As enterprises navigate increasingly complex hybrid IT environments, the ability to securely and efficiently move data across systems is critical. Managed file transfer (MFT) solutions like XCOM are essential for ensuring reliable, auditable, and secure data movement across both on-premises and cloud infrastructures. Now, with the availability of XCOM for Linux as a Docker container, organizations can take advantage of containerization to simplify deployment, improve scalability, and gain finer control over system resources.
Docker allows you to package an application and its dependencies into a self-contained unit that can run consistently across any Linux environment where Docker is installed. Running XCOM in a Docker container not only accelerates setup and maintenance but also brings the flexibility to run multiple isolated XCOM instances on a single host—each with its own configurations, ports, and storage paths. This modernized approach aligns with DevOps practices, enables faster iterations, and supports more efficient, scalable operations.
In this post, we’ll explore the key benefits of running XCOM as a Docker container and how this approach enhances performance, control, and agility in hybrid IT environments.
XCOM for Linux is available for installation and operation as a Docker container–allowing you to control resources/users that applications can access using docker compose files during startup time. It lets you run multiple XCOM containers in parallel with more granular control over the resources that XCOM can use on the system. To confine the file system scope of the container, assign only the selected storage locations as volumes to the container. The container can only read and write files from its assigned storage locations. You can run multiple XCOM Data Transport containers on the same host server; and you can assign separate ports and file storage locations to each container.
Here are a few benefits of running XCOM as a Docker container:
Environment consistency: XCOM packages the application binaries with all its dependencies and environment variables. This bridges the inconsistencies between testing and staging production environments and eliminates the "it works on my machine" problems in deployment lifecycle.
Simplified shipped code and installation: XCOM users on Linux can install more efficiently, reducing the installation and maintenance time and minimizing the learning curve.
Scaling: Multiple XCOM instances on a system can listen on different ports for incoming connections (and therefore multiple, concurrent transfers).
Isolation: Users can isolate different XCOM instances for different departments, providing more control over user access and maintenance activities.
DevOps approach: Users can build their own XCOM container using a Docker file, enabling XCOM integration into modern application workflows. Docker has a strong ecosystem with growing popularity and vibrant community support and is having numerous adopters.
Hybrid environments often involve a mix of legacy infrastructure, private clouds, and public cloud services, creating complexities in data integration and security. XCOM can help streamline these operations by offering centralized control, automation, and encryption, reducing the risk of data breaches and compliance violations. It can also enhance visibility and tracking, allowing organizations to monitor file transfers in real time and troubleshoot issues proactively.
If you would like to learn more about how an MFT solution can improve your hybrid IT environment, please check out our website to learn more about XCOM Data Transport.