Docker Toolbox Replaces Boot2Docker in Docker 1.8

With the release of Docker 1.8, Docker has replaced Boot2Docker with Docker Toolbox. Docker Toolbox provides an ideal platform environment to learn Docker without having to manually install and configure a virtual machine and Docker on your desktop. In addition, it provides developers with a local sandbox for developing and testing Docker containers. With this release, Docker has added tools such as Compose and Kitematic, so you don’t need to install them separately. In Docker Toolbox, Compose is only available for Mac OS X and is used to define and run multiple containers. Kitematic is a graphical user interface (GUI) for Docker and provides an interface into Docker Hub for quick access to images that can be easily deployed into your Docker Toolbox.

The installation is fairly uneventful, go to the Docker downloads page and select the installer for your desktop (Mac OS X or Windows). For the purpose of this example, I will be referring to installing it on Mac OS X. Once you follow the GUI installation screens, you should see an icon on your Launchpad labelled Docker Quickstart Terminal. Click the Docker Quickstart Terminal icon to start Docker on your Mac. The first time you run the Docker QuickStart Terminal, you’ll see a terminal window open and lots of text scrolling. What’s happening during this startup is, Docker is using VirtualBox to create a running virtual machine on your Mac with Docker preconfigured.

Test out your installation with the Hello World image.

$ docker run hello-world

Since the image doesn’t exist locally, Docker will download the image and start the container. If successful, you should see a message “Hello from Docker. This message shows that your installation appears to be working correctly.”.

Getting started with Docker couldn’t be any easier. Welcome to the container revolution!

James Monek

James Monek is a Technology Manager and Solutions Architect at Unisys Corp where he leads agile teams to deploy leading edge solutions. James has more than 20 years of experience in IT, focusing on team leadership, cloud computing, containers, Agile Methodology, continuous integration services and solutions architecture. James earned a BS degree from University of Dayton and an MBA from Saint Joseph's University. James is passionate about building successful teams, cloud computing, automation and solutions architecture, you can reach out to him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

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