How to Migrate from Boot2Docker to Docker Toolbox

August 17, 2015 by Ajitesh Kumar · Leave a comment
This article represents quick information on how to migrate existing Boot2Docker containers and images to newly launched Docker Toolbox, that was officially announced on this Docker’s blog. Please feel free to comment/suggest if I missed to mention one or more important points. Also, sorry for the typos.

Following are the key points described later in this article:

  • What is Docker Toolbox?
  • Migration to Docker Toolbox
What is Docker Toolbox?

With the development community talking about issues related with getting up and started with Dockers and need for one-click install of Docker, Docker finally came out with something called as Docker Toolbox. This comes with following:

  • Docker client
  • Docker kitematic
  • Docker Machine
  • Virtualbox
  • Docker Composer (Mac only)

Docker toolbox uses Machine and VirtualBox to create an Engine in a VM to run your containers. On top of that VM, one can then use the Docker client, Compose and Kitematic to run containers.

Migration to Docker Toolbox

Following are instructions on how to migrate Boot2Docker-vm containers and images to new Docker Toolbox docker machine.

Migration to Docker Toolbox: If you already have been working with boot2docker-vm virtual machine and wants to migrate in the most easy manner, go ahead and download the docker toolbox from this page, Docker Toolbox. Once downloaded, double-click on the installer and it would start installing docker toolbox. As part of installation, it would ask whether you want to migrate existing boot2docker-vm containers and images to this new docker machine. Say yes, and you are good to go.
Make sure that existing boot2docker-vm is powered off. I tried to install Docker-Toolbox when existing boot2docker-vm was on and both installation got corrupted.

Alternatively, just do the installation of Docker-Toolbox with boot2docker-vm powered off and, once installation is completed, execute the following command from Docker CLI terminal:

docker-machine create -d virtualbox --virtualbox-import-boot2docker-vm boot2docker-vm dev
Ajitesh Kumar
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Ajitesh Kumar

I have been recently working in the area of Data analytics including Data Science and Machine Learning / Deep Learning. I am also passionate about different technologies including programming languages such as Java/JEE, Javascript, Python, R, Julia, etc, and technologies such as Blockchain, mobile computing, cloud-native technologies, application security, cloud computing platforms, big data, etc. I would love to connect with you on Linkedin. Check out my latest book titled as First Principles Thinking: Building winning products using first principles thinking.
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