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cloud: add initial docs
Signed-off-by: Craig <craig.osterhout@docker.com>
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‎content/manuals/_index.md

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description: Secure, minimal base images for trusted software delivery.
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icon: /icons/dhi.svg
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link: /dhi/
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- title: Docker Cloud
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description: Build and run containers in the cloud.
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icon: cloud
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link: /cloud/
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- title: Build Cloud
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description: Build your images faster in the cloud.
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icon: /icons/logo-build-cloud.svg

‎content/manuals/admin/organization/manage-products.md

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- [Docker Hub](../../docker-hub/_index.md)
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- [Docker Scout](../../scout/_index.md)
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- [Testcontainers Cloud](https://testcontainers.com/cloud/docs/#getting-started)
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- [Docker Cloud](../../cloud/_index.md)
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## Manage access to Docker products
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- Docker Build Cloud
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- Docker Desktop
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- Docker Scout
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- Docker Cloud
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Testcontainers Cloud is not enabled by default. To enable Testcontainers Cloud, see the Testcontainers [Getting Started](https://testcontainers.com/cloud/docs/#getting-started) guide.
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The following sections describe how to enable or disable access for these products.
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### Manage access to Docker Cloud
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To manage access to Docker Cloud, sign in to [Docker
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Home](http://app.docker.com/) as an organization owner, select **Docker
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Cloud**, select **Cloud settings**, and then manage access under **Lock Docker
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Cloud**.
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### Manage access to Docker Build Cloud
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To learn how to initially set up and configure Docker Build Cloud, sign in to
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- Docker Desktop: View the **Insights** page in the [Docker Admin Console](https://app.docker.com/admin). For more details, see
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[Insights](./insights.md).
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- Docker Cloud: View the **Cloud overview** page in the Docker Cloud
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Dashboard.
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If your usage exceeds your subscription amount, you can [scale your
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subscription](../../subscription/scale.md) to meet your needs.

‎content/manuals/cloud/_index.md

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---
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title: Docker Cloud
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weight: 15
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description: Find documentation on Docker Cloud to help you build and run your container images faster, both locally and in CI
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keywords: build, cloud, cloud build, remote builder
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params:
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sidebar:
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group: Products
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badge:
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color: blue
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text: Beta
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grid:
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- title: Quickstart
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description: Get up and running with Docker Cloud in just a few steps.
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icon: rocket_launch
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link: /cloud/quickstart/
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- title: About
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description: Learn about Docker Cloud and how it works.
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icon: info
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link: /cloud/about/
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- title: Configure
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description: Set up and customize your cloud build environments.
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icon: tune
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link: /cloud/configuration/
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- title: Build
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description: Use Docker Cloud to build container images from the CLI or Docker Desktop.
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icon: build
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link: /cloud/build/
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- title: Build in CI
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description: Use Docker Cloud to build container images in continuous integration workflows.
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icon: build
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link: /cloud/ci-build/
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- title: Usage
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description: Learn about Docker Cloud usage and how to monitor your cloud resources.
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icon: monitor_heart
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link: /cloud/usage/
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- title: Optimize
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description: Improve performance, caching, and cost efficiency in Docker Cloud.
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icon: speed
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link: /cloud/optimize/
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- title: Troubleshoot
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description: Learn how to troubleshoot issues with Docker Cloud.
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icon: bug_report
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link: /cloud/troubleshoot/
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---
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{{< summary-bar feature_name="Docker Cloud" >}}
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Docker Cloud is a fully managed service that lets you build and run containers
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in the cloud using the Docker tools you already know. Whether you're working
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locally on Docker Desktop or in CI, Docker Cloud provides scalable
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infrastructure for fast, consistent builds and compute-intensive workloads like
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running LLMs or machine learning pipelines.
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You can use Docker Cloud in Cloud mode to offload builds and container runs from
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Docker Desktop, or use it for builds only without running containers in the
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cloud.
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In the following topics, learn about Docker Cloud, how to set it up, use it for your workflows, and
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troubleshoot common issues.
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{{< grid >}}

‎content/manuals/cloud/about.md

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---
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title: About Docker Cloud
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linktitle: About
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weight: 15
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description: Learn about Docker Cloud, its features, and how it works.
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keywords: cloud, build, remote builder
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---
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Docker Cloud is a fully managed service for building and running containers in
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the cloud using the Docker tools you already know, including Docker Desktop, the
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Docker CLI, and Docker Compose. It extends your local development workflow into a
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scalable, cloud-powered environment, so you can offload compute-heavy tasks,
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accelerate builds, and securely manage container workloads across the software
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lifecycle.
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Docker Cloud also supports GPU-accelerated instances, allowing you to
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containerize and run compute-intensive workloads such as Docker Model Runner and
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other machine learning or data processing tasks that benefit from GPU.
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You can use Docker Cloud in following ways:
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- In Cloud mode, where you use Docker Desktop with cloud-based resources. This
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is ideal for virtual desktop environments (VDIs) where nested virtualization
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isn't supported, or when you need more CPU, memory, or GPU than your local
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machine can provide. In this mode, both builds and container runs happen in
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the cloud, but Docker Desktop maintains a local-like experience. To get
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started, see [Docker Cloud quickstart](/cloud/quickstart/).
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- For only builds, without running containers in the cloud. This lets you offload image
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builds to Docker Cloud while continuing to run containers locally. It's useful
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when you want faster, consistent builds but don’t need to run containers in
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the cloud. To get started, see [Build with Docker Cloud](/cloud/build/).
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- In CI environments where builds are performed entirely in the cloud. This lets
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you have fast, consistent, and scalable builds without the need to manage your
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own runners or infrastructure. To get started, see [Use Docker Cloud in
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CI](/cloud/ci-build/).
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## Key features
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Docker Cloud includes the following capabilities to support modern container
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workflows:
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- Cloud-based builds: Execute builds on remote, fully managed BuildKit instances
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with native support for multi-platform output.
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- GPU acceleration: Use NVIDIA L4 GPU-backed environments for machine learning,
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media processing, and other compute-intensive workloads.
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- Ephemeral cloud runners: Automatically provision and tear down cloud
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environments for each container session.
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- Shared build cache: Speed up build times across machines and teammates with a
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smart, shared cache layer.
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- Hybrid workflows: Seamlessly transition between local and remote execution
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using Docker Desktop, CLI, or CI tools.
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- Secure communication: Use encrypted tunnels between Docker Desktop and cloud
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environments with support for secure secrets and image pulling.
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- CI/CD integration: Trigger builds in CI pipelines using Buildx, GitHub
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Actions, or prebuilt integrations.
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- Port forwarding and bind mounts: Retain a local development experience even
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when running containers in the cloud.
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- VDI-friendly: Use Docker Cloud in virtual desktop environments or systems that
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don't support nested virtualization.
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## Why use Docker Cloud?
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Docker Cloud is designed to support modern development teams working across
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local and cloud environments. It helps you:
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- Use the same Docker workflows locally and in the cloud
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- Offload builds to fast, high-performance infrastructure
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- Run containers that require more CPU, memory, or GPU than your local setup can
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provide
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- Run Docker Desktop in environments that don't support nested virtualization
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- Speed up feedback loops by reducing wait times for builds and testing
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environments
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- Avoid managing custom infrastructure while retaining full control over how
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containers are built and executed
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- Ensure consistent, clean environments for every build or test
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- Integrate easily with any CI system using simple scripts or prebuilt actions
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Docker Cloud is ideal for hybrid teams that want to iterate quickly, test
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reliably, and scale efficiently without compromising on developer experience.
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## How Docker Cloud works
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Docker Cloud replaces the need to build or run containers locally by connecting
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Docker Desktop and your CI pipelines to secure, dedicated cloud resources.
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### Building with Docker Cloud
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When you use Docker Cloud for builds, the `docker buildx build` command sends
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the build request to a remote BuildKit instance in the cloud, instead of
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executing it locally. Your workflow stays the same, only the execution
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environment changes.
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The build runs on infrastructure provisioned and managed by Docker:
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- Each cloud builder is an isolated Amazon EC2 instance with its own EBS volume
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- Remote builders use a shared cache to speed up builds across machines and
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teammates
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- Builds support native multi-platform output (for example, `linux/amd64`,
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`linux/arm64`)
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- Build results are encrypted in transit and sent to your specified destination
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(such as a registry or local image store)
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Docker Cloud manages the lifecycle of builders automatically. There's no need to
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provision or maintain infrastructure.
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> [!NOTE]
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>
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> Docker Cloud builders are currently hosted in the US East region. Users in
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> other regions may experience increased latency.
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### Running containers with Docker Cloud
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When you use Docker Cloud to run containers, a Docker Desktop creates a secure
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SSH tunnel to a Docker daemon running in the cloud. Your containers are started
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and managed entirely in that remote environment.
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Here's what happens:
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1. Docker Desktop connects to the cloud and triggers container creation.
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2. Docker Cloud pulls the required images and starts containers in the cloud.
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3. The connection stays open while the containers run.
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4. When the containers stop running, the environment shuts down and is cleaned
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up automatically.
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This setup avoids the overhead of running containers locally and enables fast,
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reliable containers even on low-powered machines, including machines that do not
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support nested virtualization. This makes Docker Cloud ideal for developers
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using environments such as virtual desktops, cloud-hosted development machines,
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or older hardware.
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Docker Cloud also supports GPU-accelerated workloads. Containers that require
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GPU access can run on cloud instances provisioned with NVIDIA L4 GPUs for
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efficient AI inferencing, media processing, and general-purpose GPU
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acceleration. This enables compute-heavy workflows such as model evaluation,
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image processing, and hardware-accelerated CI tests to run seamlessly in the
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cloud.
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Despite running remotely, features like bind mounts and port forwarding continue
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to work seamlessly, providing a local-like experience from within Docker Desktop
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and the CLI.
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Docker Cloud provisions an ephemeral cloud environment for each session. The
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environment remains active while you are interacting with Docker Desktop or
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actively using containers. If no activity is detected for about 30 minutes, the
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session shuts down automatically. This includes any containers, images, or
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volumes in that environment, which are deleted when the session ends.
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## What's next
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Get hands-on with Docker Cloud by following the [Docker Cloud quickstart](/cloud/quickstart/).

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