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Docker Networking

  • 32 installs
  • 2 repo stars
  • Updated January 5, 2026
  • pluginagentmarketplace/custom-plugin-docker

Pick and document the right Docker network driver (bridge, overlay, host, none) when wiring containers for local dev or production.

About

Docker Networking is a configuration-reference agent skill from a containers-category plugin that helps solo builders choose Docker network drivers and apply the right CLI patterns. It documents bridge as the default single-host option, overlay for Docker Swarm multi-host services, host for performance-sensitive workloads that share the host network namespace, and none for fully isolated containers. The bundled YAML-style settings describe logging, validation strictness, markdown output with examples, and environment overrides that tighten validation in production. Use it when you are sketching compose files, debugging why containers cannot reach each other, or standardizing network creation commands across dev and prod. It is reference and template material rather than an automated provisioner, so you still run Docker on your machine or CI. Multi-phase placement reflects design during build integrations and ongoing operate/infra tuning after ship.

  • Reference for four drivers: bridge (default single-host), overlay (Swarm multi-host), host, and none
  • Example commands for `docker network create` and `docker run --network` per driver
  • Generated plugin config schema with dev vs production validation strictness
  • Integrations toggles for git, linter, and formatter in the packaged skill config

Docker Networking by the numbers

  • 32 all-time installs (skills.sh)
  • +1 installs in the week ending Jul 26, 2026 (Skillselion tracking)
  • Ranked #855 of 1,453 DevOps & CI/CD skills by installs in the Skillselion catalog
  • Security screen: LOW risk (skills.sh audit)
  • Data as of Jul 26, 2026 (Skillselion catalog sync)
npx skills add https://github.com/pluginagentmarketplace/custom-plugin-docker --skill docker-networking

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Listed on Skillselion
Installs32
repo stars2
Security audit3 / 3 scanners passed
Last updatedJanuary 5, 2026
Repositorypluginagentmarketplace/custom-plugin-docker

What it does

Pick and document the right Docker network driver (bridge, overlay, host, none) when wiring containers for local dev or production.

Files

SKILL.mdMarkdownGitHub ↗

Docker Networking Skill

Master Docker networking concepts and configuration for container communication, service discovery, and network isolation.

Purpose

Configure and troubleshoot Docker networks for development and production environments with proper isolation and service discovery.

Parameters

ParameterTypeRequiredDefaultDescription
driverenumNobridgebridge/overlay/host/macvlan
subnetstringNo-Custom subnet CIDR
internalbooleanNofalseInternal-only network

Network Drivers

DriverUse CaseMulti-HostEncryption
bridgeSingle host, defaultNoNo
overlaySwarm, multi-hostYesOptional
hostMax performanceNoN/A
macvlanPhysical networkNoNo
noneDisable networkingNoN/A

Configuration Examples

Custom Bridge Network

# Create network with custom subnet
docker network create \
  --driver bridge \
  --subnet 172.28.0.0/16 \
  --gateway 172.28.0.1 \
  my_network

# Run container on network
docker run -d --name app \
  --network my_network \
  nginx:alpine

Docker Compose Networking

services:
  frontend:
    image: nginx:alpine
    networks:
      - public
    ports:
      - "80:80"

  backend:
    image: node:20-alpine
    networks:
      - public
      - private
    expose:
      - "3000"

  database:
    image: postgres:16-alpine
    networks:
      - private  # Internal only

networks:
  public:
    driver: bridge
  private:
    driver: bridge
    internal: true  # No external access

Service Discovery

# Containers can reach each other by service name
services:
  app:
    image: myapp
    environment:
      # Use service name as hostname
      DATABASE_HOST: database
      CACHE_HOST: redis

  database:
    image: postgres:16-alpine

  redis:
    image: redis:alpine

Overlay Network (Swarm)

# Create encrypted overlay
docker network create \
  --driver overlay \
  --attachable \
  --opt encrypted \
  my_overlay

Port Mapping

# Map host:container
docker run -p 8080:80 nginx

# Bind to specific interface
docker run -p 127.0.0.1:8080:80 nginx

# Random host port
docker run -P nginx

# UDP port
docker run -p 53:53/udp dnsserver

Error Handling

Common Errors

ErrorCauseSolution
network not foundTypo or deletedCreate network
address in usePort conflictChange port
cannot reachWrong networkCheck network membership
DNS failedService not readyAdd health checks

Fallback Strategy

1. Verify network exists: docker network ls 2. Check container membership: docker network inspect <net> 3. Test DNS: docker exec app nslookup backend

Troubleshooting

Debug Checklist

  • [ ] Network created? docker network ls
  • [ ] Container connected? docker inspect <container>
  • [ ] DNS resolving? nslookup from container
  • [ ] Port mapped? docker port <container>

Diagnostic Commands

# List networks
docker network ls

# Inspect network
docker network inspect my_network

# Test connectivity
docker exec app ping -c 3 database

# Check DNS
docker exec app nslookup backend

# View port mappings
docker port container_name

Network Debugging

# Enter container network namespace
docker exec -it app sh

# Check DNS resolution
cat /etc/resolv.conf
nslookup database

# Check connectivity
ping -c 3 backend
curl http://backend:3000/health

Usage

Skill("docker-networking")

Related Skills

  • docker-compose-setup
  • docker-swarm

Related skills

FAQ

Is Docker Networking safe to install?

skills.sh reports 3 of 3 security scanners passed. Review the Security Audits panel on this page before installing in production.

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