Docker images for getting started?

[eden881]

I'm very new to Freenet. I want to try it, but I'd prefer running it in Docker rather than installing it directly on my computer (at least at the start).

I saw that you have a Docker directory with some resources, but do you have any official prebuilt Docker images that I can use?
I'm still not too familiar with Freenet and I'm not sure what's exactly required to get started.
I can build the images myself from your provided Dockerfiles (even though I'd prefer using prebuilts from you), but I can't do that without understanding what components I should build 😃

[sanity]

We don't currently. Creating a docker image is on my to-do list, the encapsulation would be very nice, but one challenge is that while we're in alpha testing it's important that peers update immediately when there is a new version - and seemed like that might be awkward.

Still, a lot of people are asking for it so I may prioritize.

[eden881]

That's understandable. Thanks for the quick reply!

When you eventually write the Docker quickstart guide, you can recommend that users use a project like Watchtower (make sure to direct them to an active fork such as this one):
https://github.com/nicholas-fedor/watchtower

This can ensure users are running the latest version of the container with minimal friction.

[kerbo7]

the encapsulation would be very nice, but one challenge is that while we're in alpha testing it's important that peers update immediately when there is a new version - and seemed like that might be awkward.

I'm not 100% sure because I never watched the process happen, but i guess with the .yml attached here #2918 (comment) the update happens instantly.

Because you let Freenet exit. That means the container exits. Then the container is restarted and installs the newest version. It exits again. Starts again and just runs the newest version.

[kerbo7]

I have Freenet running with Docker on Windows with WSL2. See attached yaml file.

The update mechanism works too. Not battle tested. But it works mostly.

At first I installed Freenet during the build process. But that turned out to be unnecessary and just causing problems. So now the image is just an empty Alpine linux.

The install & update process is pretty simple:
Whenever you start the empty Alpine container, it asks github if there's a new version.
If yes or freenet is not installed in the container, it installs freenet and exits.

With "restart:" the container is restarted, it checks again, and if the installed version is the newest on Github it just runs the Freenet that's already installed . Once Freenet realizes there is a new version available, it exits. The container exits. And it starts again.

On Windows with WSL2 NAT hole punching is currently an unsolvable problem. Because even with network_mode:host you still have a double NAT between Windows host and container.

To check NAT hole punching run ./punch-check
It's installed during build time.

On top of the .yml file is a lot of info. It's work in progress of course.

If you need .bat files for one click building, updating an running, I can post them too.

On Windows I get better results with VirtualBox. Can post a step by step install.txt if you need.

This yaml is just tested with Windows. But there should be less problems with Linux.

The Dockerfile is inside the .yml. So all you have to do is docker compose up in the directory of the .yml file.

docker-compose.yml

[iduartgomez]

do you mind checking under docker , we have a few images there but has been untouched for a while, so maybe we can update them , there may be also some issues in the backlog about docker, but we can open one and consolidate to get all this up to date

[kerbo7]

What's currently in folder freenet-node is a complex node-builder. That's not what most users need, who just want to run Freenet in Docker, not develop it.

Plus, the build system is much harder to update, because Freenet ist backed into the image, not fetched by the start script.

I suggest you create 2 Docker folders for nodes:

• freenet-node-builder
• freenet-node-runner

In "builder" is the complex image for building freenet. In "runner" is a simple yml that pulls the latest binary from github and runs it in a minimal Alpine.

For the runner, you can use my .yml or just parts of it. Whatever you like. I can easily update it, if it breaks.

Especially during alpha testing the builder is not very helpful or usable because of the frequent updates. So I'm not sure it's worth the time in this phase.

[eden881]

That looks like a great solution - thanks! I'll try it sometime soon.

[iduartgomez]

If you can open issues/PRs to update / add it would be welcome and we can discuss from there, hopefully we end up with official images .

[kerbo7]

I can't attach newest docker-compose.yml
It's gone as soon as I drop it.🤔
Did you disable attachments?

[eden881]

Nope, didn't disable anything. I can also download your .yml file from your other comment.

[kerbo7]

this is v. 1.4
you got it running?
docker-compose.yml

[kerbo7]

continued here

#3026