Overview
Channels are the mechanism through which packages are made available to users in your organization. Anaconda Platform Cloud provides several channel types, each designed to meet different distribution, security, and governance needs. Understanding the differences helps you build a package distribution strategy that fits your team.
Channel types
| Channel type | Description | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual | A curated copy of one or more source channels with policy filters applied. Packages that do not meet your policy criteria are automatically excluded. | Enforcing security and license standards across your org |
| External | A mirror of a channel hosted on anaconda.org or another compatible registry. Packages are synced on a schedule. | Maintaining an internal copy of upstream channels |
| Hosted | Packages are stored directly on the platform. Includes conda-forge packages via redirect when the Community Channel is enabled. | Private, proprietary, or internally built packages |
| Community | Access to 16,000+ conda-forge packages via the Community Channel toggle. Requires Terms of Service acceptance. | Broad open source package access within your org |
Creating a channel
To create a new channel in your organization:
- Sign in to Anaconda Platform Cloud and navigate to your organization.
- Select Channels from the left navigation menu.
- Click Create Channel.
- Enter a Channel Name and optional description.
- Select the Channel Type (Virtual, External, or Hosted).
- Configure the source and any additional settings for your chosen type.
- Click Save.
Note: Channel names must be unique within your organization and cannot be changed after creation.
Adding a source to a Virtual channel
Virtual channels pull packages from one or more source channels and filter them through your active policies. To add a source:
- Open the channel and select the Sources tab.
- Click Add Source.
- Choose a source from the list of available channels (Anaconda default, External, or other Hosted channels).
- Click Save.
Note: The Anaconda default channels (main, r, and msys2) are available as sources in all organizations without additional configuration.