Learn how to check Docker storage driver configurations with the docker info command.

Outline

• Hook: A moment on a busy Docker host and why storage matters in real life.

• Why storage drivers matter: what they do, and how they affect performance and stability.

• The star command: docker info explained

• What docker info shows in plain language (storage driver, data space, images, containers, logging, networks).

• Why this global snapshot is the quickest way to understand a host.

• Quick contrast: other commands and what they actually do

• docker status (not a real command)

• docker inspect (per-container or per-image detail)

• docker config (Swarm configs, not storage drivers)

• A practical moment: a simple example of using docker info in the day-to-day

• Tips, caveats, and related topics you’ll encounter

• Related commands to know: docker system df, docker system prune, and why they pair well with docker info

• Wrap-up: keep this one command in your toolbox and you’ll save time in audits and troubleshooting

Docker storage drivers: why one command matters in a sea of data

Let me explain this with a quick scene. You’re staring at a stubborn Docker host. The containers are humming along, but you’re itching to know what under the hood is making the filesystem tick. Storage drivers aren’t glamorous like a shiny new feature, but they’re the silent workhorses. They decide how images and containers actually sit on disk, how files are layered, and how cleanly you can reclaim space later. When things slow down or you’re migrating work to another machine, those driver details matter more than you might expect.

What docker info actually tells you, and why that matters

Here’s the thing: docker info is like a health check for the whole Docker engine. It doesn’t pry into a single container. Instead, it gives you a broad view—your host’s current Docker setup, the resources available, and crucially, the storage driver in use.

• Storage Driver: This is the headline. It tells you which driver the engine uses to manage the image and container filesystem. The two most common culprits these days are overlay2 (the standard on many modern Linux distros) and older options like aufs or devicemapper. Knowing the driver can clue you in on performance characteristics, kernel compatibility, and potential quirks you might bump into in certain environments.

• Data space and image/container counts: You’ll see how much space is assigned, used, and available, plus how many images and containers your setup currently has. In a busy environment, this snapshot is priceless. It helps you decide when a prune or cleanup is in order, before you start running into disk pressure.

• Logging drivers, networks, and more: Docker info isn’t a one-trick pony. It also surfaces what logging driver you’re using (json-file, syslog, or a third-party one), the networks that Docker has configured, and general system-wide settings. These details matter when you’re diagnosing network connectivity, log retention, or inter-container communication issues.

• System-wide health at a glance: If you’re juggling multiple hosts or spinning up new nodes in a cluster, docker info becomes your quick-reference cheat sheet to confirm consistency across machines.

So, when someone asks you which command checks storage driver configurations, docker info is exactly what you want. It’s designed for this kind of global visibility—one command to pull the forest together, not just a single tree.

A quick contrast so you don’t confuse the tools

You’ll hear other commands mentioned around Docker, and it’s helpful to know what they do—and don’t do—when you’re chasing storage driver details.

• docker inspect: This is the granular microscope. It digs into a specific object—like a container, image, or volume—and shows you its JSON metadata. It’s fantastic for deep-dives on a particular entity, but it won’t give you the broad picture of the engine’s storage driver in use.

• docker config: If you’re using Swarm, this command relates to service configurations and secrets. It’s not about the storage layer for the host. It’s more about how services run and how they pull their configuration data.

• docker status: Nice sounding, but it isn’t a real Docker command. If you try it on a live system, you’ll quickly discover it doesn’t exist. It’s a reminder to stick with the official commands and not chase mirages in the shell.

• Other “info” commands: There are plenty of ways to learn about status, but docker info stands out for the specific goal of getting a global sense of your Docker engine’s configuration, including the storage driver.

A small, practical moment you can try

If you’ve got a Docker-enabled machine handy, here’s a quick, hands-on moment that sticks. Open your terminal and type:

• docker info

Scan the output for the line that reads Storage Driver. It will look something like “Storage Driver: overlay2.” That single line tells you a lot about how your filesystem layers are managed. Then glance down a bit to see the “Backing filesystem” line (if present) and the “Supports d_type” indicator. These little data points can matter when you’re troubleshooting file operations inside containers.

If you want to sharpen the look even more, you can pipe the output to a little filter:

• docker info | grep -i "Storage Driver"

Or, if you’re curious about disk usage combined with your driver:

• docker system df

• docker info

These small commands play nice together. They give you quick sanity checks: is the storage driver compatible with the workload? Is there enough space? Are you using a logging driver that could bloat your logs over time?

A few pragmatic tips and related topics to widen your Docker intuition

• Understand the driver’s trade-offs: overlay2 is favored for its efficiency and performance in many setups, but some less common environments may require other drivers. If you’re scripting or automating deployments, knowing which driver is active helps you anticipate potential file-system behaviors during updates or restarts.

• Keep an eye on disk pressure: containers produce logs, layers accumulate, and images get downloaded. Regularly checking docker info alongside docker system df gives you a quick pulse on whether you’re in the green or creeping toward space constraints.

• Don’t forget related tooling: docker system prune can reclaim space by removing unused images, stopped containers, and dangling resources. Use it thoughtfully, and pair it with regular checks from docker info to decide when it’s time to tidy up.

• Networking and logging aren’t afterthoughts: storage is foundational, but the other facets surfaced by docker info—like networks and logging drivers—often surface when you scale out or integrate with orchestration. A holistic view keeps you from chasing symptoms later.

• Regions and clusters: in more complex setups, you’ll be dealing with multiple hosts. Keeping a consistent view via docker info across nodes helps you spot drift between environments and plan harmonized maintenance.

A few substantive notes, and why they matter in real life

• Global visibility vs. per-container detail: Remember, docker info isn’t about what a single container is doing; it’s about the whole host’s Docker landscape. If you’re troubleshooting a specific container, you’ll likely combine docker info with docker inspect for context.

• The nuance of storage drivers: Different drivers can influence performance, startup times, and even how you back up or migrate workloads. If you’re setting up a new host or upgrading a kernel, knowing the driver in use helps you pick the right defaults and expectations.

• A practical workflow mindset: When you’re diagnosing an issue, start with docker info to capture the baseline. Then move to more targeted commands as needed. This approach saves you from drowning in data and ensures you’re looking in the right place.

A few more thoughts to keep your Docker intuition sharp

• Think of docker info as your escape hatch to the engine room. It’s not glamorous, but it tells you whether the ship is seaworthy.

• If you’re ever in doubt about a failing workload, ask: is the storage driver compatible with the kernel and filesystem? If you’re unsure, docker info is your first sanity check.

• Pair quick checks with occasional deeper dives. A routine glance at docker info keeps you informed, and a deeper dive with docker inspect on a problematic container can spare you hours of guesswork.

Bringing it home

The Docker world rewards clarity and speed. When you need a fast, dependable read on what’s happening behind the scenes, docker info is your best ally—especially for storage-driver configurations. It’s not about memorizing a dozen commands; it’s about knowing the one solid starting point, then branching out with purpose as needed.

Final thought: the next time you log into a Docker host, make docker info your first stop. It’s small in words, big in value. You’ll thank yourself when you’re triaging a node, auditing a setup, or just making sure your environment is aligned with how you want your workloads to behave. And who doesn’t want a tool that quietly keeps things running smoothly, especially when the rest of the stack is busy doing its thing?