How to access JMX interface in docker from outside?

Question

I am trying to remotely monitor a JVM running in docker. The configuration looks like this:

• machine 1: runs a JVM (in my case, running kafka) in docker on

Answer 1

I found it that trying to set up JMX over RMI is a pain, especially because of the -Djava.rmi.server.hostname= which you have to specify on startup. We're running our docker images in Kubernetes where everything is dynamic.

I ended up using JMXMP instead of RMI, as this only need one TCP port open, and no hostname.

My current project uses Spring, which can be configured by adding this:

(Outside Spring you need to set up your own JMXConncetorServer in order to make this work)

Along with this dependency (since JMXMP is an optional extension and not a part of the JDK):

    org.glassfish.main.external
    jmxremote_optional-repackaged
    4.1.1

And you need to add the same jar your your classpath when starting JVisualVM in order to connect over JMXMP:

jvisualvm -cp "$JAVA_HOME/lib/tools.jar:/jmxremote_optional-repackaged-4.1.1.jar"

Then connect with the following connection string:

service:jmx:jmxmp://

(Default port is 9875)