Скачать или смотреть How to Expose Custom TCP Ports from Docker Containers using Visual Studio's Docker Debugger

Learn how to easily expose custom TCP ports from Docker containers in Visual Studio by modifying the `launchSettings.json` profile. This guide walks you through the steps.
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How to Expose Custom TCP Ports from Docker Containers using Visual Studio's Docker Debugger

When developing applications using Docker, you might encounter situations where you need to expose a custom TCP port from a Docker container. This can be particularly challenging when working within the Visual Studio environment, as the default configuration primarily supports HTTP and HTTPS ports through the launchSettings.json file. In this guide, we will explore how to configure Visual Studio to expose a custom TCP port, allowing you to debug your applications effectively.

The Challenge

In many cases, developers want to run a service within a Docker container and have it listen on a custom TCP port. For instance, if you have a TCP server application utilizing a TCPListener that listens on port 9999, your first instinct might be to check the launchSettings.json for a way to forward that port. However, the default setup usually limits you to httpPort and httpsPort, which map external ports (like 80 and 443) to internal container ports. This limitation can be frustrating if your services require additional ports for proper functionality.

The Solution

Fortunately, it is possible to expose custom TCP ports from your Docker container through the Visual Studio Docker debugger. Below, we will walk through the steps needed to edit your launchSettings.json for this purpose.

Step-by-step Instructions

Open your project in Visual Studio where you want to configure Docker support.

Locate the launchSettings.json file in the Properties folder of your project.

Add a Docker profile to the profiles section of launchSettings.json. Here’s a sample configuration you can use:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Explanation of the Configuration:

"commandName": "Docker": This indicates that you are using Docker.

"httpPort": 54623: This specifies the host port that will be mapped to the Docker container.

"ASPNETCORE_URLS": "http://+ :5000": This sets the internal listening address for the application within the container.

"ASPNETCORE_ENVIRONMENT": "Development": This sets the environment to Development, enabling debugging features.

Save the changes to launchSettings.json.

What Happens Next?

With the above configuration, when you run your application in Docker using the Docker profile, Visual Studio will automatically forward the host port 54623 to the Docker port 5000. Consequently, if your application listens on a TCP port like 9999, adjust your application’s configuration accordingly to ensure it properly handles requests on that port.

Benefits of This Approach

Seamless Integration: This method allows you to stay within the Visual Studio environment, avoiding the need to run Docker containers separately and attach to them manually.

Enhanced Debugging: By exposing your custom TCP port, you can debug your TCP server application directly, facilitating better development workflows.

Conclusion

Exposing custom TCP ports from Docker containers using Visual Studio's Docker debugger is straightforward with the right configuration in launchSettings.json. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can efficiently debug your applications, keeping your development process smooth and productive.

Now that you know how to do it, are you feeling more confident about managing your Docker environment in Visual Studio? Give it a try and unlock the full potential of your development setup!