Pushing a Docker Image to Azure Container Registries

Introduction

In this tutorial, you will learn how to push a Docker image to Azure Container Registry (ACR). This process is essential for managing and deploying container images in a secure and scalable manner in Azure. Follow these steps to successfully upload your Docker images to ACR.

Step 1: Create an Azure Container Registry

1. Go to the Azure portal.
2. Search for "Container Registries" in the search bar.
3. Click on "Create" to start a new registry.
4. Fill in the following details:
   • Registry name: Choose a unique name (e.g., acr-december-2021).
   • Region: Select a region that supports availability zones if desired.
5. Enable "Admin user" if you want to use access keys for authentication.
6. Click "Create" to set up your Azure Container Registry.

Step 2: Tag Your Docker Image

1. Open your terminal where Docker is installed.
2. List your Docker images using the command:

   docker images
   

3. Identify the image you want to push (e.g., website).
4. Tag the image using the following command:

   docker tag <image_name> <login_server>/<repository_name>:<tag>
   

   For example:

   docker tag website acr-december-2021.azurecr.io/website:latest
   

5. Verify the tagging by running:

   docker images
   

Step 3: Log in to Azure Container Registry

1. Copy the login URL of your Azure Container Registry.
2. Log in using the Docker CLI:

   docker login <login_server>
   

   Example:

   docker login acr-december-2021.azurecr.io
   

3. When prompted, enter your username and password. You can find these credentials in the Azure portal under the "Access keys" section of your container registry.

Step 4: Push the Docker Image to Azure Container Registry

1. Use the following command to push the tagged image:

   docker push <login_server>/<repository_name>:<tag>
   

   Example:

   docker push acr-december-2021.azurecr.io/website:latest
   

2. Monitor the output to ensure the image is being uploaded without errors.

Step 5: Confirm the Image Is Uploaded

1. Go back to the Azure portal.
2. Navigate to your Azure Container Registry.
3. Click on the "Repositories" tab to see your uploaded image.
4. Verify the upload by checking the time and version of the image.

Conclusion

You have successfully pushed a Docker image to Azure Container Registry. This process involves creating a registry, tagging your image, logging in to ACR, and pushing the image. Now you can manage your container images effectively in Azure. As a next step, consider exploring how to deploy these images using Azure Kubernetes Service or Azure App Service for containerized applications.