How to use Docker plugins to extend standard functionality and work with third-party storages?

Question

Accepted Answer

Docker plugins are independent modules that allow extending the basic capabilities of the Docker daemon. With their help, third-party network solutions, monitoring systems, and distributed file storage can be integrated directly into the containerization ecosystem.

The plugin architecture is built on extensibility principles, making it possible for developers to create custom drivers for working with specific hardware or cloud services without changing the source code of Docker itself. Plugins can be supplied as regular containers or managed through a system manager.

The most popular are plugins for working with network drivers like Calico or Weave, as well as volume plugins that allow connecting remote data storages to containers via NFS, AWS EBS, or Google Persistent Disk protocols.

1. Install the required plugin using the docker plugin install command, specifying the source and repository name.
2. Check the list of installed and active plugins in the system using the docker plugin ls command.
3. Create a volume or network by explicitly specifying the installed driver via the --driver parameter when creating the object.
4. Run the container using the created resource so that the application gets transparent access to external storage or a specialized network.

Managing plugins requires careful attention to their versions and compatibility with the version of the installed Docker daemon. System updates may require updating the corresponding plugins to avoid infrastructure failures.

How to use Docker plugins to extend standard functionality and work with third-party storages?

More questions in this topic

Related questions from other topics