Production-ready docker containers are a must for any business looking to streamline its operations and improve efficiency. By building and configuring your containers correctly, you can avoid many of the common pitfalls that occur during production. This blog post will discuss the key features that your docker container- whether you use JFrog or another platform-must have to run successfully in production.
What are the key features that your docker container must have to run successfully in production
Docker containers are an excellent way to package up your application and deploy it on any server with minimal setup required. To ensure that they’re running smoothly, you’ll need to make sure that all of the following features are present:
- It should have a web server such as Nginx or Apache
- An application framework like Laravel or Symfony
- PHP version compatible with your chosen framework (e.g., if using laravel then PHP-fpm should be installed)
- Any necessary dependencies installed and configured
- Properly mapped ports
If you’re looking to deploy a custom application, then you’ll also need to include the following:
- Your application code
- A script to start your application (e.g., docker-compose up)
- Configuration files for your web server and application framework
It’s also crucial that you test your containers in a production-like environment as closely as possible. This means replicating the same conditions that your applications will experience in live servers. For example, if you’re using a database backend in production, make sure to simulate that same environment during testing.
A database engine, such as MySQL, MariaDB, or PostgreSQL
- A database user with the correct permissions
- The appropriate driver for your chosen database engine installed (e.g., mysqlnd_ms)
- Your application’s data files (optional)
If you’re using a third-party service, such as an email provider or payment gateway, then you’ll need to make sure that their API credentials are included in your docker container.
How do you ensure that all of your containers have the same features and meet your standards
To ensure that your containers meet your standards, you should create a Dockerfile. This file defines how each container is built and what it contains. You can use this as the basis for creating new docker images or updating existing ones when necessary.
You can also use an automated deployment tool like Jenkins CI/CD ( Continuous Integration & Delivery) to automatically build new versions based on changes made in source control repositories such as GitHub or Bitbucket.
DeployHQ will allow you to deploy from any Git repository, including GitHub, Bitbucket, and VSTS, so if you’re using one of those services, then DeployHQ may be worth looking at too!
Dockerfiles are also helpful because they provide documentation about what each container contains, and they can be used to track changes over time. For example: if you want to roll back a deployment by reverting some previous commits in your source control repository or revert an update on production servers after testing locally (e.g., when deploying from GitHub). You’ll then need the Dockerfile used during the build process to match exactly what’s currently running live. Otherwise, there will be inconsistencies between them, and errors may occur due to missing dependencies.
Benefits of using docker containers in production
- Reduced time to market – by packaging your application into a container, you can deploy it on any server with minimal setup required
- Increased efficiency – all of the necessary dependencies are installed and configured automatically, which means there’s less chance for human error
- Easier scalability – when your application needs more resources, just spin up another container
- Reduced costs – containers can be run on less expensive hardware than traditional servers because they don’t need as much RAM or CPU power.
Drawbacks to using docker containers in production
While there are many benefits to using docker containers in production, there are also a few drawbacks that you should be aware of:
- Increased complexity – as your application grows, so does the number of docker containers needed to run it. This can make management and troubleshooting more complex than if everything was on one server.
- Security risks – containers are isolated from each other, but they’re still vulnerable to the same threats as any other system (e.g., malware or hacking attempts). You’ll need to take precautions like installing antivirus software and keeping up with patch updates for your application to stay protected while running inside these environments.
- Limited resource allocation capabilities due to limitations imposed by host OS architecture. However, this can be overcome using cgroups (control groups), which allow fine-grained control over CPU usage per container instance or across multiple instances of the same type.
- Lack of standardization: Different organizations often have their own ways of configuring and packaging applications into containers, leading to compatibility issues.
- Limited tooling support: Because docker is still a relatively new technology, many tools (such as monitoring software) that support it are limited compared to traditional servers. However, this is changing rapidly as the popularity of docker increases.
Interesting Related Article: “Business Password Security Guidelines“