> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://anaconda.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Configuring custom environments and sample projects
When you create a new project in Anaconda Enterprise, you must select a base environment for the project. Anaconda provides several base Anaconda environments, along with Python, R, or Hadoop-Spark environments for you to choose from.
If these environments do not suit your needs, you can create a custom environment, then include it in the list of environments that are available upon project creation.
## Preparing to create custom environments
Custom environments must be created using a machine with platform architecture identical to your instance of Anaconda Enterprise.
1. Connect to the machine you are using to create environments.
2. If necessary, install the `bzip2` utility by running the following command:
```
yum install bzip2
```
3. If necessary, install the `wget` utility by running the following command:
```
yum install wget
```
4. If necessary, update or install miniconda.
Update miniconda by running the following commands:
```
conda deactivate
conda update -y --all
conda update -y -n base -c defaults conda
```
1. Create the directory for miniconda by running the following command:
```
mkdir -p ~/miniconda3
```
2. Download the miniconda installer and rename it `miniconda.sh` by running the following command:
```
wget https://repo.anaconda.com/miniconda/Miniconda3-latest-Linux-x86_64.sh -O ~/miniconda3/miniconda.sh
```
3. Verify your checksum by running the following command:
```
sha256sum ~/miniconda3/miniconda.sh
```
4. Install miniconda by running the following command:
```
bash ~/miniconda3/miniconda.sh -b -u -p ~/miniconda3
```
5. Remove the miniconda installer by running the following command:
```
rm -rf ~/miniconda3/miniconda.sh
```
6. View your Linux shell by running the following command:
```
echo $SHELL
```
7. Initialize miniconda by running the following command:
```
# Replace with the return from the previous command
~/miniconda3/bin/conda init
```
For example:
```
~/miniconda3/bin/conda init bash
```
5. Create or clear your environments directory by running the following commands:
```sh Create directory theme={null}
mkdir -p /opt/continuum/envs
```
```sh Clear directory theme={null}
rm -rf /opt/continuum/envs/*
```
6. Clean the conda install by running the following command:
```
conda clean -y --all --force-pkgs-dirs
```
7. Using your preferred file editor, open your `~/.bash_profile` file.
8. Add these two export commands to the end of the file to instruct conda to create all new environments in the `/opt/continuum/envs/` directory:
```
export CONDA_ENVS_DIRS=/opt/continuum/envs
export CONDA_PKGS_DIRS=/opt/continuum/envs/.pkgs
```
9. Save your work and close the file.
10. Apply your changes by running the following command:
```
source ~/.bash_profile
```
## Creating a custom environment
1. Use conda to create or clone your custom environment:
Create a conda environment by running the following command:
```
# Replace with a name for your new environment
conda create -y -n python=3.8 ipykernel
```
`python 3.8` and `ipykernel` are just examples. Create your environment using the packages you need!
Clone an existing environment by running the following command:
```
# Replace with the name of the environment you want to clone
# Replace with a name for your new environment
conda create -y --clone --name
```
2. Verify that your environment was created in the `/opt/continuum/envs` directory by running the following command:
```
conda env list
```
3. Create an archive file containing the custom environment by running the following commands:
```
# Replace with the name of your environment
cd /opt/continuum/envs
tar cfj .tar.bz2 .pkgs
```
Your archive file includes the directory that is named after your environment and the `.pkgs` directory.
For more help with creating environments using conda, see the [official conda documentation](https://docs.conda.io/projects/conda/en/latest/user-guide/tasks/manage-environments.html).
## Uploading your custom environment
1. Open a browser and log in to Anaconda Enterprise as a user with administrator permissions.
The `anaconda-enterprise` user account has these permissions.
2. Open any existing project by clicking on it to view its settings.
3. If necessary, change the **Default Editor** to *JupyterLab*.
4. Open a session for the project.
5. Upload your environment archive file to the project.
You may see a **Large File Size** warning. This can safely be ignored.
6. Open a terminal in your project session and unpack your environment archive file by running the following command:
```
# Replace with the name of your environment tarball file
tar xfj /opt/continuum/project/.tar.bz2 -C /opt/continuum/envs/
```
7. Verify your environment archive file unpacked successfully by running the following command:
```
ls -laF /opt/continuum/envs
```
8. Delete the uploaded environment archive file from the project and stop the project session.
## Creating a project template archive
The project template archive file must contain, at a minimum, the `anaconda-project.yml` file. For more information and help building projects, see the official [Anaconda Project documentation](https://anaconda-project.readthedocs.io/en/latest/).
1. Connect to the machine you are using to create environments.
2. If necessary, create the project directory by running the following command:
```
# Replace with the name of your project
mkdir -p '/opt/continuum/project/'
```
3. Enter the directory you just created by running the following command:
```
# Replace with the name of your project
cd /opt/continuum/project/
```
4. Using your preferred file editor, create and populate an `anaconda-project.yml` file in your project directory. Save and close the file when complete.
Your project’s `name:` will display on the **Sample Projects** grid *or* the **Environments** dropdown list after the project is created.
```
name:
description:
packages:
- python=3.8
- ipykernel
platforms:
- linux-64
env_specs:
: {}
```
5. Create an archive file for the project, then set permissions for it by running the following commands:
```
# Replace with your project name
cd /opt/continuum/project
tar cfj .tar.bz2
chmod 644 .tar.bz2
```
This archive file is the template that other projects will use as a starting point for their own projects.
## Creating a sample project
You must upload and move the project into the `/gallery` directory to display the project on the **Sample Projects** page.
1. Open a browser and log in to Anaconda Enterprise as a user with administrator permissions.
The `anaconda-enterprise` user account has these permissions.
2. Click **Create +**, then select *Upload project*.
3. Upload your `.tar.bz2` file to create the project.
4. View your project’s settings.
5. If necessary, change the **Default Editor** to *JupyterLab*.
6. Open a session for the new project.
7. Upload your project archive file to the new project.
You may see a **Large File Size** warning. This can safely be ignored.
8. Open a terminal in your session and move your project archive file to the sample project gallery by running the following command:
```
# Replace with your project name
mv /opt/continuum/project/.tar.bz2 /gallery
```
9. Enter the sample gallery by running the following command:
```
cd /gallery
```
10. Update the sample projects gallery to include your project by running the following command:
```
python reindex.py
```
11. Verify that you can find and select your sample project on the **Sample Projects** page.
## Creating a project template environment
Adding a project that is in the `/gallery` directory to the `TEMPLATE` file will include it as an **Environment** option when creating a new project.
Including a project from the `/gallery` directory in the `TEMPLATE` file will remove it from the sample projects page.
1. Open a browser and log in to Anaconda Enterprise as a user with administrator permissions.
The `anaconda-enterprise` user account has these permissions.
1. Open any project and view its settings.
2. If necessary, change the **Default Editor** to *JupyterLab*.
3. Open a session for the project.
4. Open a terminal in your session, then enter the sample gallery directory by running the following command:
```
cd /gallery
```
5. Using your preferred file editor, add the project archive file name (`.tar.bz2`) to the `TEMPLATE` file.
6. Save and close the file when complete.
7. Update the project template environment list to include your project by running the following command:
```
python reindex.py
```
8. Create a new project and verify that your project template appears in the **Environment** dropdown menu.