A method, executed by a computer, includes receiving, for a cluster, a request to create a new container host, wherein the cluster comprises a plurality of container hosts having a corresponding plurality of local repositories, creating the new container host, selecting an image for the new container host according to one or more host preferences, wherein the image is stored in an image location, and copying the image from the image location to the local repository of the new container host. A computer system and computer program product corresponding to the above method are also disclosed herein.