Fix: Docker Build Issue On Ubuntu 25.10

Nov 26, 2025 by Alex Johnson 40 views

Docker Build Issue on Ubuntu 25.10: A Comprehensive Guide

#1. Introduction

When working with Docker, encountering build issues can be a significant roadblock. This article addresses a specific problem: Docker build failures on Ubuntu 25.10. This issue manifests when a Docker build intended for Ubuntu 24.04 is attempted on Ubuntu 25.10. We will explore the root causes, provide a step-by-step guide to reproduce the issue, and, most importantly, offer solutions to overcome this hurdle. If you're grappling with Docker build problems on Ubuntu, this guide is tailored to help you achieve successful builds. We aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the issue and empower you with the knowledge to resolve it effectively. This involves not just addressing the symptoms but also understanding the underlying mechanics of Docker builds and Ubuntu version compatibility. Understanding these aspects is crucial for avoiding similar problems in the future and ensuring a smooth Docker development workflow.

#2. Understanding the Bug: Docker Build Failure on Ubuntu 25.10

At the heart of this issue is the incompatibility between the build environment (Ubuntu 25.10) and the target environment specified in the Dockerfile (Ubuntu 24.04). When you initiate a Docker build process, Docker follows the instructions laid out in your Dockerfile. These instructions often include specifying a base image, which essentially forms the foundation of your container. In this case, the base image is Ubuntu 24.04. However, the underlying system attempting to execute this build is Ubuntu 25.10. This discrepancy can lead to various conflicts, especially when the build process involves system-level operations or dependencies that are specific to a particular Ubuntu version. The error usually arises during the Docker build process because certain system calls, libraries, or package versions expected by the Ubuntu 24.04 base image might not be present or might behave differently in the Ubuntu 25.10 environment. This is a common challenge in containerization, where ensuring consistency across different environments is crucial. By understanding the root cause, you can better troubleshoot and implement solutions to maintain a consistent and reliable build process. This section aims to provide a clear understanding of this Ubuntu version incompatibility.

#3. Step-by-Step Guide to Reproduce the Docker Build Issue

To effectively address the Docker build issue on Ubuntu 25.10, it's essential to understand how to reproduce the bug. This section provides a detailed, step-by-step guide to replicate the problem, ensuring you can confirm the issue on your system and test potential solutions. By following these steps, you'll gain a practical understanding of the conditions that trigger the bug. This hands-on approach is invaluable for troubleshooting Docker build issues. This involves not just running the script but also observing the output and error messages. This detailed observation can provide clues about the exact point of failure and the underlying cause. Furthermore, this reproduction guide serves as a consistent baseline for testing fixes. Once you implement a potential solution, you can use these same steps to verify that the fix effectively resolves the issue without introducing new problems. This systematic approach to reproduction and testing is crucial for maintaining a stable and reliable Docker environment.

Steps to Reproduce:

Set up Ubuntu 25.10: Ensure you have a system running Ubuntu 25.10.
Obtain the build script: Acquire the buildx.sh script and the relevant Dockerfile (Dockerfile.ubuntu2404) that attempts to build an image based on Ubuntu 24.04. These files are crucial for simulating the problematic build environment. The script likely contains commands that leverage Docker Buildx, a powerful tool for building Docker images across multiple platforms. The Dockerfile, on the other hand, defines the instructions for building the image, including the base image (Ubuntu 24.04) and any dependencies or configurations.
Run the build script: Execute the script with the verbose flags using the command: ./buildx.sh -vv ubuntu2404. The -vv flag enables verbose output, providing detailed information about each step of the build process. This detailed output is essential for identifying the exact point of failure and understanding the sequence of operations leading up to the error.
Observe the output: Carefully examine the output for any error messages. The key error to look for is related to file or directory not found, specifically an lstat error for /include/cryptoki, as indicated in the original bug report. This error suggests that the build process is attempting to access a file or directory that does not exist within the build context. This can be due to various reasons, such as incorrect file paths in the Dockerfile or missing dependencies within the base image. By closely observing the output, you can pinpoint the exact step in the Dockerfile that is causing the error.

#4. Analyzing the Error: The Root Cause of the Failure

Upon running the script, the error message ERROR: failed to build: failed to solve: lstat /include/cryptoki: no such file or directory clearly indicates a file or directory access problem. To understand the root cause, it's crucial to dissect this error message within the context of the Docker build process. The lstat command is a system call used to retrieve the status of a file or directory. In this case, the build process is failing because it cannot find the /include/cryptoki directory. This directory is expected to contain header files related to cryptographic token interface (cryptoki), which are necessary for building software that interacts with Hardware Security Modules (HSMs). The Dockerfile attempts to copy these header files in step 6: COPY ./include/cryptoki/ncipher.* ./include/cryptoki/luna.* include/cryptoki/. However, the error suggests that the source directory ./include/cryptoki does not exist within the build context. This could be due to several reasons:

Missing files in the project: The include/cryptoki directory might not be present in the project's file structure on the host machine.
Incorrect path in Dockerfile: The path specified in the COPY command might be incorrect, leading Docker to look for the directory in the wrong location.
Build context issue: The build context, which is the set of files and directories available to the Docker build process, might not include the include/cryptoki directory. The build context is typically the current directory when you run the docker build command, but it can be explicitly specified using the -f flag. If the include/cryptoki directory is outside the build context, Docker will not be able to access it.
Base image incompatibility: Although less likely in this specific scenario, there could be underlying incompatibilities between the base image (Ubuntu 24.04) and the host system (Ubuntu 25.10) that are indirectly contributing to this issue. For example, if the build process relies on certain system libraries or tools that are not available or behave differently in Ubuntu 25.10, it could lead to unexpected errors. However, based on the error message, the most likely cause is a problem with the file or directory path or the build context.

To further pinpoint the root cause, it's essential to examine the project's file structure and verify that the include/cryptoki directory exists and contains the necessary files. Additionally, carefully reviewing the Dockerfile and the docker build command can help identify any errors in file paths or build context configuration. This thorough analysis is crucial for developing an effective solution.

#5. Solutions: Resolving the Docker Build Failure

Now that we've identified the root cause of the Docker build failure on Ubuntu 25.10, let's explore several solutions to address this issue. The most effective approach depends on the specific cause identified in your analysis. Here are the primary solutions to consider:

Solution 1: Verify and Correct File Paths:

The first step is to meticulously verify the file paths in your Dockerfile, particularly the COPY instruction that's causing the error. Ensure that the path to the include/cryptoki directory is correct relative to the build context. This involves checking the following:

Correct spelling and capitalization: File and directory names are case-sensitive in most file systems, so ensure that the spelling and capitalization in the Dockerfile match the actual names in your project.
Relative paths: The paths in the COPY instruction are relative to the build context. Double-check that the include/cryptoki directory is located in the correct relative path within your project.
Typos: Even a small typo in the file path can cause the lstat error. Carefully review the path for any typographical errors.

If you identify any incorrect paths, correct them in the Dockerfile and try the build again. This is often the simplest and most direct solution for file-not-found errors.

Solution 2: Adjust the Build Context:

The build context is the set of files and directories that are available to the Docker build process. If the include/cryptoki directory is located outside the default build context (which is typically the current directory), Docker will not be able to access it. To resolve this, you can adjust the build context by specifying a different directory when running the docker build command. For example, if your project's root directory contains the include/cryptoki directory and the Dockerfile, you can run the following command:

docker build -t your-image-name .

The . at the end of the command specifies the current directory as the build context. If the include/cryptoki directory is located in a different directory, replace . with the path to that directory. Alternatively, you can use the -f flag to specify the path to the Dockerfile and the build context separately:

docker build -f path/to/Dockerfile -t your-image-name path/to/build/context

This allows you to build the image from any location, as long as you provide the correct paths.

Solution 3: Ensure Files are Present:

If the file paths and build context are correct, the issue might be that the include/cryptoki directory and its contents are simply missing from your project. Verify that the directory exists in your project's file structure and that it contains the necessary header files (ncipher.* and luna.*). If the directory or files are missing, you'll need to add them to your project. This might involve:

Cloning the repository: If the files are part of an external library or project, you might need to clone the repository to obtain them.
Copying the files: If you have the files locally, copy them to the correct location within your project.
Generating the files: In some cases, the header files might be generated as part of a build process. Ensure that you run the necessary build steps to generate these files before running the docker build command.

Solution 4: Debugging within the Dockerfile:

Sometimes, the issue is not immediately apparent from the error message. In such cases, it can be helpful to add debugging steps directly into the Dockerfile. This allows you to inspect the file system and verify that the expected files and directories are present at each stage of the build process. You can use the RUN instruction to execute commands within the container during the build. For example, you can add the following commands to your Dockerfile before the COPY instruction:

RUN ls -l ./include
RUN ls -l ./include/cryptoki

These commands will list the contents of the ./include and ./include/cryptoki directories during the build process. By examining the output, you can verify whether the directories exist and whether they contain the expected files. If the directories are missing, this will provide a clear indication of the problem. You can also use other debugging tools within the Dockerfile, such as pwd to print the current working directory and cat to display the contents of files. Remember to remove these debugging steps once you've resolved the issue, as they are not necessary for the final image.

Solution 5: Handling Ubuntu Version Specific Issues

In some instances, the core issue might stem from the Ubuntu version discrepancy. While the error message points to a file not found, the underlying cause could be related to how Ubuntu 25.10 handles certain system calls or libraries compared to Ubuntu 24.04. To address this, consider these steps:

Multi-stage builds: Employ Docker's multi-stage builds to create a build environment that closely mirrors the target environment. This involves using an Ubuntu 24.04 base image for the build stage and then copying the necessary artifacts to a final image. This approach minimizes the impact of the host system's environment on the build process. Here’s a basic example:
```
# Build stage
FROM ubuntu:24.04 as builder
WORKDIR /app
COPY . .
# Add build commands here

# Final stage
FROM ubuntu:24.04
WORKDIR /app
COPY --from=builder /app/output .
```
Target specific base images: Instead of relying on a generic Ubuntu 24.04 image, explore version-specific base images that include necessary dependencies and configurations for your application. This reduces the chances of encountering compatibility issues.
Conditional logic in Dockerfile: Implement conditional logic in your Dockerfile to handle version-specific differences. This can involve using environment variables or build arguments to adjust build steps based on the Ubuntu version. However, this approach adds complexity and should be used judiciously.

By implementing these solutions, you can effectively tackle the Docker build failure on Ubuntu 25.10 and ensure a smooth build process.

#6. Preventing Future Docker Build Issues: Best Practices

Resolving the immediate Docker build failure is crucial, but preventing similar issues in the future is even more valuable. By adopting best practices in your Docker workflow, you can minimize the risk of encountering build problems and ensure a smoother development experience. Here are key practices to consider:

Use Specific Base Images: Always specify a precise version for your base images, such as ubuntu:24.04 rather than just ubuntu. This ensures consistency across different build environments. Using version tags helps avoid unexpected changes that can occur with rolling tags like latest.
Maintain a Clean Build Context: Keep your build context as minimal as possible. Avoid including unnecessary files and directories, as this can increase build times and potentially introduce conflicts. A clean build context makes it easier to identify and resolve issues.
Leverage .dockerignore: Use a .dockerignore file to exclude unnecessary files and directories from the build context. This is similar to a .gitignore file for Git repositories. By excluding files that are not required for the build, you can reduce the size of the build context and improve build performance.
Implement Multi-Stage Builds: Multi-stage builds are an excellent way to create smaller and more efficient Docker images. By using separate build and runtime stages, you can include build tools and dependencies only in the build stage and then copy the necessary artifacts to a minimal runtime image. This reduces the final image size and improves security.
Test Your Images: Regularly test your Docker images in different environments to ensure they behave as expected. This includes testing on different operating systems and Docker versions. Automated testing can help catch issues early in the development process.
Centralized Logging and Monitoring: Implement centralized logging and monitoring for your Docker containers. This allows you to track the behavior of your applications and identify any issues that might arise. Logging can provide valuable insights into the root cause of build failures and runtime errors.

By incorporating these best practices into your Docker workflow, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of encountering build issues and maintain a more reliable and efficient development pipeline. This proactive approach saves time and effort in the long run.

#7. Conclusion

In conclusion, addressing Docker build issues, particularly the failure on Ubuntu 25.10, requires a systematic approach. By understanding the root cause, following a step-by-step reproduction guide, and implementing the appropriate solutions, you can overcome this challenge. The key takeaways include the importance of verifying file paths, adjusting the build context, ensuring files are present, and handling Ubuntu version-specific issues. Furthermore, adopting preventative measures and best practices in your Docker workflow is crucial for minimizing future build problems. This includes using specific base images, maintaining a clean build context, leveraging .dockerignore, implementing multi-stage builds, and regularly testing your images. By embracing these practices, you can ensure a smoother and more efficient Docker development experience. Remember, troubleshooting Docker builds is a valuable skill that can save you significant time and effort in the long run. By mastering these techniques, you'll be better equipped to handle any build-related challenges that come your way. This article serves as a comprehensive guide, empowering you with the knowledge and tools to resolve Docker build issues effectively and prevent them from recurring.

For further information on Docker best practices, visit the official Docker Documentation.