When it comes to managing Docker images and pushing them to a container registry, JFrog Artifactory provides an efficient and secure solution. While many developers use CI/CD pipelines for automating these tasks, the CLI (Command Line Interface) is a powerful tool for those who want more control or are just looking for a quick, manual way to build and push images.

In this guide, we will walk through how to build a Docker image and push it directly to JFrog Artifactory using the CLI. This is perfect for developers who need to streamline their workflows or get familiar with the core processes involved in Docker image management.

For a visual walkthrough of the concepts covered in this article, check out my YouTube Video:-

Why JFrog Artifactory?
JFrog Artifactory is one of the most versatile and secure solutions for managing artifacts, including Docker images. It offers several benefits:

• Highly scalable: Perfect for large teams and enterprises.
• Universal repository: Supports multiple technologies and ecosystems.
• Seamless integration: Works well with Docker, Kubernetes, and other containerization platforms.

Prerequisites
Before getting started, ensure you have the following:

1. Docker installed on your machine.
2. JFrog CLI installed. You can find installation instructions here.
3. A JFrog account with access to a Docker repository in Artifactory.

Step 1: Configure JFrog CLI
To start pushing images to JFrog, you need to configure your CLI to interact with your JFrog instance. Use the following command to set up your JFrog environment:

jfrog rt config

You’ll be prompted to provide the following:

• Artifactory URL: The URL for your JFrog Artifactory instance.
• Username/Password: Your login credentials.
• Access Token (Optional): For more secure authentication. Once configured, the CLI will store these credentials for future interactions.

Step 2: Create a Simple Docker Image
Let’s create a basic Docker image. For this, you’ll need a simple Dockerfile. Here’s an example that creates a basic Ubuntu image with curl installed:

# Dockerfile
FROM ubuntu:20.04
RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y curl
CMD ["curl", "--version"]

Save this Dockerfile in your project directory.

To build the Docker image, run the following command:

docker build -t my-docker-image .

Here, my-docker-image is the tag for your Docker image.

Step 3: Tag the Docker Image for JFrog
Now that you’ve built the Docker image, you need to tag it so it points to the correct JFrog Artifactory repository.

The tagging format is:

docker tag <image> <jfrog-domain>/<repository>/<image>:<tag>

For example:

docker tag my-docker-image yourdomain.jfrog.io/docker-local/my-docker-image:1.0

Replace yourdomain.jfrog.io with your actual JFrog Artifactory domain and docker-local with your Docker repository.

Step 4: Log In to JFrog Artifactory with Docker CLI
Before you can push the image to Artifactory, you need to log in via Docker:

docker login yourdomain.jfrog.io

Provide your JFrog username and password (or access token).

Step 5: Push the Docker Image to JFrog
Now that everything is configured, it’s time to push the Docker image to JFrog Artifactory:

docker push yourdomain.jfrog.io/docker-local/my-docker-image:1.0

This command will push the Docker image to the specified repository in JFrog.

Step 6: Verify the Push in JFrog Artifactory
Once the push is complete, head over to your JFrog Artifactory web interface. Navigate to your Docker repository, and you should see the newly pushed image listed.

Step 7: Automating with JFrog CLI (Optional)
While using the Docker CLI is straightforward, you can also automate this process with the JFrog CLI, making it easier to script and integrate into CI/CD pipelines.

To push Docker images using JFrog CLI, you can use the following command:

jfrog rt docker-push my-docker-image:1.0 docker-local

This command simplifies the push process and directly interacts with your configured Artifactory instance.

Conclusion
Pushing Docker images directly to JFrog using the CLI provides flexibility for developers who prefer a hands-on approach. Whether you’re working on a small project or part of a large team, understanding how to build and push Docker images manually can give you a deeper understanding of the processes involved in containerization and artifact management.

By using JFrog CLI, you can further automate and streamline this workflow, making it more efficient for continuous delivery and integration pipelines.

Start building, tagging, and pushing today to explore the full potential of Docker and JFrog Artifactory!

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