Running RStudio Server on Openshift Online

Question

Openshift Online does not allow containers running processes as root for security reasons (see the corresponding question in their FAQ section). RStudio Server, on the other hand, requires root privileges for installation and certain operations. According to the RStudio Server admin guide:

RStudio Server runs as the system root user during startup and then drops this privilege and runs as a more restricted user. RStudio Server then re-assumes root privilege for a brief instant when creating R sessions on behalf of users (the server needs to call setresuid when creating the R session, and this call requires root privilege).

Under these circumstances, is it somehow possible to get an RStudio Server docker container running on Openshift Online?

Answer 1

Using OpenShift Online the short answer is no, you will not be able to get it running. You would need to find a Docker image for it which is a single user version and doesn't implement a system whereby is trying to provide it for multiple users and expects to be able to switch user identity.