Docker Pull Error: 'failed to write digest data' - Troubleshooting Guide

Docker Pull Error: 'failed to write digest data' - Troubleshooting Guide

You've encountered the following error while pulling a Docker image:

docker pull registry:2
2: Pulling from library/registry
31e352740f53: Pull complete
7f9bcf943fa5: Pull complete
3c98a1678a82: Pull complete
51f7a5bb21d4: Pull complete
3f044f23c427: Pull complete
failed to write digest data: open '/volume1/@docker/image/vfs/imagedb/content/sha256/.tmp-4bb5ea59f8e007f17a6a71f7abfd9c0b544c2ddc53d74666cf0820147157c65e2390500714': no such file or directory

This error indicates that Docker is unable to locate the specified file or directory. It is often caused by file system permission issues or problems with your storage driver.

Here's a breakdown of common solutions:

1. Check File System Permissions

Ensure Docker has read and write permissions to the relevant directories. Depending on your system, you may need to adjust permissions manually or through Docker settings.

2. Review Storage Driver Configuration

Check if your storage driver is correctly configured. You can try switching to overlay2 or aufs if currently using another driver. Use the following command to view the current storage driver:

docker info | grep 'Storage Driver'

3. Docker Machine Disk Space and Instance

If you're using Docker Machine, ensure your host machine has sufficient disk space. Try recreating your Docker Machine instance if necessary.

4. Restart Docker Services (Windows/Mac)

For Docker for Windows or Docker for Mac, try restarting the Docker service. This can often resolve temporary file system issues.

5. Reinstall Docker (If all else fails)

As a last resort, consider uninstalling and reinstalling Docker. This will ensure a fresh installation with no corrupted files or settings.

Additional Tips:

• Disk Space: Make sure you have enough disk space available for Docker to operate.
• Background Processes: Close any applications or processes that might be interfering with Docker's file access.
• System Updates: Install any available operating system updates. These often include security patches that can address underlying file system issues.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the 'failed to write digest data' error and successfully pull your desired Docker images.