Using the `schroot` command (with examples)

1: List available chroots

schroot --list

Motivation: To know what chroots are available for use.

Explanation: This command lists all the available chroots on the system.

Example Output:

precise-i386
trusty-amd64
xenial-i386
xenial-amd64

2: Run a command in a specific chroot

schroot --chroot chroot command

Motivation: To run a command within a specific chroot environment.

Explanation: This command executes the specified command inside the chroot environment.

Example Output: Assuming the command is ls, the output would be a list of files and directories present in the specified chroot environment.

3: Run a command with options in a specific chroot

schroot --chroot chroot command -- command_options

Motivation: To run a command with specific options within a particular chroot.

Explanation: This command runs the specified command with additional command_options in the specified chroot environment.

Example Output: Assuming the command is apt-get install and the command_options are -y vim, the output would be a successful installation of the vim package in the specified chroot environment.

4: Run a command in all available chroots

schroot --all command

Motivation: To run a command across all available chroots.

Explanation: This command executes the specified command in all the available chroot environments on the system.

Example Output: Assuming the command is uname -a, the output would be the system information (e.g., kernel version, architecture) of each available chroot environment.

5: Start an interactive shell within a specific chroot as a specific user

schroot --chroot chroot --user user

Motivation: To start an interactive shell within a specific chroot environment as a specific user.

Explanation: This command initiates an interactive shell session within the specified chroot environment, running as the specified user.

Example Output: Starting an interactive shell in the chroot environment as the user would display the command prompt of the chroot environment, allowing the user to execute commands and interact with the environment.

6: Begin a new session

schroot --begin-session --chroot chroot

Motivation: To start a new session within a specified chroot environment.

Explanation: This command begins a new session within the specified chroot environment, returning a unique session ID on stdout. This session ID can be used to connect to and manage the session later.

Example Output: The output of this command would be the session ID of the newly started session, which can be used in subsequent schroot commands to interact with the session.

7: Connect to an existing session

schroot --run-session --chroot session_id

Motivation: To connect to an existing session within a specified chroot environment.

Explanation: This command connects to an existing session within the specified chroot environment using the provided session_id. Once connected, further commands can be executed within the session.

Example Output: Upon successful connection, the user would be able to execute further commands within the specified chroot environment session.

8: End an existing session

schroot --end-session --chroot session_id

Motivation: To end and terminate an existing session within a specified chroot environment.

Explanation: This command ends and terminates the specified session within the specified chroot environment using the provided session_id. Once ended, no further commands can be executed within the session.

Example Output: After executing this command, the specified session would be terminated, and any associated resources would be released. No output is returned on stdout for this command.