X Server running in Docker - can be used on a headless (no GUI) Linux installation like Ubuntu server connected to a display. Great for building media-centers (like Kodi) plugged into your home TV or kiosk-like appliances (run Chrome with whatever content you like).
Requires --privileged flag when running a container.
docker build . -t docker-x-server:latest
You can start container either in privileged mode:
docker run --name docker-x-server --privileged docker-x-server:latest
Or my granting SYS_TTY_CONFIG capability and mapping a few video related devices:
docker run --name docker-x-server --device=/dev/input --device=/dev/console --device=/dev/dri --device=/dev/fb0 --device=/dev/tty --device=/dev/tty1 --device=/dev/vga_arbiter --device=/dev/snd --device=/dev/psaux --cap-add=SYS_TTY_CONFIG docker-x-server:latest
If you pass an argument, it would be executed using xinit which allows you to test it quickly by say running xeyes
docker run --name docker-x-server --device=/dev/input --device=/dev/console --device=/dev/dri --device=/dev/fb0 --device=/dev/tty --device=/dev/tty1 --device=/dev/vga_arbiter --device=/dev/snd --device=/dev/psaux --cap-add=SYS_TTY_CONFIG docker-x-server:latest /usr/bin/xeyes
If you need input (like keyboard or mouse) you also need to bind /run/udev/data folder to your container:
docker run --name docker-x-server --device=/dev/input --device=/dev/console --device=/dev/dri --device=/dev/fb0 --device=/dev/tty --device=/dev/tty1 --device=/dev/vga_arbiter --device=/dev/snd --device=/dev/psaux --cap-add=SYS_TTY_CONFIG -v /run/udev/data:/run/udev/data docker-x-server:latest
If on whatever reason you do not want to use udev for input methods, find the event number for your keyboard (like /dev/input/event4), uncomment the relevant section in Dockerfile, update the Device Option for keyboard accordingly and rebuild the image.
Easiest way to use image, is to extend it. For example if you want to run jellyfin-mpv-shim in Docker, your Dockerfile might look like this:
FROM docker-x-server:latest
RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y python3-pip libmpv1 libavformat-dev
RUN pip3 install --upgrade jellyfin-mpv-shim
RUN printf "\
OUTPUT=\`xrandr -display :0 -q | sed '/ connected/!d;s/ .*//;q'\`\n\
xrandr -display :0 --output \$OUTPUT --set \"Broadcast RGB\" \"Full\"\n\
xsetroot #000000\n\
xset s off -dpms\n\
/usr/local/bin/jellyfin-mpv-shim\n\
" > /usr/local/bin/jellyfin-mpv-shim-wrapper
RUN chmod +x /usr/local/bin/jellyfin-mpv-shim-wrapper
CMD /usr/bin/xinit /usr/local/bin/jellyfin-mpv-shim-wrapper -- :0 -nolisten tcp vt1
Another option is to run the actual application in separate container and share the X11 socket between them:
docker volume create --name xsocket
docker run --name docker-x-server --device=/dev/input --device=/dev/console --device=/dev/dri --device=/dev/fb0 --device=/dev/tty --device=/dev/tty1 --device=/dev/vga_arbiter --device=/dev/snd --device=/dev/psaux --cap-add=SYS_TTY_CONFIG -v xsocket:/tmp/.X11-unix -v /run/udev/data:/run/udev/data -d docker-x-server:latest
docker run --rm -it -e DISPLAY=:0 -v xsocket:/tmp/.X11-unix:ro stefanscherer/xeyes
