Documentation: ROS Docker Setup is incorrect

[raymondlo84]

Description

https://docs.isaacsim.omniverse.nvidia.com/5.1.0/installation/install_ros.html#isaac-sim-app-enable-ros

xhost +

docker run -it --rm --net=host --env="DISPLAY" --env="ROS_DOMAIN_ID" -v ~/IsaacSim-ros_workspaces/jazzy_ws:/jazzy_ws --name ros_ws_docker arm64v8/ros:jazzy /bin/bash

the --rm will remove the container after execution, thus

docker exec -it ros_ws_docker /bin/bash -c 'source /opt/ros/$ROS_DISTRO/setup.bash; exec bash'

this command in the next step of the tutorial won't work as ros_ws_docker does not exist.

Isaac Sim version

5.1.0

Operating System (OS)

24.04

GPU Name

Spark

GPU Driver and CUDA versions

NVIDIA-SMI 580.95.05 Driver Version: 580.95.05 CUDA Version: 13.0

Logs

No response

Additional information

No response

[vick-yu]

Thank you for reporting this @raymondlo84! You're absolutely right that the documentation could be clearer about the intended workflow.

Clarification on the Docker Workflow

The --rm flag is intentional, but the documentation should better explain the workflow:
Step 3 creates and enters a persistent Docker container that continues running as long as you don't exit it:

docker run -it --rm --net=host --env="DISPLAY" --env="ROS_DOMAIN_ID" \  -v ~/IsaacSim-ros_workspaces/jazzy_ws:/jazzy_ws \  --name ros_ws_docker arm64v8/ros:jazzy /bin/bash

Step 7 is for opening additional terminals into the same running container while it's still active:

docker exec -it ros_ws_docker /bin/bash -c 'source /opt/ros/$ROS_DISTRO/setup.bash; exec bash'

The key point: Do not exit the terminal from Step 3. That terminal keeps the container alive. Step 7 is for when you need multiple terminals working in the same container simultaneously (e.g., one running ROS nodes, another running rviz, etc.).