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Docker Tip #70: Gain Access to the MobyLinux VM on Windows or MacOS

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You can't just load up your hypervisor's management app and log into the VM that Docker created, but you can check it out. Here's how.

Quick Jump:

This tip applies to anyone running Docker for Windows or Docker for Mac in 2021+.

Access the MobyLinux VM’s file system:
docker container run --rm -it --privileged \
  --pid=host alpine:edge nsenter -t 1 -m -u -n -i sh

And BLAMO, you’re inside of the MobyLinux VM’s file system (aka Docker Desktop).

Now if you run ls -la you’ll see all sorts of things, such as your mounts. In Docker Tip #69 I talked about protecting against Docker’s container logs from eating up all of your disk space. This was how I figured how much space was being used on my Windows system.

I ran du -chs /var/lib/docker/containers/*/*json.log inside of the container we’re in now, which tallies up the total disk space used by all container logs.

When you’re done looking around you can hit CTRL + D or type exit to quit.

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