Setup_remote_docker Architecture Change Phase 2 (jobs that use Docker Layer Caching)

Build Environment
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As of Feb 13, 2023, CircleCI has completed updating the underlying architecture for jobs that use setup_remote_docker for jobs that do not use Docker Layer Caching (DLC). See this post for details.

Starting Feb 17, 2023, CircleCI will begin a gradual upgrade to the underlying architecture for jobs that use setup_remote_docker AND DLC.

User impact:

  1. The new Remote Docker architecture generally results in faster job execution
  2. The new Remote Docker architecture is significantly simplified and improves the reliability and resiliency of the CircleCI platform
  3. The underlying implementation of DLC is also changing as part of this gradual upgrade

The new Remote Docker architecture no longer spins up a “remote” Docker engine, but instead runs all Docker commands locally. It will behave very similar to the “Linux VM ” execution environment.

Details on the new DLC implementation can be found in these two Discuss posts (1 & 2).

If you are seeing issues with jobs that use setup_remote_docker & DLC, please submit a support ticket at https://support.circleci.com/

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One small update, also described here:

Jobs that are using Docker’s Experimental mode will not be supported starting June 1, 2023. We have already been working with customers to find other ways of achieving the same results on CircleCI without Docker’s experimental mode.

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An update, this architecture change is now complete for all jobs that use DLC combined with setup_remote_docker. If you are seeing issues with either DLC or setup_remote_docker, please submit a support ticket at support.circleci.com