Speed Up Docker Pulls: Configure Registry Mirrors & Manage Containers

1. Configure Registry Mirrors

Create or edit /etc/docker/daemon.json and add a registry-mirrors array with mirror URLs, for example:

{
    "registry-mirrors": [
        "https://dockerproxy.com",
        "https://docker.chenby.cn",
        "https://dockerpull.com",
        "https://dockerhub.jobcher.com",
        "https://docker.mirrors.ustc.edu.cn",
        "https://hub.uuuadc.top",
        "https://mirror.baidubce.com",
        "https://mirror.ccs.tencentyun.com",
        "https://docker.m.daocloud.io",
        "https://docker.nju.edu.cn",
        "https://docker.mirrors.ustc.edu.cn",
        "https://hus-mirror.c.163.com",
        "https://dockerhub.azk8s.cn",
        "https://registry.cn-hangzhou.aliyuncs.com"
    ]
}

Save the file, then reload the daemon and restart Docker:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl restart docker

Verify the configuration with docker info and check that the Registry Mirrors section lists the added URLs.

2. Pull an Image

Example pulling the Nginx image:

docker pull nginx

3. First Run of the Image

docker run -d -p 8090:80 --name nginx-container nginx:latest

Sample commands to view images and containers:

[root@localhost ~]# docker images
REPOSITORY   TAG       IMAGE ID       CREATED       SIZE
nginx        latest    5ef79149e0ec   10 days ago   188MB

[root@localhost ~]# docker ps -a
CONTAINER ID   IMAGE          COMMAND               CREATED          STATUS          PORTS                     NAMES
96a5d9d25052   nginx:latest   "/docker-entrypoint.…"   19 seconds ago   Up 18 seconds   0.0.0.0:8090->80/tcp   nginx-container

Parameter explanations:

-d runs the container in detached mode.

-p 8090:80 maps host port 8090 to container port 80.

--name assigns a name to the container.

nginx:latest specifies the image to use.

-it combines interactive and TTY flags.

-v mounts a volume (optional).

--volumes-from mounts volumes from another container.

4. View Logs

docker logs 96a5d9d25052

5. Inspect Command

The docker inspect command shows detailed information about Docker objects. docker inspect [OPTIONS] NAME|ID [NAME|ID...] Example to inspect a container:

docker inspect nginx-container

6. Start an Existing Container

docker start <container_id_or_name>
docker restart <container_id_or_name>

7. List Containers

docker ps          # running containers
docker ps -a       # all containers

8. Stop a Container

docker stop <container_id_or_name>

9. Enter a Container

docker exec -it <container_id_or_name> /bin/bash

Exiting the shell does not stop the container.

10. View Container Processes

docker top <container_name>

11. Remove a Container

docker stop <container_id_or_name>
# then
docker rm <container_id_or_name>
# remove all stopped containers
docker rm $(docker ps -aq)

12. List Images

docker images

13. Start All Containers

docker start $(docker ps -a -q)

14. Modify Files Inside a Container

Method 1: Use an editor inside the container

docker exec -it <container_id_or_name> bash
# then use vi, nano, etc., e.g.:
vi /path/to/file

Method 2: Copy files from/to the host

# Copy from container to host
docker cp <container_id_or_name>:/path/to/file /host/path
# Edit the file on the host, then copy back
docker cp /host/path/file <container_id_or_name>:/path/to/file

15. Create a Container with a Specific IP

Docker’s default bridge network assigns IPs automatically. To use fixed IPs, create a custom bridge network:

docker network create --driver bridge --subnet=172.19.0.0/16 --gateway=172.19.0.1 mynet

Run a container on this network with a chosen IP:

docker run -it --name nginx-second --network=mynet --ip 172.19.0.6 nginx

Verify the IP:

docker inspect <container_id> | grep "IPAddress"

16. View Network Information

docker network ls

17. Inspect a Network

docker network inspect mynet

18. View Volume Information

docker inspect -f {{.Volumes}} <container_name>