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Console

The console is the human debugging path into a running microVM. Use it when you need a terminal, a shell prompt, or a one-off command with terminal semantics.

Programmatic automation should usually use mvmctl exec, mvmctl proc, or the SDK runtime surface instead. Those paths are easier to script, test, and audit.

Console access is intentionally gated by the image mode. Development images can expose a console; sealed production images should refuse interactive shell access and rely on declared entrypoints, logs, guest RPC, and audit records.

That distinction matters because an interactive shell is broad authority inside the guest. It is useful for debugging, but it is not the default control plane for production workloads.

Terminal window
mvmctl up ./my-app --name devbox
mvmctl console devbox
mvmctl console devbox --command "uname -a"

Use --command for a one-shot shell command when you want console transport but not an interactive session. Use mvmctl exec for normal automation.

NeedPrefer
Human debuggingmvmctl console <name>
Scripted command executionmvmctl exec <name> -- <cmd>
Process lifecycle controlmvmctl proc start/list/wait/kill
File transfermvmctl fs or mvmctl cp
Service logsmvmctl logs <name>