Docker: Do not use Docker bind mounts

This documentation is part of the Volumes guide. View the full guide here: How to persist your containers data with Docker volumes.

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Stackhero provides a ready-to-use Docker cloud CaaS (Containers as a Service) platform, designed for fast and reliable container deployments:

• Deploy to production with a single docker-compose up. There is no extra setup: just start your containers.
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Do not use bind mounts on Stackhero. Always opt for Docker volumes to prevent data loss.

Bind mounts involve linking a directory from the Stackhero host VM to a container. However, if you rely on bind mounts, updating your Stackhero for Docker instance will result in the loss of all data stored this way.

Bind mounts are commonly specified in the docker run command with syntax like -v /myDirectory:/mnt (note the leading /). In Docker Compose files, they appear as volumes: /myDirectory:/mnt. Ban these configurations or your will loose your data.

Instead, use Docker volumes, which are managed by Docker and do not reference absolute paths.

To summarize:

Incorrect approach:

docker run -it -v /myDirectory:/mnt alpine

Correct approach:

docker volume create myVolume
docker run -it -v myVolume:/mnt alpine

When working with Docker Compose files:

Incorrect configuration:

services:
  myService:
    image: alpine
    volumes:
      - /myDirectory:/mnt

Correct configuration:

services:
  myService:
    image: alpine
    volumes:
      - myVolume:/mnt

volumes:
  myVolume:
    name: myVolume