dosbox in a container

This Dockerfile will create an image from which you can run a dosbox container. The dosbox config file is located in the /root/.dosbox/ volume, and the /dosbox volume will be where you write your data. If you write anywhere but in those two directory (/dosbox and /root/.dosbox/) you will lose that data once you destroy the container.

There are currently 3 versions with matching docker hub tags:

• noaudio - Audio is disabled
• host-pulse - Use your host's pulseaudio
• remote - Runs headless so you can connect via VNC/RDesktop (In Progress - Probably available w/e March 31, 2017)

How to use it

Easy

1. Create a folder for dosbox in your home directory:

   mkdir $HOME/dosbox
   

2. Download the run script from here:

   • run-noaudio
   • run-hostpulse

3. Make it executable:

   chmod a+x run-*
   

4. Run it:

   ./run-noaudio
   

NB: If you want to bypass the dosbox startup, you can optionally pass a command to the run script, e.g. run-noaudio /bin/sh

Advanced

1. Allow your xhost to connect to the docker container

   xhost +local:docker

2. Choose the appropriate options:

   1. Pick the image you need:

      • tudorh/dosbox:noaudio - for a local X without audio
      • tudorh/dosbox:hostpulse - for a local X with audio based on pulseaudio
      • tudorh/dosbox:remote - for a non-local X

   2. Specify a volume for dosbox

      -v /path/to/dosboxapp:/dosbox
      

   3. If you want to run on a local host's X display, you need:

      --env=DISPLAY=unix$DISPLAY
      -v /tmp/.X11-unix:/tmp/.X11-unix:ro
      

   4. If you want to use your local host's pulseaudio, you need:

      • To get your local user ID and group ID:

        export USER_UID=$(id -u)
        export USER_GID=$(id -g)
        

      • and pass that to the image:

        --env=USER_UID=$USER_UID
        --env=USER_GID=$USER_GID
        

      • And connect as that user and group id to pulseaudio:

        -v /dev/shm:/dev/shm
        -v $HOME/.config/pulse:/home/gamer/.config/pulse:ro
        -v /run/user/$USER_UID/pulse:/run/pulse:ro
        

3. Put it all together:

   export USER_UID=$(id -u)
   export USER_GID=$(id -g)
   xhost +local:docker
   
   docker run -ti \
           --env=DISPLAY=unix$DISPLAY \
           -v /tmp/.X11-unix:/tmp/.X11-unix:ro \
           --env=USER_UID=$USER_UID \
           --env=USER_GID=$USER_GID \
           -v /dev/shm:/dev/shm \
           -v $HOME/.config/pulse:/home/gamer/.config/pulse:ro \
           -v /run/user/$USER_UID/pulse:/run/pulse:ro \
           -v $HOME/dosbox:/dosbox \
           --name dosbox \
           tudorh/dosbox:hostpulse
   

Using and configuring dosbox

• after dosbox is launched, type MOUNT C /dosbox in the prompt to mount your data volume in dosbox. (you can automate this by putting the mount command at the end of dosbox's config file)

Notes

• When you are done using dosbox you should probably run xhost -local:docker to re-enable the access control to the X server.