forward
- custom_volume_refresh
- network_counters_errors_dropped
- metrics
- image_source_project
- clustering_config
- network_peer
- linux_sysctl
- network_dns
- ovn_nic_acceleration
- certificate_self_renewal
- instance_project_move
- storage_volume_project_move
- cloud_init
- network_dns_nat
- database_leader
- instance_all_projects
- clustering_groups
- ceph_rbd_du
- instance_get_full
- qemu_metrics
- gpu_mig_uuid
- event_project
- clustering_evacuation_live
- instance_allow_inconsistent_copy
- network_state_ovn
- storage_volume_api_filtering
- image_restrictions
- storage_zfs_export
- network_dns_records
- storage_zfs_reserve_space
- network_acl_log
- storage_zfs_blocksize
- metrics_cpu_seconds
- instance_snapshot_never
- certificate_token
- instance_nic_routed_neighbor_probe
- event_hub
- agent_nic_config
- projects_restricted_intercept
- metrics_authentication
- images_target_project
- images_all_projects
- cluster_migration_inconsistent_copy
- cluster_ovn_chassis
- container_syscall_intercept_sched_setscheduler
- storage_lvm_thinpool_metadata_size
- storage_volume_state_total
- instance_file_head
- instances_nic_host_name
- image_copy_profile
- container_syscall_intercept_sysinfo
- clustering_evacuation_mode
- resources_pci_vpd
- qemu_raw_conf
- storage_cephfs_fscache
- network_load_balancer
- vsock_api
- instance_ready_state
- network_bgp_holdtime
- storage_volumes_all_projects
- metrics_memory_oom_total
- storage_buckets
- storage_buckets_create_credentials
- metrics_cpu_effective_total
- projects_networks_restricted_access
- storage_buckets_local
- loki
- acme
- internal_metrics
- cluster_join_token_expiry
- remote_token_expiry
- init_preseed
- storage_volumes_created_at
- cpu_hotplug
- projects_networks_zones
- network_txqueuelen
- cluster_member_state
- instances_placement_scriptlet
- storage_pool_source_wipe
- zfs_block_mode
- instance_generation_id
- disk_io_cache
- amd_sev
- storage_pool_loop_resize
- migration_vm_live
- ovn_nic_nesting
- oidc
- network_ovn_l3only
- ovn_nic_acceleration_vdpa
- cluster_healing
- instances_state_total
- auth_user
- security_csm
- instances_rebuild
- numa_cpu_placement
- custom_volume_iso
- network_allocations
- zfs_delegate
- storage_api_remote_volume_snapshot_copy
- operations_get_query_all_projects
- metadata_configuration
- syslog_socket
- event_lifecycle_name_and_project
- instances_nic_limits_priority
- disk_initial_volume_configuration
- operation_wait
- image_restriction_privileged
- cluster_internal_custom_volume_copy
- disk_io_bus
- storage_cephfs_create_missing
- instance_move_config
- ovn_ssl_config
- certificate_description
- disk_io_bus_virtio_blk
- loki_config_instance
- instance_create_start
- clustering_evacuation_stop_options
- boot_host_shutdown_action
- agent_config_drive
- network_state_ovn_lr
- image_template_permissions
- storage_bucket_backup
- storage_lvm_cluster
- shared_custom_block_volumes
- auth_tls_jwt
- oidc_claim
- device_usb_serial
- numa_cpu_balanced
- image_restriction_nesting
- network_integrations
- instance_memory_swap_bytes
- network_bridge_external_create
- network_zones_all_projects
- storage_zfs_vdev
- container_migration_stateful
- profiles_all_projects
- instances_scriptlet_get_instances
- instances_scriptlet_get_cluster_members
- instances_scriptlet_get_project
- network_acl_stateless
- instance_state_started_at
- networks_all_projects
- network_acls_all_projects
- storage_buckets_all_projects
- resources_load
- instance_access
- project_access
- projects_force_delete
- resources_cpu_flags
- disk_io_bus_cache_filesystem
- instance_oci
- clustering_groups_config
- instances_lxcfs_per_instance
- clustering_groups_vm_cpu_definition
- disk_volume_subpath
- projects_limits_disk_pool
- network_ovn_isolated
- qemu_raw_qmp
- network_load_balancer_health_check
- oidc_scopes
- network_integrations_peer_name
- qemu_scriptlet
- instance_auto_restart
- storage_lvm_metadatasize
- ovn_nic_promiscuous
- ovn_nic_ip_address_none
- instances_state_os_info
- network_load_balancer_state
- instance_nic_macvlan_mode
- storage_lvm_cluster_create
- network_ovn_external_interfaces
- instances_scriptlet_get_instances_count
- cluster_rebalance
- custom_volume_refresh_exclude_older_snapshots
- storage_initial_owner
- storage_live_migration
- instance_console_screenshot
- image_import_alias
- authorization_scriptlet
- console_force
- network_ovn_state_addresses
- network_bridge_acl_devices
- instance_debug_memory
- init_preseed_storage_volumes
- init_preseed_profile_project
- instance_nic_routed_host_address
- instance_smbios11
- api_filtering_extended
- acme_dns01
- security_iommu
- network_ipv4_dhcp_routes
- network_state_ovn_ls
- network_dns_nameservers
- acme_http01_port
- network_ovn_ipv4_dhcp_expiry
- instance_state_cpu_time
- network_io_bus
- disk_io_bus_usb
- storage_driver_linstor
- instance_oci_entrypoint
- network_address_set
- server_logging
- network_forward_snat
- memory_hotplug
- instance_nic_routed_host_tables
- instance_publish_split
- init_preseed_certificates
- custom_volume_sftp
- network_ovn_external_nic_address
- network_physical_gateway_hwaddr
- backup_s3_upload
- snapshot_manual_expiry
- resources_cpu_address_sizes
- disk_attached
- limits_memory_hotplug
- disk_wwn
- server_logging_webhook
- storage_driver_truenas
- container_disk_tmpfs
- instance_limits_oom
- backup_override_config
- network_ovn_tunnels
- init_preseed_cluster_groups
- usb_attached
- backup_iso
- instance_systemd_credentials
- cluster_group_usedby
- bpf_token_delegation
- file_storage_volume
- network_hwaddr_pattern
- storage_volume_full
- storage_bucket_full
- device_pci_firmware
- resources_serial
- ovn_nic_limits
- storage_lvmcluster_qcow2
api_status: stable
api_version: "1.0"
auth: trusted
public: false
auth_methods:
- tls
auth_user_name: ...
auth_user_method: unix
environment:
addresses:
- ...
architectures:
- x86_64
- i686
certificate: |
-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
...
-----END CERTIFICATE-----
certificate_fingerprint: ...
driver: lxc | qemu
driver_version: 6.0.5 | 10.1.2
firewall: nftables
kernel: Linux
kernel_architecture: x86_64
kernel_features:
idmapped_mounts: "true"
netnsid_getifaddrs: "true"
seccomp_listener: "true"
seccomp_listener_continue: "true"
uevent_injection: "true"
unpriv_binfmt: "true"
unpriv_fscaps: "true"
kernel_version: 6.12.63
lxc_features:
cgroup2: "true"
core_scheduling: "true"
devpts_fd: "true"
idmapped_mounts_v2: "true"
mount_injection_file: "true"
network_gateway_device_route: "true"
network_ipvlan: "true"
network_l2proxy: "true"
network_phys_macvlan_mtu: "true"
network_veth_router: "true"
pidfd: "true"
seccomp_allow_deny_syntax: "true"
seccomp_notify: "true"
seccomp_proxy_send_notify_fd: "true"
os_name: NixOS
os_version: "25.11"
project: default
server: incus
server_clustered: false
server_event_mode: full-mesh
server_name: ...
server_pid: 3602569
server_version: "6.20"
storage: zfs | dir
storage_version: 2.3.5-1 | 1
storage_supported_drivers:
- name: lvm
version: 2.03.35(2) (2025-09-09) / 1.02.209 (2025-09-09) / 4.48.0
remote: false
- name: zfs
version: 2.3.5-1
remote: false
- name: btrfs
version: 6.17.1
remote: false
- name: dir
version: "1"
remote: false
Do I need to provide something else?
