#227 Shell
How to get a bash shell in a docker instance
Notes
Assuming we’re running a *nix OS in docker.. how to get a shell inside the container?
I’m using the official nginx image for testing…
Shell in a New Container
If there are no instances of the image running, start a new one and execute directly to shell:
$ docker run --rm -it --entrypoint bash nginx
root@32cf098b15ab:/# uname -a
Linux 32cf098b15ab 4.19.76-linuxkit #1 SMP Tue May 26 11:42:35 UTC 2020 x86_64 GNU/Linux
exit
Shell in an Existing Container
Start a container:
$ docker run --name testing -d nginx
ac7d587931708be4092ed876c7a0804d141b2d6d2db0de08a40cded0038ae5e8
Then exec the shell addressing the instance by name:
$ docker exec -it testing /bin/bash
root@ac7d58793170:/# uname -a
Linux ac7d58793170 4.19.76-linuxkit #1 SMP Tue May 26 11:42:35 UTC 2020 x86_64 GNU/Linux
root@ac7d58793170:/# echo $NGINX_VERSION
1.23.0
If bash is on the PATH inside the container:
$ docker exec -it testing bash
root@ac7d58793170:/# uname -a
Linux ac7d58793170 4.19.76-linuxkit #1 SMP Tue May 26 11:42:35 UTC 2020 x86_64 GNU/Linux
root@ac7d58793170:/# echo $NGINX_VERSION
1.23.0
Shutdown the remove the instance:
$ docker stop testing
testing
$ docker rm testing
testing