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Overview

Docker Offload is a fully managed service that lets you offload building and running containers to the cloud using the Docker tools you already know. It provides cloud infrastructure for fast, consistent builds and compute-heavy workloads like running LLMs or machine learning pipelines.

Key Capabilities:

Here are the key capabilities: - One-click access to GPU: Access NVIDIA L4 GPUs for AI/ML workloads and data processing - Cloud Builds: Execute docker build commands on powerful cloud infrastructure - Container Execution: Run containers with cloud compute and GPU acceleration - Seamless Integration: Same Docker commands, cloud execution

Who's This For?

  • Docker Offload is ideal for developers and teams who need:
  • High-velocity development workflows that require cloud scale without complexity
  • Resource-intensive builds that exceed local machine capabilities
  • GPU acceleration for AI/ML development and testing
  • Consistent performance across different development environments
  • Legacy hardware support including virtual desktops and machines without nested virtualization

How It Works?

Architecture Overview

When you use Docker Offload, Docker Desktop creates a secure SSH tunnel to a Docker daemon running in the cloud. Your containers are created, managed, and executed entirely in the remote environment while providing a seamless local experience. The Process 1. Connection: Docker Desktop connects securely to dedicated cloud resources 2. Execution: Docker Offload pulls required images and starts containers in the cloud 3. Interaction: The connection remains active while containers run, supporting features like bind mounts and port forwarding 4. Cleanup: When containers stop or after 30 minutes of inactivity, the environment automatically shuts down and cleans up

Session Management

Docker Offload provisions ephemeral cloud environments for each session:

  • Environment remains active during Docker Desktop interaction or container usage
  • Automatic shutdown after ~30 minutes of inactivity
  • Complete cleanup of containers, images, and volumes when sessions end
  • No persistent state between sessions ensures security and cost efficiency

Cloud Builds with Docker Offload

Enhanced Build Performance

When you use Docker Offload for builds, the docker buildx build command executes on remote BuildKit instances in the cloud instead of locally. Your workflow remains identical—only the execution environment changes.

Build Infrastructure

  • Isolated Environment: Each cloud builder runs on dedicated Amazon EC2 instances with EBS volumes
  • Shared Cache: Accelerate builds across machines and team members with intelligent caching
  • Multi-Platform Support: Native support for multiple architectures (linux/amd64, linux/arm64)
  • Secure Transfer: Build results are encrypted in transit and sent to your specified destination
  • Automatic Management: Docker handles all infrastructure provisioning and maintenance

Performance Benefits

  • Faster Builds: Powerful cloud instances outperform typical development machines
  • Consistent Results: Standardized build environment eliminates "works on my machine" issues
  • Resource Efficiency: No local CPU/memory consumption during builds
  • Team Collaboration: Shared cache improves build times across the entire team

GPU-Accelerated Workloads

Docker Offload supports GPU-enabled instances with NVIDIA L4 GPUs, enabling:

  • AI Inferencing: Run large language models and machine learning pipelines
  • Media Processing: Handle video encoding, image processing, and graphics workloads
  • General-Purpose GPU Computing: Accelerate any CUDA-compatible applications
  • Hardware-Accelerated CI: Run GPU-dependent tests and validation