Free & open source — Apache 2.0

Real Linux servers.
On your machine.

Deploy real VMs in seconds — not containers, actual servers with their own kernel. Full systemd, real networking, SSH access. Like Docker, but you get a real server.

$ curl -sSL https://get.sistemo.io | sh

View on GitHub Documentation

What can you do with Sistemo?

Anything you'd do on a real server — because it is a real server.

Deploy a full-stack app

PostgreSQL + API + frontend — each in its own VM with private networking. Production-identical on your laptop.

sistemo vm deploy debian --name api --expose 8080

Turn any Docker image into a VM

Use nginx, postgres, python, or any Docker image. Get a real VM instead of a container.

sudo sistemo image build nginx:latest

sistemo vm deploy nginx --expose 80

Create private networks

VMs talk to each other on a private network — isolated from your host. Just like production.

sistemo network create backend

sistemo vm deploy db --network backend

SSH from your browser

Open a terminal to any VM directly in your browser. No SSH keys to manage.

sistemo vm terminal my-server

Persistent block storage

Root volumes tracked automatically. Resize, attach, and detach volumes between VMs. Use --preserve-storage on delete to keep data.

sistemo volume create 10G --name data

sistemo vm deploy debian --attach=data

Test Ansible/Terraform on real VMs

Spin up 5 target VMs in 30 seconds. Run your playbooks. Delete everything when done.

sistemo vm deploy debian --name web1

sistemo vm deploy debian --name web2

From zero to VM in 30 seconds

No account. No credit card. Just paste this into your Linux terminal.

Install (one command)

Downloads a ~15 MB binary. Sets up Firecracker, kernel, and SSH keys automatically.

~10 seconds

Start the daemon

Runs an HTTP API on localhost. Manages VM lifecycle, networking, and storage.

instant

Deploy a VM

Downloads the image from the registry (or use a local Docker image). Boots a real VM.

~5 seconds

You're in

SSH into a real Linux server. apt, systemd, iptables — everything works.

instant

$ curl -sSL https://get.sistemo.io | sh

✓ Downloaded sistemo v0.5.0

✓ Firecracker installed

✓ Kernel ready

$ sistemo up && sistemo vm deploy debian

✓ Daemon started on :7777

⟳ Downloading debian... done (380 MB)

✓ VM "debian" running — 10.200.0.2

$ sistemo vm ssh debian

root@debian:~#

_ (you're in a real VM)

How Sistemo compares

Docker gives you containers. Proxmox gives you a hypervisor. Sistemo gives you real servers in seconds.

	Sistemo	Docker	Proxmox
Isolation	Real VM (KVM)	Shared kernel	Real VM (KVM)
Install	curl \| sh	apt install	Full ISO + dedicated machine
Boot time	~2-5 seconds	~1-3 seconds	30-120 seconds
Binary size	~15 MB	~200 MB + daemon	Full OS (4 GB+)
systemd	✅ Full support	❌ PID 1 hacks	✅ Full support
Networking	Real NICs + iptables	Docker bridge	Real NICs + bridge
SSH access	sistemo vm ssh	docker exec	SSH (manual setup)
Browser terminal	✅ Built-in	❌	✅ noVNC
Docker images	✅ Any image → VM	Native	❌
Runs on laptop	✅	✅	❌ Needs dedicated HW

Built for developers who need real servers

Full-stack developers

Deploy your entire stack locally — database, API, frontend — each in real VMs.

DevOps engineers

Test Ansible playbooks, Terraform configs, and CI/CD pipelines on real VMs.

Linux learners

Practice sysadmin skills on real servers you can break and rebuild in seconds.

Homelab enthusiasts

Run services on your own hardware. No cloud bills, no vendor lock-in.

Ready to try it?

One command to install. Your first VM boots in seconds. Free forever — Apache 2.0 open source.