Categories
Computers

The curious case of binfmt for x86 emulation for ARM Docker

Seemingly identical configurations, different results. When two methods for setting up x86 emulation on ARM showed the exact same system configuration but behaved completely differently in Docker, I began questioning my system administration knowledge and my sanity – and briefly contemplated a new career as a blacksmith.

This is a debugging tale for those working with containers, and a reminder that things aren’t always what they seem in Linux, all with a big pinch reminder to Read the Fine Manual, Always!