ericwastakenondocker/network-multitool repository overview

⁠Network Multi-Tool (Enhanced)

A Docker image that bundles a broad set of networking and troubleshooting tools, plus convenient additions like Python 3, pip, jq, curl, and the Microsoft Azure CLI. It is based on the excellent wbitt/network-multitool image with enhancements for day-to-day ops and scripting. A Docker image that bundles a broad set of networking and troubleshooting tools, plus convenient additions like Python 3, pip, jq, curl, and the Microsoft Azure CLI. It is based on the excellent wbitt/network-multitool image (via FORK) with enhancements for day-to-day ops and scripting.

⁠Purpose

Use this container as a ready-to-run toolbox for:

• Network diagnostics and troubleshooting (curl, nc, dig, nslookup, traceroute, etc.)
• Scripting and automation with Python 3 and pip-installed packages
• Managing Azure resources with the Azure CLI (az)
• Keeping a lightweight container running with a built-in tiny web server (from the base image)
• See the full list of commands and tools at https://github.com/ericwastaken/Network-MultiTool-Base⁠.

⁠Environment Variables

• HTTP_PORT: Port exposed by the built-in HTTP server (default often 80 in base image; example here uses 8080)
• HTTPS_PORT: Port exposed by the built-in HTTPS server (example uses 1443)

These control the small web server used to keep the container active. They can be left as-is for most use cases.

⁠Volumes

• Map a local folder to /root/host-volume to easily exchange files, scripts, and artifacts with the container.

Example: -v $(pwd)/host-volume:/root/host-volume

⁠Running with Docker CLI

Run the container using Docker (assumes you have a local host-volume folder for convenience):

docker run -d \
  --name network-multitool \
  --network host \
  -e HTTP_PORT=8080 \
  -e HTTPS_PORT=1443 \
  -v $(pwd)/host-volume:/root/host-volume \
  --restart unless-stopped \
  ericwastakenondocker/network-multitool:latest

Notes:

• Uses host networking so tools see the host's network directly.
• The small web server runs to keep the container alive when you’re not actively executing commands.

⁠Running with Docker Compose

Create a compose.yml (or use the example in the repository named compose-using-dockerhub-image.yml):

services:
  network-multitool:
    image: ericwastakenondocker/network-multitool:latest
    container_name: network-multitool
    hostname: network-multitool
    restart: unless-stopped
    network_mode: "host"
    environment:
      - HTTP_PORT=8080
      - HTTPS_PORT=1443
    volumes:
      - ./host-volume:/root/host-volume

Start the service:

# For newer Docker versions
docker compose up -d

# For older Docker versions
docker-compose up -d

⁠Additional Commands

Stop the container:

docker compose down
# or
docker stop network-multitool && docker rm network-multitool

View logs (includes the tiny web server and any commands you run that write to stdout/stderr):

docker logs -f network-multitool

Open a shell in the running container:

docker exec -it network-multitool /bin/bash

Run a single command inside the container (examples):

# Retrieve your public IP
docker exec -i network-multitool curl https://ifconfig.co

# Use Azure CLI (after az login)
docker exec -it network-multitool az account show

⁠How It Works

This image extends wbitt/network-multitool and adds:

1. Python 3 and pip, so you can run Python scripts and install packages.
2. The Microsoft Azure CLI (az) installed in an isolated virtual environment and symlinked to the PATH.
3. Common utilities like jq and curl for JSON processing and HTTP tooling.
4. A mapped host volume at /root/host-volume so you can easily share files with the container.

The underlying multitool image includes a small HTTP/HTTPS server which keeps the container running continuously. You can then exec into the container to use the tools as needed.

⁠Usage Notes

• Requires Docker (and optionally Docker Compose) installed on your machine.
• Host networking is used for accurate network testing from the host’s perspective.
• Map ./host-volume to /root/host-volume to edit scripts on your host and run them inside the container.
• Python packages can be pre-baked into the image by adding them to the build context (see the GitHub repo for details).

⁠GitHub

See the GitHub repo for more information, including helper scripts and examples:

https://github.com/ericwastaken/network-multitool⁠