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How to Fix the “Read-Only File System” Error in Docker

Anastasios Antoniadis

“Discover how to resolve the ‘Read-Only File System’ error in Docker with our comprehensive guide. Learn to adjust volume settings, correct host permissions, reconfigure the Docker daemon, and address file system issues to ensure smooth container operations.

Docker (1)

Encountering a “Read-Only File System” error in Docker can be frustrating. This issue prevents containers from writing to specific directories or files, which can disrupt application functionality and data persistence. Typically, this error arises due to Docker container or volume configuration issues, underlying host file system permissions, or Docker daemon settings. This article explores practical solutions to resolve this error, ensuring your Docker containers run smoothly with the necessary write access.

Understanding the Error

The “Read-Only File System” error indicates that a Docker container is attempting to write to a file system or directory mounted as read-only. This can happen for several reasons:

  • The Docker volume or bind mount is explicitly set to read-only mode.
  • File system permissions on the host prevent writing.
  • The Docker daemon is configured with restrictive defaults.

Solution 1: Adjust Volume or Bind Mount Settings

Docker allows volumes and bind mounts to be attached to containers, specifying whether they are read-only or read-write. To fix the error, ensure your mount is configured as read-write.

For Docker Run

If you’re using the docker run command to start your container, remove the :ro suffix from your volume or bind mount parameter to enable read-write access:

docker run -v /host/path:/container/path:rw my_image

For Docker Compose

In Docker Compose, ensure the volume or bind mount is not set to read_only: true. If it is, either remove the read_only line or set it to false:

volumes:
  - type: bind
    source: /host/path
    target: /container/path
    read_only: false

Solution 2: Correct Host File System Permissions

The container might be trying to write to a host directory with insufficient permissions. Ensure the directory on the host has the correct permissions for the user inside the container.

Identify Container User: Determine which user the container runs as. You can find this information in the Dockerfile (look for the USER instruction) or by inspecting the running container:

docker exec my_container id

Adjust Host Permissions: Modify the permissions of the host directory to allow write access for the container’s user. This might involve changing the ownership or permissions of the directory:

sudo chown -R user:group /host/path
sudo chmod -R 775 /host/path

Replace user:group with the appropriate user and group IDs that the container runs as, and /host/path with the path to your host directory.

Solution 3: Reconfigure Docker Daemon (if applicable)

Sometimes, the Docker daemon might be configured to mount file systems as read-only. Check the Docker daemon configuration (/etc/docker/daemon.json) for any global settings that might enforce read-only mounts and adjust as necessary.

Solution 4: File System Corruption or Issues

A “Read-Only File System” error can also indicate underlying file system issues on the host, such as corruption. In this case, running file system checks and repairs might be necessary. For Linux systems, tools like fsck can be used to check and repair file system errors.

Conclusion

The “Read-Only File System” error in Docker usually stems from misconfigured volume mounts, insufficient host directory permissions, or Docker daemon settings. By carefully reviewing and adjusting these configurations, you can resolve the error and ensure your containers have the necessary write access to function correctly. Always back up important data before making significant changes to file system permissions or configurations to avoid data loss.

Anastasios Antoniadis
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