Azure-docs: Mounting a file share behaves like a Docker 'bind mount' and not like a propper volume.

[hjlarrea]

It seems that mounting a file share on a ACI behaves like mounting bind mounts rather than mounting Docker volumes.

From Docker:

• If you mount an empty volume into a directory in the container in which files or directories exist, these files or directories are propagated (copied) into the volume. Similarly, if you start a container and specify a volume which does not already exist, an empty volume is created for you. This is a good way to pre-populate data that another container needs.

• If you mount a bind mount or non-empty volume into a directory in the container in which some files or directories exist, these files or directories are obscured by the mount, just as if you saved files into /mnt on a Linux host and then mounted a USB drive into /mnt. The contents of /mnt would be obscured by the contents of the USB drive until the USB drive were unmounted. The obscured files are not removed or altered, but are not accessible while the bind mount or volume is mounted.

When you mount a File Share from a Storage Account into an ACI, it behaves like the second case. If this is correct, I'd be nice if it was clarified in the document. Otherwise, there might be something not working, as that is the behaviour I'm observing 😝

Thanks!

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Document Details

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• ID: b730fc95-951e-1acd-770d-88b3e6f2f6ef
• Version Independent ID: b6445fd2-46ea-aedd-2f2c-294faa660660
• Content: Mount an Azure Files volume in Azure Container Instances
• Content Source: articles/container-instances/container-instances-volume-azure-files.md
• Service: container-instances
• GitHub Login: @dlepow
• Microsoft Alias: danlep

[mimckitt]

Adding @dkkapur who might be able to assist further.

[mimckitt]

@hjlarrea thanks for the patience while I looked into this.

The statement from docker is correct and we expect it to behave like #2. I am working to update the document now.

[dlepow]

@MicahMcKittrick-MSFT - Micah, I'll add myself to follow up on doc updates as well. I'll work with Deep to publish the clarification. Thanks for getting the right info!

assign: @dlepow

[hjlarrea]

@MicahMcKittrick-MSFT - Do you know if there are intentions of adding the possibility of mounting shares or blobs as proper Docker volumes in ACI? Thanks again!

[mimckitt]

@hjlarrea I am not personally sure. @dlepow or @dkkapur might be able to tell you though.

[dlepow]

@hjlarrea - The updated article referring to bind mounts has been published, and I'm closing this issue. Thanks for your suggestion!

For your question about plans to mount shares/volumes as Docker volumes, I'm not aware of plans currently. Please feel free to post your idea at Azure UserVoice for others in the community to vote on.

[dlepow]

please-close