Using Docker Machine to provision a VM running Docker on Azure

Docker Machine facilitates the creation and management of virtual hosts running Docker engine https://docs.docker.com/machine/overview/ . This could be a host running within a VM on your local machine, via technologies such as Hyper-V or in a public cloud such as Microsoft Azure. Docker Machine uses drivers to enable deployment to different platforms

During this post we will provision a VM running Docker on Microsoft Azure and deploying containers to the VM. We will use the Azure driver for Docker Machine which is documented here https://docs.docker.com/machine/drivers/azure/ .

Docker Machine facilitates the creation and management of hosts running Docker engine https://docs.docker.com/machine/overview/ . This could be a host running within a VM on your local machine, via technologies such as Hyper-V or in a public cloud such as Microsoft Azure. Docker Machine uses drivers to enable deployment to different platforms.

During this post we will provision a VM running Docker on Microsoft Azure using the Azure driver for Docker Machine which is documented here: https://docs.docker.com/machine/drivers/azure/ .

The PowerShell in this post are all included in the file DockerMachineSteps.ps1 to reduce the need to copy/paste commands.

NOTE: The following process uses PowerShell which is currently in preview on Linux and Mac. I have tested the steps on Ubuntu 16.04 but as cross platform PowerShell support . The Azure CLI can be used as an alternative to PowerShell on none Windows platforms.

Install Prerequisites

PowerShell

If you haven't already got PowerShell installed on your system (potentially a you are using a none Windows OS) follow the instructions applicable for your operating system: https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell

Azure PowerShell Module

1. Open a PowerShell prompt by typing powershell at a command prompt/terminal:

    powershell
   

2. Run the command:

    Install-Module AzureRM -Force
   

NOTE: If you have problems getting the above commands to work and are using a Linux/Mac OS please check out the following article:
https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/jessicadeen/azure/getting-started-with-powershell-core-and-azurerm-modules-on-ubuntu-and-os-x/

Docker

Docker for Windows/Mac

Includes Docker CLI Client, Docker Engine, Docker Compose and Docker Machine:

• Windows: https://docs.docker.com/machine/install-machine/
• Mac: https://docs.docker.com/docker-for-mac/

Linux:

Requires individual installation of Docker components

• Docker Engine: https://docs.docker.com/engine/installation/
• Docker Machine: https://docs.docker.com/machine/install-machine/

Visual Studio Code

• https://code.visualstudio.com/

Retrieve your Azure Subscription ID

1. Log in to Azure:

    Login-AzureRmAccount
   

2. Retrieve your subscription ID:

   • If you only have one Azure subscription:

     $SubscriptionId = (Get-AzureRmSubscription).SubscriptionId
     

   • If you have multiple Azure subscriptions

     1. View list of subscriptions find the name of the subscription you wish to use:

        Get-AzureRmSubscription
        

     2. Replace with the name of the subscription:

        $SubscriptionId= (Get-AzureRmSubscription-SubscriptionName '<your_subscription_name>').SubscriptionId
        

Create a virtual machine on Azure running Docker Engine

1. To configure variables required to provision the VM run the following lines with your preferred values. A list of current Microsoft Azure regions can eb found here: https://azure.microsoft.com/regions/

    $DockerMachineVMName = '<vm_name>'
   
    $Region = '<azure_region>'
   
    $ResourceGroup = '<resource_group_name>'
   

1. To create the VM, run the following command. The parameters used and additional parameters are documented here: https://docs.docker.com/machine/drivers/azure/ .

    docker-machine create --driver azure `
    --azure-subscription-id $SubscriptionId `
    --azure-location $Region `
    --azure-resource-group  $ResourceGroup `
    --azure-image "canonical:UbuntuServer:16.04.0-LTS:latest"  `
     $DockerMachineVMName
   

   Please follow any instructions output by the command that may be required to authenticate with Azure. Wait while the virtual machine is provisioned. This may take 5 minutes or more.

Connect to the VM

1. Run the following command to view the details required to connect Docker Machine to the VM:

    docker-machine env $DockerMachineVMName
   

2. To connect Docker machine to the new VM:

    docker-machine env $DockerMachineVMName | Invoke-Expression
   

3. Verify connected to Docker Engine on the VM:

    docker info
   

   Congratulations you are now connected to your new Docker VM!