Original: https://zwischenzugs.wordpress.com/2015/05/24/convert-any-server-to-a-docker-container/
#Step 1 Install ShutIt as root:
sudo su -
pip install shutit
The pre-requisites are python-pip, git and docker. The exact names of these in your package manager may vary slightly (eg docker-io or docker.io) depending on your distro.
You may need to make sure the docker server is running too, eg with ‘systemctl start docker’ or ‘service docker start’.
#Step 2 Check out the copyserver script:
git clone https://github.com/ianmiell/shutit_copyserver.git
#Step 3 Run the copy_server script:
cd shutit_copyserver/bin
./copy_server.sh
There is a prompt to ask what docker base image you want to use. Make sure you use one as close to the original server as possible.
#Step 4 Run the built image:
docker run -ti [username]/copyserver /bin/bash
You are now in a practical facsimile of your server within a docker container!