Storing Container Data in Azure Blob Storage

Libraries: If you want this lab, consider one of these libraries.
Cloud

Storing Container Data in Azure Blob Storage

Using Docker volumes is the preferred method of locally storing container data. Volume support is built directly into Docker, making it an easy tool to use for storage, as well as more portable. However, storing container data in Docker volumes still requires us to back up the data in those volumes on our own. There is another option: storing our container data in the Cloud. It's not a solution for every problem, but this lab demonstrates another tool at our disposal. This lab shows how to mount a Blob Storage container onto our local system as a directory. We will then mount that directory into our Docker container. We will use an httpd container to serve the contents of that bucket as a webpage, but we can use it to share any common data between containers. This will demonstrate how flexible Docker can be. We can make changes to our bucket, and all our containers using the Blob Storage container will near-instantly have access to the content.

Get started Contact sales

Lab Info

Level

Intermediate

Last updated

Sep 04, 2025

Duration

45m

Challenge

Configuration and Installation
1. Obtain Azure authentication credentials by using the Azure command line utility.
  
  Note: Use the website, and authentication code in the terminal to get a login page, then use the portal login credentials provided in the lab.
2. Set the environment variables AZURE_STORAGE_ACCOUNT, and AZURE_STORAGE_ACCESS_KEY.
3. Install Microsoft's repository, available from https://packages.microsoft.com/config/rhel/7/packages-microsoft-prod.rpm.
4. Install blobfuse.
5. Configure FUSE to allow all users to mount the storage.
Challenge

Prepare the Storage
1. Create a mount point on the server at /mnt/widget-factory and change its ownership to your user.
2. Mount the Azure Blob Storage Container to the new mount point using blobfuse.
3. Copy the website files to the Blob Storage Container.
4. Verify that the files are present on the cloud.
Challenge

Use the Storage in a Container
1. Run an httpd container to serve the website. Remember to mount the Blob Storage to the container and publish the web server port.
2. View the webpage in a browser. Use the server's public IP provided with the lab.

About the author

Pluralsight Skills

Pluralsight Skills gives leaders confidence they have the skills needed to execute technology strategy. Technology teams can benchmark expertise across roles, speed up release cycles and build reliable, secure products. By leveraging our expert content, skill assessments and one-of-a-kind analytics, keep up with the pace of change, put the right people on the right projects and boost productivity. It's the most effective path to developing tech skills at scale.

Real skill practice before real-world application

Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.

Learn by doing

Engage hands-on with the tools and technologies you’re learning. You pick the skill, we provide the credentials and environment.

Follow your guide

All labs have detailed instructions and objectives, guiding you through the learning process and ensuring you understand every step.

Turn time into mastery

On average, you retain 75% more of your learning if you take time to practice. Hands-on labs set you up for success to make those skills stick.