I run a small server with Proxmox, and I’m wondering what are your opinions on running Docker in separate LXC containers vs. running a specific VM for all Docker containers?

I started with LXC containers because I was more familiar with installing services the classic Linux way. I later added a VM specifically for running Docker containers. I’m thinking if I should continue this strategy and just add some more resources to the docker VM.

On one hand, backups seem to be easier with individual LXCs (I’ve had situations where I tried to update a Docker container but the new container broke the existing configuration and found it easiest just to restore the entire VM from backup). On the otherhand, it seems like more overhead to install Docker in each individual LXC.

  • bizdelnick@lemmy.mlEnglish
    71·
    4 days ago

    What’s the purpose of running container in a container? Why not install docker on your host machine?

    • darkknight@discuss.onlineEnglish
      1·
      2 hours ago

      You want to to keep modification of the host to a minimum in virtualization. It makes troubleshooting so much easier.

    • ddh@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
      71·
      4 days ago

      If you do that, Docker is stuck on that host. If it’s in an LXC it can move to another host. Plus, backing up and snapshotting are easier IMO.

      • bizdelnick@lemmy.mlEnglish
        4·
        3 days ago

        Snapshotting in docker is as easy as docker commit. After that you can back it up with docker save. Then move to another host, but not without downtime.

        However normally you need to backup/move only volumes attached to containers. If that’s not the way how you like to organize your services, you likely don’t need docker.

    • mr_jaaay@lemmy.mlOPEnglish
      1·
      3 days ago

      Honestly, I never really thought of installing Docker directly on Proxmox. I guess that might be a simpler solution, to run Dockers directly, but I kind of like to keep the hypervisor more stripped down.