In  continuation of my previous blog on “7. DevOps: How to track changes in a container”, in this blog I would like to show some lab practice “How to control and operate docker containers”.

Controlling/operating Docker container:

In this exercise initially, we can see on how to start/stop/restart the containers.

The Docker Engine enables us to start, stop, and restart a container with a set of docker subcommands.

Let me display the docker images:

=======================>

vskumar@ubuntu:~$ sudo service docker status

● docker.service – Docker Application Container Engine

Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/docker.service; enabled; vendor preset: e

Active: active (running) since Sat 2017-11-25 15:09:35 PST; 2min 24s ago

Docs: https://docs.docker.com

Main PID: 1356 (dockerd)

Tasks: 30

Memory: 95.2M

CPU: 3.998s

=========================>

vskumar@ubuntu:~$ sudo docker images

REPOSITORY TAG IMAGE ID CREATED SIZE

hello-world latest f2a91732366c 4 days ago 1.85kB

ubuntu 16.04 20c44cd7596f 8 days ago 123MB

ubuntu latest 20c44cd7596f 8 days ago 123MB

busybox latest 6ad733544a63 3 weeks ago 1.13MB

busybox 1.24 47bcc53f74dc 20 months ago 1.11MB

vskumar@ubuntu:~$

=======================>

Now, I want to launch our container ubuntu 16.04 with start subcommand and experiment with the docker stop subcommand, as given below:

$ sudo docker run -i -t ubuntu:16.04 /bin/bash

======================>
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ 
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ sudo docker run -i -t ubuntu:16.04 /bin/bash
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/# 
======================>
Now, we are with this container in interactive mode.
Let us apply some linux commands as below:
========================>
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/# pwd
/
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/# ls
bin   dev  home  lib64  mnt  proc  run   srv  tmp  var
boot  etc  lib   media  opt  root  sbin  sys  usr
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/# cd home
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/home# ls
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/home# cd ../var
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/var# ls
backups  cache  lib  local  lock  log  mail  opt  run  spool  tmp
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/var# cd tmp
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/var/tmp# pwd
/var/tmp
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/var/tmp# ls
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/var/tmp# cd ../lib
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/var/lib# ls
apt  dpkg  initscripts  insserv  misc  pam  systemd  update-rc.d  urandom
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/var/lib# 
================================>

Now I want to create a file as below in this container:
==================>

root@d10ad2bd62f7:/var/lib# pwd
/var/lib
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/var/lib# cd ../../home
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/home# ls
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/home# touch file1.txt
===================>

Let me add some text into this file as below:
==========>
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/home# echo " Testing containers " > file1.txt
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/home# echo " Applying stop command on containers " > file1.txt
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/home# cat file1.txt
 Applying stop command on containers 
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/home# echo " Testing containers " > file1.txtroot@d10ad2bd62f7:/home# echo " Applying stop command on containers " >> file1.txt
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/home# ls
file1.txt
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/home# ls -l
total 4
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 59 Nov 25 23:20 file1.txt
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/home# cat file1.txt 
Testing containers 
Applying stop command on containers 
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/home# 
===============>

I have applied some more linux file operations on this container as below:
=================>
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/home#      
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/home# cat file1.txt >> file2.txt
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/home# ls
file1.txt  file2.txt
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/home# ls -l
total 8
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 59 Nov 25 23:20 file1.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 59 Nov 25 23:22 file2.txt
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/home# diff file1.txt file2.txt
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/home# echo " Applying restart command also on containers " >> file1.txt
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/home# ls -l
total 8
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 105 Nov 25 23:23 file1.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  59 Nov 25 23:22 file2.txt
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/home# diff file1.txt file2.txt3d2
<  Applying restart command also on containers 
root@d10ad2bd62f7:/home# 
====================>
Now, let me apply a stop command on this container and see as 
below by using exit to come out and stop:
=====================>
root@155f4b0764b1:/# 
root@155f4b0764b1:/# exit
exit
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ sudo docker images
REPOSITORY          TAG                 IMAGE ID            CREATED             SIZE
hello-world         latest              f2a91732366c        4 days ago          1.85kB
ubuntu              16.04               20c44cd7596f        8 days ago          123MB
ubuntu              latest              20c44cd7596f        8 days ago          123MB
busybox             latest              6ad733544a63        3 weeks ago         1.13MB
busybox             1.24                47bcc53f74dc        20 months ago       1.11MB
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ sudo docker stop  d10ad2bd62f7
d10ad2bd62f7
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ 
=============>
Now, I want to check the containers status using ps -a command as below:
==============>
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ sudo docker ps -a
CONTAINER ID        IMAGE               COMMAND                 CREATED             STATUS                     PORTS               NAMES
155f4b0764b1        ubuntu:16.04        "/bin/bash"             2 minutes ago       Exited (0) 2 minutes ago                       zen_volhard
cb1ff260d48e        ubuntu              "ls /usr/src"           10 hours ago        Exited (0) 10 hours ago                        wonderful_hawking
b20691fd8fb5        ubuntu              "ls /usr"               10 hours ago        Exited (0) 10 hours ago                        friendly_mirzakhani
431ba4c53028        ubuntu              "ls"                    10 hours ago        Exited (0) 10 hours ago                        affectionate_nobel
2c31684bb1f4        ubuntu              "ls -la"                10 hours ago        Exited (0) 10 hours ago                        zealous_meitner
fe2e3b449daf        ubuntu              "ls -la /home/."        10 hours ago        Exited (0) 10 hours ago                        dreamy_shirley
c44bdd05b94d        ubuntu              "ls -la home."          10 hours ago        Exited (2) 10 hours ago                        elastic_pasteur
8b8afa82859a        ubuntu              "ls -la"                10 hours ago        Exited (0) 10 hours ago                        festive_panini
2811eb37af61        ubuntu              "ls -la 604831dbce2a"   10 hours ago        Exited (2) 10 hours ago                        jolly_swartz
604831dbce2a        ubuntu:16.04        "/bin/bash"             10 hours ago        Exited (0) 10 hours ago                        vibrant_ride
718636415a7f        ubuntu:16.04        "/bin/bash"             11 hours ago        Exited (0) 10 hours ago                        reverent_noyce
53a7751d4673        ubuntu:16.04        "/bin/bash"             12 hours ago        Exited (0) 12 hours ago                        musing_chandrasekhar
32bc16b508d4        ubuntu              "bash"                  13 hours ago        Exited (0) 13 hours ago                        eager_goldberg
1dd55efde43f        hello-world         "/hello"                13 hours ago        Exited (0) 13 hours ago                        peaceful_pasteur
a744246ffb8e        hello-world         "/hello"                15 hours ago        Exited (0) 15 hours ago                        naughty_wing
1ba71598b7b8        hello-world         "/hello"                15 hours ago        Exited (0) 15 hours ago                        musing_kare
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ 
===================>
you can see the latest status of our container;
155f4b0764b1        ubuntu:16.04        "/bin/bash"             2 minutes ago       Exited (0) 2 minutes ago                       zen_volhard
It means Docker  maintains in the logs on the usage of containers also.
Now, I want to start the previously stopped container using the docker start subcommand 
by specifying the container ID as an argument, as follows:
$ sudo docker start 155f4b0764b1
===============>
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ sudo docker start 155f4b0764b1
155f4b0764b1
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ 
===============>
Let us check the images status also as below:
==================> Copied the 1st two lines only ----->
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ sudo docker ps -a |more
CONTAINER ID        IMAGE               COMMAND                 CREATED         
    STATUS                      PORTS               NAMES
155f4b0764b1        ubuntu:16.04        "/bin/bash"             10 minutes ago  
    Up About a minute                               zen_volhard
11e293722c64        ubuntu:16.04        "/bin/bash"             12 minutes ago  
    Exited (0) 12 minutes ago  
====================>
It means it shows the current status of the container id:155f4b0764b1 
We need to notice one thing here.

By default, the docker start subcommand will not attach to the container.

We can attach it to the container either using the -a option in the docker start subcommand or by explicitly using the docker attach subcommand.

Now let us try these options.

We will see attach command

$ sudo docker attach 155f4b0764b1
=================>
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ 
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ sudo docker attach 155f4b0764b1
root@155f4b0764b1:/# 
root@155f4b0764b1:/#
=================>
So the attach command brought the container into interactive mode.
Now let me exit it and try the -a option with docker start command:
==================>
root@155f4b0764b1:/home# 
root@155f4b0764b1:/home# exit
exit
===============>
with start -a option:
=============>
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ sudo docker start -a 155f4b0764b1
root@155f4b0764b1:/# 
=================>
After exit, I have tried ps command:
=====================>
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ sudo docker ps
CONTAINER ID        IMAGE               COMMAND             CREATED             STATUS              PORTS               NAMES
155f4b0764b1        ubuntu:16.04        "/bin/bash"         21 minutes ago      Up 3 minutes                            zen_volhard
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ 
======================>
From the above display you can see that its start and current status.
It means the container is active and running.
Now, I want to make another [below] container active.
1dd55efde43f        hello-world         "/hello"                13 hours ago Exited (0) 13 hours ago                        peaceful_pasteur
Let us see the ps command after these 2 containers are in active state.
I want to use the below command:
$ sudo docker start -a 1dd55efde43f
===================>
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ sudo docker start -a 1dd55efde43f

Hello from Docker!
This message shows that your installation appears to be working correctly.

To generate this message, Docker took the following steps:
 1. The Docker client contacted the Docker daemon.
 2. The Docker daemon pulled the "hello-world" image from the Docker Hub.
    (amd64)
 3. The Docker daemon created a new container from that image which runs the
    executable that produces the output you are currently reading.
 4. The Docker daemon streamed that output to the Docker client, which sent it
    to your terminal.

Let us  try something more ambitious, we can run an Ubuntu container with:
 $ docker run -it ubuntu bash

If you want to;
Share images, automate workflows, and more with a free Docker ID:
visit: https://cloud.docker.com/
For more examples and ideas, visit:
https://docs.docker.com/engine/userguide/

vskumar@ubuntu:~$ 
===================>
Please note the above container doesn't have a any os related process to 
keep running continuously. 
Just it displays the message only. Hence 
in the list it will not appear. 
Now, let me list the current processes using docker ps command:
===========>
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ sudo docker ps
CONTAINER ID        IMAGE               COMMAND             CREATED             STATUS              PORTS               NAMES
155f4b0764b1        ubuntu:16.04        "/bin/bash"         32 minutes ago      Up 14 minutes                           zen_volhard
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ 
==============>
So as on now one container is running.

The next set of container controlling subcommands are docker pause and docker unpause.

The docker pause subcommand will freeze the execution of all the processes within the container.

The docker unpause subcommand will unfreeze the execution of all the processes within the container and resume the execution from the point where it was frozen.

Let us try the below command 
$sudo docker pause 155f4b0764b1
========================>
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ 
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ sudo docker pause 155f4b0764b1
155f4b0764b1
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ sudo docker ps
CONTAINER ID        IMAGE               COMMAND             CREATED             STATUS                   PORTS               NAMES
155f4b0764b1        ubuntu:16.04        "/bin/bash"         About an hour ago   Up 30 minutes (Paused)                       zen_volhard
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ 
==========================>
You can see the current status as Paused.
Now let me try unpause command also.
$ sudo docker unpause 155f4b0764b1
You can see the total output of this container with pause and unpause statuses:
===================>
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ 
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ sudo docker pause 155f4b0764b1
155f4b0764b1
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ sudo docker ps
CONTAINER ID        IMAGE               COMMAND             CREATED             STATUS                   PORTS               NAMES
155f4b0764b1        ubuntu:16.04        "/bin/bash"         About an hour ago   Up 30 minutes (Paused)                       zen_volhard
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ ^C
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ sudo docker unpause 155f4b0764b1
155f4b0764b1
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ sudo docker ps
CONTAINER ID        IMAGE               COMMAND             CREATED             STATUS              PORTS               NAMES
155f4b0764b1        ubuntu:16.04        "/bin/bash"         About an hour ago   Up 32 minutes                           zen_volhard
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ 
======================>
Now, in this lab session finally we will use the stop command:

The container and the script running within it can be stopped using the docker stop subcommand, as shown below:

$ sudo docker stop 155f4b0764b1
=====================> 
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ sudo docker stop 155f4b0764b1
155f4b0764b1
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ sudo docker ps
CONTAINER ID        IMAGE               COMMAND             CREATED STATUS              PORTS               NAMES
=============== It shows there is no active container =============>
Now, let me try with -a and more options.
=========== Partial display is shown here upto the container ===========>
vskumar@ubuntu:~$ sudo docker ps -a |more
CONTAINER ID        IMAGE               COMMAND                 CREATED         
    STATUS                         PORTS               NAMES
f123dbd09116        ubuntu:16.04        "/bin/bash"             6 minutes ago   
    Exited (0) 5 minutes ago                           elastic_nightingale
3cfdea29ce6e        ubuntu              "bash"                  14 minutes ago  
    Exited (0) 14 minutes ago                          gallant_nobel
155f4b0764b1        ubuntu:16.04        "/bin/bash"             About an hour ag
o   Exited (0) 17 seconds ago  
================================>

So far in this lab session, we have seen the differences of different commands to operate and control the containers. I would like to break this session for now. In the next blog we will see on how to manage “Housekeeping containers“.