How to run a Shell session interactively on a Running Container using the "docker container exec -tty --interactive ... /bin/sh" command?

If the running container is based on a Linux system, we can definitely run a Shell session interactively on a Running Container using the "docker container exec --tty --interactive ... /bin/sh" command as shown below.

1. Create a new container from the "openjdk" image and start it in interactive mode.

fyicenter$ docker container create --name java --tty --interactive openjdk

fyicenter$ docker container start --attach --interactive java

jshell> 1+2;
fyicenter$1 ==> 3

jshell>

2. Run the "/bin/sh" command to start a Shell session with a TTY terminal in interactive mode.

fyicenter$ docker container exec java /bin/sh

sh-4.2# pwd
/

sh-4.2# ls /bin
[                      grep                 reset
alias                  groups               rm
arch                   gsettings            rmdir
awk                    gtar                 rmic
base64                 gunzip               rmid
basename               gzexe                rmiregistry
bash                   gzip                 rpcgen
bashbug                head                 rpm
bashbug-64             hostid               rpm2cpio
bg                     iconv                rpmdb
ca-legacy              id                   rpmkeys

sh-4.2# env
JAVA_URL=https://download.java.net/java/GA/jdk12.0.1/69cfe15208a647...
HOSTNAME=77b2863fe925
TERM=xterm
OLDPWD=/sbin
PATH=/usr/java/openjdk-12/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/s...
PWD=/
JAVA_HOME=/usr/java/openjdk-12
JAVA_VERSION=12.0.1
JAVA_SHA256=151eb4ec00f82e5e951126f572dc9116104c884d97f91be14ec11ee...
HOME=/root

sh-4.2# /bin/bash
bash-4.2#
...
(Ctrl-C)

The output shows that we are able to start Shell session interactively on the container to explore the running environment of the container, if it is based on a Linux system.

This is very useful to troubleshoot any issue on the container.

⇒ "docker container inspect" - Inspect Container Configuration

⇐ "docker container exec ... ls -l" - Files on Container

⇑ "docker container ..." Commands

⇑⇑ Docker Container Platform - Tutorials