.. _http server: Run an HTTP Server in a VM ========================== This guide shows how to create a Debian virtual machine, install nginx, and expose its HTTP port to the host so you can reach it from a browser or curl. Create the Virtual Machine -------------------------- Create a VM with port forwarding so that host port 8080 maps to guest port 80: .. code-block:: $ cubic create webserver --image debian:trixie --port 8080:80 Start the Virtual Machine -------------------------- .. code-block:: $ cubic start webserver Install nginx ------------- Connect to the VM over SSH and install nginx: .. code-block:: $ cubic ssh webserver $ sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y nginx nginx starts automatically after installation and listens on port 80 inside the VM. Verify from the Host -------------------- Open a new terminal on the host and send a request to port 8080: .. code-block:: $ curl http://localhost:8080 Welcome to nginx! ... You can also open ``http://localhost:8080`` in a browser. Show VM Settings ---------------- Use ``cubic show --all`` to inspect the full VM configuration including all active port forwarding rules: .. code-block:: $ cubic show --all webserver Running: yes Arch: amd64 CPUs: 4 Memory: 4.0 GiB Disk Used: 1.2 GiB Disk Total: 100.0 GiB User: alice Isolated: no SSH Port: 10022 Monitor Port: 10023 Console Port: 10024 Forward: 127.0.0.1:8080:80/tcp PID: 12345 Disk Image: ~/.local/share/cubic/machines/webserver/machine.img Config: ~/.local/share/cubic/machines/webserver/instance.toml SSH Key: ~/.local/share/cubic/machines/webserver/ssh_client_key SSH: ssh -i .../webserver/ssh_client_key -p 10022 alice@localhost Modify VM Settings ------------------ Port forwarding rules and other VM settings can be changed at any time with ``cubic modify``. Changes take effect on the next restart. Add a forwarding rule for HTTPS (port 443): .. code-block:: $ cubic modify webserver --port 8443:443 Remove the HTTP forwarding rule: .. code-block:: $ cubic modify webserver --rm-port 8080:80 Increase the number of CPUs and memory: .. code-block:: $ cubic modify webserver --cpus 2 --memory 2G