[chef] RE: Re: Docker_container dependency hell


Chronological Thread 
  • From: Kevin Keane Subscription < >
  • To: < >
  • Subject: [chef] RE: Re: Docker_container dependency hell
  • Date: Mon, 7 Sep 2015 15:07:34 -0700

Title: RE: [chef] Re: Docker_container dependency hell

I think this gist is pretty much what I am doing right now, and it actually illustrates the problem:

The docker_images are built twice, first with the build_if_missing action, and then with the subscribes action. In the gist, the this will happen in the correct sequence, but if the actions are spread over several cookbooks, that can't be guaranteed, and the build_if_missing action may actually fire before the templates do.

The same problem exists with the docker container: the run action will fire, and then subscribes will stop and remove the just-created container, before re-creating it.

Also, the docker_container action run will fire on every chef run. Shouldn't it at least be run_if_missing?


Agreed in principle on spreading over multiple cookbooks, but that's not always realistic. For instance, In my actual scenario, I have a database container, a Web server container, a PHP FPM container, and one container (data only) for each hosted Web site. The cookbook for the hosted Web sites shouldn't have to be involved with the database container.


Kevin Keane

The NetTech

760-721-8339

http://www.4nettech.com

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-----Original message-----
From: Sean OMeara < >
Sent: Monday 7th September 2015 14:13
To:
Subject: [chef] Re: Docker_container dependency hell

I believe this gist is what you're looking for:


A few things.. 

1) you probably want :run instead of :run_if_missing if you're launching a long running service. It's safe across multiple runs and will repair the container in the event of a crash or out-of-band administrative actions.

2) Remember, :delayed notify/subscribes are queued until after the end of the chef-client converge.

3) Avoid spreading resources with notify/subscribe relationships across multiple cookbooks. It creates a semantic dependency relationship between them that's extremely difficult to reason about and test. The same recipe is best.

-s

On Mon, Sep 7, 2015 at 12:10 AM, Kevin Keane Subscription < " target="_blank" title="This external link will open in a new window"> > wrote:

I have two docker containers. Container 1 links to container 2 (target). Consequently, container2 needs to be created and started before container1.

What I am trying to accomplish is this:

- if the containers do not exist, they will be run in the correct sequence, even if the images already exist.

- If an image for container1 is updated, container 1 is redeployed.

- If an image for container2 is updated, containers2 is redeployed, and then container1 is redeployed.


Here is what I am currently doing (simplified for readability)

docker_image image1 do

   action :nothing

   # built only based on notifications

end

docker_container container2 do

  action :run_if_missing

  subscribe :redeploy, "docker_image[image2]"

end

And in another cookbook:

docker_image image2 do

  action :nothing

  # built only based on notifications

end

docker_container container1 do

  action :run_if_missing

  subscribe :redeploy, "docker_image[image1]

  subscribe :redeploy, "docker_container[container2]

end


Problems with this approach:

- The containers are often built twice, first by the run_if_missing action, and then again by the redeploy action

- The run_if_missing action does not observe dependencies, so container1's run_if_missing action is actually invoked before container2 even exists, causing a build failure.

Obviously, I could circumvent this by changing the default action to :nothing, but then the containers aren't built at all if they are missing.

Also, using :immediate for the subscriptions is not an option (because then the redeploy action may get invoked too early and multiple times, and various other problems).

What is the best way to resolve this?


Kevin Keane

The NetTech

http://www.4nettech.com

Our values: Privacy, Liberty, Justice

See https://www.4nettech.com/corp/the-nettech-values.html






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