Docker Registry

Important
This page contains information about hosting your own registry using the open source Docker Registryopen_in_new. For information about Docker Hub, which offers a hosted registry with additional features such as teams, organizations, web hooks, automated builds, etc, see Docker Hub.

What it is

The Registry is a stateless, highly scalable server side application that stores and lets you distribute Docker images. The Registry is open-source, under the permissive Apache licenseopen_in_new. You can find the source code on GitHubopen_in_new.

Why use it

You should use the Registry if you want to:

Tightly control where your images are being stored
Fully own your images distribution pipeline
Integrate image storage and distribution tightly into your in-house development workflow

Alternatives

If you're looking for a zero maintenance, ready-to-go solution, Docker Hubopen_in_new, provides a free-to-use, hosted Registry, plus additional features (organization accounts, Automated builds, and more).

Requirements

The Registry is compatible with Docker engine version 1.6.0 or later.

Basic commands

Start your registry:

$ docker run -d -p 5000:5000 --name registry registry:2

Pull (or build) an image from the hub:

$ docker pull ubuntu

Tag the image so that it points to your registry:

$ docker image tag ubuntu localhost:5000/myfirstimage

Push it:

$ docker push localhost:5000/myfirstimage

Pull it back:

$ docker pull localhost:5000/myfirstimage

Now stop your registry and remove all data:

$ docker container stop registry && docker container rm -v registry

Read the detailed introduction about the registry or jump directly to deployment instructions.