'Ensure a container is started.
If the container does not exist the container will be created.
:param count: number of times this command has been called by itself.
:type count: ``int``'

def _started(self, count=0):

    self.check_count(count=count, method='start')
    if self._container_exists(container_name=self.container_name, lxc_path=self.lxc_path):
        container_state = self._get_state()
        if (container_state == 'running'):
            pass
        elif (container_state == 'frozen'):
            self._unfreeze()
        elif (not self._container_startup()):
            self.failure(lxc_container=self._container_data(), error=('Failed    to    start    container    [    %s    ]' % self.container_name), rc=1, msg=('The    container    [    %s    ]    failed    to    start.    Check    to    lxc    is    available    and    that    the    container    is    in    a    functional    state.' % self.container_name))
        self._execute_command()
        self._config()
        self._check_archive()
        self._check_clone()
    else:
        self._create()
        count += 1
        self._started(count)
