Docker COPY from ubuntu absolute path

73
votes

I have following line in my dockerfile

COPY /root/url.net/volumes/persistent/url/root /usr/share/nginx/html

When I try to build the image with docker-compose I get

Service 'frontend' failed to build: lstat /root/url.net/volumes/persistent/url/root: no such file or directory

I can cd from anywhere to /root/url.net/volumes/persistent/url/root with no problem on my machine.

How can I specify the absolute path of the folder in the dockerfile?

2
dockerdocker-composedockerfile

2 Answers

76
votes

The absolute path of your resources refers to an absolute path within the build context, not an absolute path on the host. So all the resources must be copied into the directory where you run the docker build and then provide the path of those resources within your Dockerfiles before building the image. (This refers to the location where you run your Dockerfile)

There is a closed issue for this as well.

32
votes

You can't. You have to copy/hardlink the files/folders inside the directory where you build the docker image.