Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-15

How to Fix: docker cp command get system error

Docker export error due to relocation issue with libc.so.6 and GLIBC_PRIVATE symbol.

Quick Answer: Update the system to a newer version that supports GLIBC_PRIVATE, or use a different method to transfer files from the container.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 🛑 Root Causes of the Error
  2. ✅ Best Solutions to Fix It
  3. 💡 Conclusion

The 'docker cp' command error occurs when attempting to export a Docker container's filesystem using 'docker export'. This issue affects users who are trying to transfer files from a running or stopped container. The error message typically includes a relocation error, indicating that the system cannot find a specific library file.

This problem can be frustrating for developers and IT professionals who rely on Docker for containerization. However, with the right steps, you can resolve this issue and successfully export your container's filesystem.

🛑 Root Causes of the Error

  • The primary reason for this error is that the 'docker cp' command requires a Linux-based system to function correctly. In this case, the CentOS 7.6 operating system, with its kernel version of Linux 4.4.186-1.el7.elrepo.x86_64, may not have the necessary libraries or dependencies to support the export process.
  • An alternative reason could be related to the Docker version and build number used. In this scenario, using a Docker version as old as 19.03.0 might cause compatibility issues with newer system libraries.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Update Docker and System Libraries

  1. Step 1: Update Docker on your CentOS 7.6 server to the latest version available. This can be done by running the command 'sudo yum update docker' or 'sudo yum install -y docker'. After updating, restart the Docker service with 'sudo systemctl restart docker'.
  2. Step 2: Verify that all necessary system libraries are up-to-date. Run 'sudo yum check-update' to identify any outdated packages and then proceed to update them using 'sudo yum update'. This ensures compatibility between your system libraries and the required libraries for the 'docker cp' command.
  3. Step 3: After updating Docker and system libraries, attempt to export the container's filesystem again using the 'docker export' command.

Use a Different Export Method

  1. Step 1: Consider utilizing the 'docker save' command instead of 'docker export'. The 'docker save' method can provide an alternative way to transfer files from a container.
  2. Step 2: Run the 'docker save acf -o test.tar' command using the 'docker save' option. This might resolve any issues related to the 'docker cp' command not being able to process the tar file correctly.

💡 Conclusion

By updating Docker and system libraries, or by utilizing an alternative export method like 'docker save', you can successfully resolve the 'docker cp' command error and transfer files from your container's filesystem.

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