Dockerfile

Build a container with this Dockerfile to create a nice desktop with sudo privileges. It is based on the image consol/ubuntu-xfce-vnc. Centos and IceWM are also supported. See the consol docker hub.

Docker group:

• First, ensure you are in the group docker by checking id -Gn.
• To add yourself to the group: sudo usermod -a -G docker ${USER} (you will need to log out and log back in to activate the new membership).

Volume:

• Use a new docker volume: docker volume create vol-${USER} && export VOLUME="vol-${USER}"
• Use your home directory: export VOLUME="/home/${USER}"

Build container:

• Get your UID, using id -u and GID, using id -g
• Edit the Dockerfile and put in your username, UID, and GID.
• Add packages if you want. This file downloads clion and installs it in /opt
• Build the container $ docker build -t vnc-${USER} -f Dockerfile ./

Run your container:

• First, find a number N that is not used for a vnc server.

• Start the server with a docker volume

  docker run --cap-add sys_ptrace -p 590<N>:5901 --name vnc-${USER} --mount source=${VOLUME},target=/home/${USER} -e VNC_PW=<your password> -e VNC_RESOLUTION=1280x1024 vnc-${USER}

• ... or alternatively with a disk partition: docker run --cap-add sys_ptrace -p 590<N>:5901 --name vnc-${USER} -v${VOLUME}:/home/${USER} -e VNC_PW=<your password> -e VNC_RESOLUTION=1280x1024 vnc-${USER}

• Connect using VNC client to port 590<N> with password <your password>

• Note that you are a sudo user so you can add packages, etc.

• But if you find yourself adding lots of packages, then maybe you want to put them into the Dockerfile

Check on things:

• To see if your container is running: docker ps -a | grep $USER
• If you need to kill your container (say, because you really should have used a docker volume): docker stop vnc-${USER} && docker rm vnc-${USER} This is preferred to just hitting ctrl-c because it will recycle the vnc port you are using.