Configuring a custom startup script to build a custom Docker image

You can provide a startup script that is installed and configured on your Spotfire Server build a custom Docker image for your Spotfire Service for R.

About this task

Perform this task from the command line on the computer where your Spotfire Server is installed, and on the computer where your node manager is installed. For more information about the startup script, see Startup script.

Before you begin

You must have Docker installed on the computer running the node manager. If you install and start the service before you install Docker, then exceptions are written to the log.
You must have a Linux computer where the node manager is installed. (Your node manager and the Spotfire Server are usually on different computers).
If you are using the script to build the base Docker image, you must have a connection to the internet. (A connection to the internet is not required if you are using a locally-available Docker image.)

Custom docker images for the Spotfire Service for R must contain the following.

The Java 17 Runtime.
The JAVA_HOME environmental variable, correctly defined.
```
ENV JAVA_HOME=</correct/path/to/java>
```

Procedure

If you have already installed the service from the Spotfire Server Nodes & Services administration page, and if it is running, then stop the service.
On the computer running the Spotfire Server, export the custom.properties.
On computer running Spotfire Server, create a file called Dockerfile, and then save it to your custom configuration directory.

Important: Remember that for any script you write, the line endings must be appropriate for the operating system where the service runs. Many text editors can perform end-of-line (EOL) conversion.
```
#############################################
# A sample Dockerfile for installing JDK. #
#############################################
FROM debian:12-slim
#  install openjdk
RUN apt-get install openjdk-17-jdk && apt-get clean
#  set JAVA_HOME variable
ENV JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/java-17-openjdk-amd64
```
For more information, see https://docs.docker.com/engine/reference/builder/.

On the computer running Spotfire Server, create a custom script to build the Dockerfile, and then save it to your custom configuration directory.

(By default, <server-installation-dir>/tomcat/spotfire-bin/config/root/conf.)

The following example file is named customScript.sh.

#!/bin/bash
 
    # Define the image name and tag
IMAGE_NAME="rsrv:customScript"
    # Custom configuration files are at relative path conf/FILE
DOCKERFILE_NAME="conf/Dockerfile"
    # Command to check if image exists
COMMAND="docker inspect ${IMAGE_NAME}"
 
    # Run the command then check the status code
$COMMAND
RESULT=$?
if [ $RESULT -ne 0 ]; then
	# Image did not exist
	echo ${IMAGE_NAME} does not exist. Building now...
	COMMAND="docker build -f ${DOCKERFILE_NAME} -t ${IMAGE_NAME} ."
	echo ${COMMAND}
	echo "Building the custom docker image ${IMAGE_NAME} for the r-
service"
	$COMMAND
	echo "Completed building ${IMAGE_NAME}"
else
	# Image exists already
	echo The requested image ${IMAGE_NAME} already exists.
fi

Edit the relevant properties in the file custom.properties, specifying using the custom script.

use.engine.containers: TRUE
docker.image.name: rsrv:customScript
startup.hook.script: conf/customScript.sh

On the computer running the Spotfire Server, import the custom.properties.
From the Spotfire Server Nodes & Services administration page, install the service, specifying the configuration to use, and then start the service.

If you have already installed the service, then, under the node manager, select the service and click Edit. From the Configuration drop-down list, select the new configuration.

If problems occur, troubleshoot by examining the Dockerfile that the service writes. After the service runs, this Dockerfile is available at the root service directory on the computer running the node manager. For example, /opt/nodemanager/<version>/nm/services/<language>-service-linux-<version_#_ID>/dockerfile/Dockerfile.