Docker Cloud
What is it?
Docker Cloud is a proxy for the Docker API which automatically creates and destroys cloud virtual machines to run your docker containers.
Why would I want to do that?
If you are running Docker on OS X or Windows, there is no longer any need to install a virtualization layer like vagrant on your machine. You can simply run it in the cloud. Additionally, if you want to easily turn up and down containers into a cloud workspace that lasts longer than your laptop, this is also straightforward.
What clouds does it work on?
For now only Google Compute Engine, but the code is factored in such a way to make it easy to add other cloud providers.
Sounds great! How do I use it?
I'm glad you asked.
Getting the source
git clone https://github.com/brendandburns/docker-cloud.git
Building
go get github.com/brendandburns/docker-cloud
Running the proxy
There are different instructions for different cloud providers.
Google Compute Engine
If you don't already have a Google Cloud Project, you can get one on the Google Cloud Console
Create a new Client ID for Installed Application in the APIs/credentials section.
Assuming $GOPATH/bin is in your $PATH:
docker-cloud -project <your-google-cloud-project-here> -id <your-credentials-client-id> -secret <your-credentials-secret>
The first time you run the proxy, you will receive a URL and be prompted to visit it to obtain an authorization code. Once you do this, run the proxy again:
docker-cloud -project <your-google-cloud-project-here> -code <auth-code-here>
The code will be cached, and you should never have to do go through that step again and can simple call:
docker-cloud -project <your-google-cloud-project-here>
Connecting docker to the proxy
Use the -H flag on your docker client to connect to the proxy:
docker -H tcp://localhost:8080 run ehazlett/tomcat7