(images-remote)=
# How to use remote images

The [`lxc`](lxc.md) CLI command is pre-configured with several remote image servers.
See {ref}`remote-image-servers` for an overview.

```{note}
- If you are using the API, you can interact with different LXD servers by using their exposed API addresses.
  See {ref}`server-authenticate` for instructions on how to authenticate with the servers.

  {ref}`images-manage` describes how to interact with images on any LXD server through the API.
- The UI is pre-configured with several remote image servers, but does not currently support adding other servers or managing remote images.

  You can see the available remote images (and which server they are hosted on) when you select the base image for a new instance.
```

## List configured remotes

<!-- Include start list remotes -->
To see all configured remote servers, enter the following command:

    lxc remote list

Remote servers that use the [simple streams format](https://git.launchpad.net/simplestreams/tree/) are pure image servers.
Servers that use the `lxd` format are LXD servers, which either serve solely as image servers or might provide some images in addition to serving as regular LXD servers.
See {ref}`remote-image-server-types` for more information.
<!-- Include end list remotes -->

## List available images on a remote

To list all remote images on a server, enter the following command:

    lxc image list <remote>:

You can filter the results.
See {ref}`images-manage-filter` for instructions.

## Add a remote server

How to add a remote depends on the protocol that the server uses.

### Add a simple streams server

To add a simple streams server as a remote, enter the following command:

    lxc remote add <remote_name> <URL> --protocol=simplestreams

The URL must use HTTPS.

### Add a remote LXD server

<!-- Include start add remotes -->
To add a LXD server as a remote, enter the following command:

    lxc remote add <remote_name> <IP|FQDN|URL> [flags]

Some authentication methods require specific flags (for example, use [`lxc remote add <remote_name> <IP|FQDN|URL> --auth-type=oidc`](lxc_remote_add.md) for OIDC authentication).
See {ref}`server-authenticate` and {ref}`authentication` for more information.

For example, enter the following command to add a remote through an IP address:

    lxc remote add my-remote 192.0.2.10

You are prompted to confirm the remote server fingerprint and then asked for the password or token, depending on the authentication method used by the remote.
<!-- Include end add remotes -->

## Reference an image

To reference an image, specify its remote and its alias or fingerprint, separated with a colon.
For example:

    ubuntu:24.04
    ubuntu-minimal:24.04
    images:alpine/edge
    local:ed7509d7e83f

(images-remote-default)=
## Select a default remote

If you specify an image name without the name of the remote, the default image server is used.

To see which server is configured as the default image server, enter the following command:

    lxc remote get-default

To select a different remote as the default image server, enter the following command:

    lxc remote switch <remote_name>