Manage & Deploy Applications

ALPON X4 · ALPON X5 AI · Sixfab Connect · Container Deployment

Deploy and manage containerized applications on your ALPON device through the Sixfab Connect platform. This guide covers two deployment methods, container access options, and day-to-day application management.

ℹ️

ARM64 Architecture ALPON devices are built on ARM64. All container images deployed on the device must be compatible with the linux/arm64 platform. Most official images on Docker Hub (nginx, redis, mysql, etc.) provide ARM64 variants.

Getting Started Deploy from Docker Hub Deploy via Sixfab Registry Access the Container Manage Containers

Getting Started with Application Deployment

ALPON devices use container-based application deployment to provide a robust, scalable, and efficient environment. Containers run in isolated environments, reducing conflicts and ensuring better resource utilization.

Two deployment methods are available:

Method 1

Docker Hub

Quick Start

Pull ARM64-compatible images directly from Docker Hub. No additional setup required — ideal for getting started quickly with pre-existing images.

Method 2

Sixfab Registry

Advanced / Recommended

Build and push your own custom images to the Sixfab Registry. Recommended for tailored functionality, specific configurations, or production deployments.

Deploying a Container from Docker Hub

Pull an ARM64-compatible image directly from Docker Hub and deploy it on your ALPON device without additional configuration. The following steps use nginx as an example.

Navigate to the Applications Tab

Log in to the Sixfab Connect platform.
Select your registered ALPON device under Assets.
Click the Applications tab.
Click + Deploy to start creating a new container.

Configure Container Settings

Container Name

A descriptive name for your application (e.g., MyNginxApp).

Image

Check "I would like to use my own container path" and enter the image path (e.g., nginx:latest). This pulls directly from Docker Hub.

Environments

Add key-value pairs to set environment variables inside the container (e.g., DATABASE_URL: my-database-url).

Ports

Map external device ports to internal container ports. Valid range: 30000–32767. Example: external 30800 → internal 80.

Volumes

Bind directories or files from the device to the container for persistent data storage. Learn more →

Host Network

Allows the container to use the host device's network stack directly. Suitable for applications requiring direct host network access. Learn more →

Privileged

Grants the container root access to all host devices. Use carefully — this poses security risks. Learn more →

Port and environment variable configuration

Deploy the Container

Review the configuration to ensure all fields are correct, then click + Deploy to launch the container.

Once deployed, the application will be accessible via the mapped port (e.g., http://[Device_IP]:30800).

Deployed container listed in Applications tab

Deploying a Custom Image via Sixfab Registry

For advanced use cases, build your own container image and push it to the Sixfab Registry. This method is recommended when you need specific configurations, custom application logic, or preloaded content.

Prepare Your Image

Ensure Docker and Docker Buildx are installed on your local computer.

Install Docker

Windows and Mac: Download Docker Desktop from the official Docker website. Docker Buildx is included by default.
Linux: Follow the Docker documentation for your distribution, then verify Buildx is available:

docker buildx version

Create a Dockerfile

Create a file named Dockerfile in your project directory. Example for testing:

FROM nginx:stable-alpine

RUN echo "Test successful, actively running." > /usr/share/nginx/html/index.html

Build the Image

Navigate to the directory containing the Dockerfile and run the following command. The --platform linux/arm64 flag ensures the image is compatible with your ALPON device.

docker buildx build --load --platform linux/arm64 -t first-app:latest ./

Push the Image to Sixfab Registry

Find Your Registry Username

Set Your Registry Password

If you have not set a registry password yet, click Reset Password on the Registry page and follow the on-screen instructions.

⚠️

The password is displayed only once. Save it securely before closing the dialog. If lost, use the Reset Password button to generate a new one.

Log in to the Registry

docker login cr.sixfab.io --username [your_username]

Enter your registry password when prompted.

Verify the Local Image

docker images

REPOSITORY    TAG       IMAGE ID       CREATED        SIZE
first-app     latest    4bfb6d85adc2   1 hours ago    53.1MB

Tag the Image

docker tag first-app:latest cr.sixfab.io/[your_username]/first-app:latest

Push the Image

docker push cr.sixfab.io/[your_username]/first-app:latest

Verify in the Registry

Once the push is complete, refresh the Registry page on the platform to confirm the image appears and is ready for deployment.

💡

Registry Limits Each account has a default quota of 10 GB storage and 100 image tags. Uploads that exceed either limit will be rejected. Contact Sixfab support if you need a quota increase.

Deploy the Container

Go to the Applications tab on your device's asset page and click + Deploy.

Container Name: Provide a name for your container.
Image: Select the image you just pushed from the Sixfab Registry dropdown.

Port: Assign a unique port. If 30800 is already in use, assign 30900 or another available port in the 30000–32767 range.
Review and Deploy: Double-check the configuration, then click + Deploy.

Access to the Container

Once deployed, there are three ways to access a running container depending on your network setup.

🌐

Local Network

Access via the device's local IP address from any machine on the same network.

💻

Remote Terminal

Use the Sixfab Connect remote terminal to reach the container from anywhere — no local network required.

🖥️

Connected Monitor

Connect a display directly to the device and open a browser on the device itself.

Access from Local Network

Find your device's IP address on the Network tab of the platform, then open a browser on any computer connected to the same network:

http://[Device_IP]:30800

nginx welcome page accessed via local network — nginx welcome page served from the ALPON device

Access via Remote Terminal

If the device is not on the local network, go to the Device tab and click Open Remote Terminal. Then run:

Open Remote Terminal button on Device tab

curl http://127.0.0.1:30800

curl output showing container is running — Successful curl response confirms the container is running

Access via Monitor Connected to Device

Connect a monitor via HDMI, open a browser on the device, and navigate to http://127.0.0.1:30800.

Manage Containers

Once deployed, containers can be monitored and controlled directly from the Sixfab Connect platform.

Container management panel with action buttons

📊

View Status

Check container performance, resource usage, and runtime state.

💻

Open Container Terminal

Open a remote terminal directly inside the running container for command-line access.

▶️

Run / Pause / Restart

Start, pause, or restart containers without redeploying.

🗑️

Delete

Permanently remove a container from the device.

✏️

Edit Deployment

Update container settings, change the image version, or modify port and volume mappings.

✅

You're all set Your containerized application is deployed and running on the ALPON device. Use the management controls above for ongoing operations, or contact the Sixfab support team for assistance with containerization.