> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.celesto.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# celesto sandbox shell

> Use celesto sandbox shell to open the fastest interactive shell Celesto can provide, with guest-agent terminal access on recent images and automatic start or resume.

`celesto sandbox shell` opens an interactive shell inside a sandbox. On recent Linux images it uses the Celesto guest agent for fast terminal access; when that is unavailable, use `celesto sandbox ssh` for a regular SSH session.

## Synopsis

```bash theme={null}
celesto sandbox shell <sandbox> [OPTIONS]
```

## Arguments

<ParamField path="sandbox" type="string" required>
  Name or ID of the sandbox to connect to.
</ParamField>

## Options

<ParamField path="--boot-timeout" type="number" default="30">
  Seconds to wait if Celesto needs to start or resume the sandbox before connecting.
</ParamField>

## Examples

### Open a shell

```bash theme={null}
celesto sandbox shell my-sandbox
```

### Create and connect

```bash theme={null}
celesto sandbox create --name dev-env --os ubuntu
celesto sandbox shell dev-env
```

### Allow more startup time

```bash theme={null}
celesto sandbox shell dev-env --boot-timeout 60
```

## How it behaves

If the sandbox is stopped or newly created, Celesto starts it first. If the sandbox is paused, Celesto resumes it. If the guest agent supports terminal access, the shell opens over the guest-agent terminal stream.

Use [`celesto sandbox ssh`](/smolvm/cli/ssh) when you need SSH-specific behavior such as a custom user, custom key, or SSH tooling.

## Related commands

* [`celesto sandbox ssh`](/smolvm/cli/ssh) - Open a real SSH session
* [`celesto sandbox create`](/smolvm/cli/create) - Create a sandbox
* [Control channel](/smolvm/concepts/control-channel) - Learn how guest-agent communication works


## Related topics

- [celesto sandbox ssh](/smolvm/cli/ssh.md)
- [celesto sandbox exec](/smolvm/cli/exec.md)
- [celesto sandbox logs](/smolvm/cli/logs.md)
- [celesto sandbox create](/smolvm/cli/create.md)
- [celesto sandbox env](/smolvm/cli/env.md)