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Docker on Cumulus Linux

Cumulus Linux can be used to run the Docker container platform. You can install Docker Engine directly on a Cumulus Linux switch and run Docker containers natively on the switch.

To set up Docker on Cumulus Linux, run the following commands as root.

  1. Install the authentication key for Docker:

    root@switch:~# curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/debian/gpg | apt-key add -
    
  2. Configure the repositories for Docker:

    root@switch:~# echo "deb [arch=amd64] https://download.docker.com/linux/debian buster stable" >/etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list
    
  3. Install the Docker package:

    root@switch:~# apt update
    root@switch:~# apt install -y docker-ce
    
  4. Configure Docker to minimize impact on the system’s firewall and forwarding configuration:

    root@switch:~# cat >/etc/docker/daemon.json <<EOD
    {
       "iptables": false,
       "ip-forward": false,
       "ip-masq": false
    }
    EOD
    
  5. Configure Docker to run in the management VRF:

    root@switch:~# cp /lib/systemd/system/docker.service /lib/systemd/system/docker@.service
    root@switch:~# sed -i -re '
          /^Requires=docker.socket$/ d;
          /^ExecStart\>/ s/-H fd:\/\/ //
       ' /lib/systemd/system/docker@.service
    
    root@switch:~# echo "docker" >>/etc/vrf/systemd.conf
    
    root@switch:~# systemctl daemon-reload
    root@switch:~# systemctl mask docker.socket
    root@switch:~# systemctl disable --now docker.service
    root@switch:~# systemctl enable --now docker@mgmt
    
  6. Test your installation by running the hello-world container:

    root@switch:~# docker run hello-world
    

Be mindful of the types of applications you want to run in containers on a Cumulus Linux switch. Depending on the configuration of the container, DHCP servers, custom scripts, and other lightweight services run well. However, VPN, NAT and encryption-type services are CPU-intensive and might lead to undesirable effects on critical applications. Resource-intensive services are not supported.