Docker Config Reference (docker import)

Example 1

docker import container_export.tar myimportedimage:latest

This command imports the tar archive "container_export.tar" (typically from a docker export) as a new image tagged "myimportedimage:latest", creating a flat image without layers for simple filesystem-based deployments.

Example 2

docker import --change 'CMD ["/bin/sh"]' rootfs.tar shellimage:1.0

This command imports "rootfs.tar" as "shellimage:1.0" while applying a CHANGE directive to set the default command to "/bin/sh", customizing runtime behavior for interactive shell environments.

Example 3

docker import http://example.com/rootfs.tar remoteimage:latest

This command imports a tar archive from the remote URL "http://example.com/rootfs.tar" as "remoteimage:latest", enabling image creation from online sources without local downloads.

Example 4

cat local.tar | docker import - pipedimage:dev

This command imports from standard input (piped from cat "local.tar") as "pipedimage:dev", facilitating scripted or chained operations where files are generated dynamically.

Example 5

docker import --message "Imported from backup" backup.tar restored:stable

This command imports "backup.tar" as "restored:stable" with a commit message, documenting the image's origin for version control or auditing purposes.

Example 6

docker import --change 'ENTRYPOINT ["/app/entry.sh"]' appfs.tar entryimage:1.2

This command imports "appfs.tar" as "entryimage:1.2", modifying the entrypoint to "/app/entry.sh" for application-specific startup logic.

Example 7

docker import --platform linux/arm64 armrootfs.tar armimage:latest

This command imports "armrootfs.tar" as "armimage:latest" targeting the linux/arm64 platform, ensuring compatibility for ARM-based architectures.

Example 8

docker import --change 'EXPOSE 80' webroot.tar webimage:http

This command imports "webroot.tar" as "webimage:http", adding an EXPOSE directive for port 80 to document networking intentions.

Example 9

docker import --change 'ENV APP_ENV=production' envtar.tar prodimage:env

This command imports "envtar.tar" as "prodimage:env", setting an environment variable for production configurations.

Example 10

docker import https://secure.example.com/secure.tar secureimage:latest

This command imports from a secure HTTPS URL "https://secure.example.com/secure.tar" as "secureimage:latest", supporting encrypted transfers for sensitive filesystems.

Example 11

docker import --message "Test import" --change 'LABEL version=1.0' test.tar labeled:1.0

This command imports "test.tar" as "labeled:1.0", adding a message and label for metadata, enhancing image organization.

Example 12

echo -n "minimal content" | docker import - minimalimage:test

This command imports minimal content from stdin as "minimalimage:test", demonstrating creation of tiny images for testing.

Example 13

docker import --change 'USER appuser' userfs.tar nonroot:secure

This command imports "userfs.tar" as "nonroot:secure", changing the default user to "appuser" for security hardening.

Example 14

docker import --platform linux/amd64 amdrootfs.tar amdimage:latest

This command imports "amdrootfs.tar" as "amdimage:latest" for linux/amd64, targeting x86 architectures.

Example 15

docker import --change 'VOLUME /data' datatar.tar volimage:persistent

This command imports "datatar.tar" as "volimage:persistent", declaring a volume at "/data" for data persistence.

Example 16

docker import http://example.com/compressed.tar.gz | gunzip | docker import - decompressed:latest

This command chains imports from a compressed remote tar, decompressing inline to create "decompressed:latest".

Example 17

docker import --change 'WORKDIR /app' worktar.tar appdir:setup

This command imports "worktar.tar" as "appdir:setup", setting the working directory to "/app" for path consistency.

Example 18

docker import --message "Imported from legacy system" legacy.tar legacyimage:migrated

This command imports "legacy.tar" as "legacyimage:migrated" with a message, documenting migrations from older systems.

Example 19

docker import --platform windows/amd64 winrootfs.tar winimage:windows

This command imports "winrootfs.tar" as "winimage:windows" for Windows AMD64, supporting Windows containers.

Example 20

docker import --change 'CMD ["node", "server.js"]' nodetar.tar nodeapp:run

This command imports "nodetar.tar" as "nodeapp:run", setting a Node.js command for application execution.

Example 21

curl http://example.com/tarfile.tar | docker import - curledimage:latest

This command imports directly from a curl-fetched remote tar as "curledimage:latest", for network-based creations.

Example 22

docker import --change 'LABEL maintainer="admin@example.com"' maint.tar maintained:info

This command imports "maint.tar" as "maintained:info", adding a maintainer label for ownership documentation.

Example 23

docker import --platform linux/riscv64 riscvtar.tar riscvimage:experimental

This command imports "riscvtar.tar" as "riscvimage:experimental" for RISC-V architecture, targeting emerging hardware.

Example 24

docker import --message "Security hardened" --change 'USER nobody' secure.tar hardened:secure

This command imports "secure.tar" as "hardened:secure", with a message and user change for security enhancements.

Example 25

docker import ftp://example.com/ftp.tar ftpimage:imported

This command imports from an FTP URL "ftp://example.com/ftp.tar" as "ftpimage:imported", supporting legacy protocols if enabled.

Example 26

docker import --change 'EXPOSE 443' secureweb.tar httpsimage:secure

This command imports "secureweb.tar" as "httpsimage:secure", exposing port 443 for secure web services.

Example 27

docker import --platform linux/s390x s390tar.tar mainframeimage:legacy

This command imports "s390tar.tar" as "mainframeimage:legacy" for IBM zSystems architecture.

Example 28

docker import --change 'ENV DEBUG=true' debugtar.tar debugmode:enabled

This command imports "debugtar.tar" as "debugmode:enabled", setting a debug environment variable.

Example 29

docker import --message "From compressed archive" | gunzip < compressed.tar.gz | docker import - decompressed:msg

This command chains decompression and import with a message for "decompressed:msg".

Example 30

docker import --change 'VOLUME /logs' logtar.tar logged:persistent

This command imports "logtar.tar" as "logged:persistent", declaring a log volume for persistence.