Meta Description: Learn how to leverage Azure Container Registry to build, push, and deploy custom containers on Azure App Service. Follow our comprehensive step-by-step tutorial to streamline your deployment process.

Introduction

In today’s dynamic digital landscape, deploying custom containers on cloud platforms like Azure App Service has become essential for businesses seeking flexibility and scalability. Utilizing the Azure Container Registry (ACR) allows developers to efficiently store and manage their container images, facilitating seamless deployment processes. This tutorial provides a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to building, pushing, and deploying custom Linux or Windows images to Azure App Service, ensuring your applications run smoothly and reliably.

Prerequisites

Before diving into the deployment process, ensure you have the following prerequisites:

Docker Hub Account: Sign up for a Docker Hub account to manage your container images.
Docker Installed: Install Docker for your operating system and configure it to run Windows or Linux containers as needed.
Visual Studio 2022: Install Visual Studio 2022 with the necessary workloads:
ASP.NET and web development
Azure development
Azure Account: Ensure you have an active Azure account with appropriate subscription access.

Step 1: Set Up Your Application Locally

Download and Prepare the Sample Project

Begin by downloading the sample ASP.NET application that integrates with the underlying operating system. This project serves as an excellent example of how custom configurations can be managed within a container.

Download the Sample Project:
– Clone the repository using Git:
bash git clone https://github.com/Azure-Samples/docker-django-webapp-linux.git --config core.autocrlf=input
– Alternatively, download the ZIP file from the GitHub repository and extract it to your local machine.
Install Custom Fonts:
– Navigate to the project directory and install any required fonts or dependencies that your application needs.
Run the Application Locally:
– Open the solution file in Visual Studio.
– Run the application locally to ensure everything is set up correctly.

Step 2: Configure the Windows Container

If your application requires specific operating system configurations, you can customize the Windows container accordingly.

Add Container Support:
– In Visual Studio, right-click on your project and select Add > Container Orchestration Support.
– Choose Docker Compose and proceed.
Modify the Dockerfile:
– Update the FROM line to use a supported parent image:
dockerfile FROM mcr.microsoft.com/dotnet/framework/aspnet:4.7.2-windowsservercore-ltsc2019
– Add scripts or commands necessary for your custom configurations, such as installing fonts.
Test the Container Locally:
– Build and run the Docker container to verify that all configurations are correctly applied.

Step 3: Publish to Azure Container Registry

Azure Container Registry is a managed Docker registry service based on the open-source Docker Registry 2.0. It allows you to store and manage container images for all types of Azure deployments.

Create an Azure Container Registry:
– Use the Azure CLI or Azure Portal to create a new container registry.
– Example CLI command:
bash az acr create --name <registry-name> --resource-group <resource-group> --sku Basic --admin-enabled true
Push Your Docker Image:
– Tag your local Docker image with the registry name:
bash docker tag appsvc-tutorial-custom-image <registry-name>.azurecr.io/appsvc-tutorial-custom-image:latest
– Push the image to ACR:
bash docker push <registry-name>.azurecr.io/appsvc-tutorial-custom-image:latest

Step 4: Create and Configure the Web App on Azure App Service

With your container image stored in ACR, you can now deploy it to Azure App Service.

Create an App Service Plan:
– Use the Azure CLI:
bash az appservice plan create --name myAppServicePlan --resource-group <resource-group> --is-linux
Create the Web App:
– Deploy the Docker image to App Service:
bash az webapp create --resource-group <resource-group> --plan myAppServicePlan --name <app-name> --deployment-container-image-name <registry-name>.azurecr.io/appsvc-tutorial-custom-image:latest
Configure Environment Variables:
– Set necessary environment variables, such as specifying the port:
bash az webapp config appsettings set --resource-group <resource-group> --name <app-name> --settings WEBSITES_PORT=8000
Enable Managed Identity:
– Assign a managed identity to allow App Service to pull images from ACR securely.

Step 5: Enable Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)

Automate the deployment process by setting up continuous integration and continuous deployment.

Configure Webhook:
– Create a webhook in ACR to notify App Service of new image pushes.
– Example CLI command:
bash az acr webhook create --name appserviceCD --registry <registry-name> --uri <CI_CD_URL> --actions push --scope appsvc-tutorial-custom-image:latest
Verify Webhook Configuration:
– Test the webhook to ensure it triggers correctly upon new image pushes.

Step 6: Access Diagnostic Logs and SSH into the Container

Monitoring and troubleshooting are crucial for maintaining your deployed application.

Enable Logging:
– Configure Azure App Service to capture container logs.
bash az webapp log config --name <app-name> --resource-group <resource-group> --docker-container-logging filesystem
– Stream logs in real-time:
bash az webapp log tail --name <app-name> --resource-group <resource-group>
Connect via SSH:
– Use the Azure Portal or CLI to initiate an SSH session with your container for deeper inspection and troubleshooting.

Step 7: Modify and Redeploy Your Application

Enhance your application by making code changes and deploying the updated container.

Update Application Code:
– Make necessary changes to your codebase in your local development environment.
Rebuild and Push the Docker Image:
– Rebuild the Docker image with the updated code:
bash docker build --tag appsvc-tutorial-custom-image . docker tag appsvc-tutorial-custom-image <registry-name>.azurecr.io/appsvc-tutorial-custom-image:latest docker push <registry-name>.azurecr.io/appsvc-tutorial-custom-image:latest
Automatic Deployment:
– The webhook will notify App Service of the new image, triggering an automatic deployment.

Conclusion

Deploying custom containers on Azure App Service using Azure Container Registry streamlines the deployment process, enhances scalability, and ensures your applications are running in a secure and manageable environment. By following this step-by-step tutorial, you can efficiently transition your applications to Azure, leveraging the full potential of containerization and cloud services.

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