Using Docker containers to test Perl installations on multiple Linux versions
A Lifting Experience at the Dock
If you want to distribute your programs across multiple platforms, you need to prepare them to run in foreign environments from the start. Linux container technology and the resource-conserving Docker project let you test your own Perl modules on several Linux distributions in one fell swoop.
Virtualization as a panacea? No way! Instead of abstracting the complete hardware and operating system, the Docker project builds on support for Linux containers (LXC) [1] in newer Linux kernels and isolates environments at the process and filesystem level. Savings in terms of memory consumption and significant performance gains are good reasons for using containers instead of classical virtualization. Each server effortlessly running multiples of mutually isolated applications can open up completely new possibilities at the data center.
As in true virtualization, insulated containers decouple their components. For example, one big advantage: If two applications use the same library, but different versions, it is not an impediment, because each container automatically comes with everything it needs.
The Docker project [2] is based on the LXC features of newer Linux kernels and boots up a daemon that manages all Docker containers [3]. It runs on the host system and on VMs. In other words, if you have an older system that does not yet have Docker support in the kernel, you can simply produce, say, an Ubuntu 13 image with Vagrant [4] and install Docker on it [5].
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Fedora Continues 32-Bit Support
In a move that should come as a relief to some portions of the Linux community, Fedora will continue supporting 32-bit architecture.
-
Linux Kernel 6.17 Drops bcachefs
After a clash over some late fixes and disagreements between bcachefs's lead developer and Linus Torvalds, bachefs is out.
-
ONLYOFFICE v9 Embraces AI
Like nearly all office suites on the market (except LibreOffice), ONLYOFFICE has decided to go the AI route.
-
Two Local Privilege Escalation Flaws Discovered in Linux
Qualys researchers have discovered two local privilege escalation vulnerabilities that allow hackers to gain root privileges on major Linux distributions.
-
New TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro Powered by AMD Ryzen AI 300
The TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen10 offers serious power that is ready for your business, development, or entertainment needs.
-
Danish Ministry of Digital Affairs Transitions to Linux
Another major organization has decided to kick Microsoft Windows and Office to the curb in favor of Linux.
-
Linux Mint 20 Reaches EOL
With Linux Mint 20 at its end of life, the time has arrived to upgrade to Linux Mint 22.
-
TuxCare Announces Support for AlmaLinux 9.2
Thanks to TuxCare, AlmaLinux 9.2 (and soon version 9.6) now enjoys years of ongoing patching and compliance.
-
Go-Based Botnet Attacking IoT Devices
Using an SSH credential brute-force attack, the Go-based PumaBot is exploiting IoT devices everywhere.
-
Plasma 6.5 Promises Better Memory Optimization
With the stable Plasma 6.4 on the horizon, KDE has a few new tricks up its sleeve for Plasma 6.5.