start docker daemon mac

Running Docker daemon on your Mac OS X operating system is easier than you might think. Here is a step-by-step guideline on how to achieve it.

Docker provides a software platform that allows you to automate the deployment, scaling, and management of applications. The docker daemon is a persistent background process that manages docker containers. It’s crucial to run the Docker daemon for the effective functioning of the Docker containers. Follow these steps to start the Docker daemon on Mac.

Step 1: Install Docker on Mac

Firstly, you need to have Docker installed on your Mac computer. If you haven’t installed it yet, go to the Docker website and download the Docker Desktop application suitable for your Mac OS X version. Double click on the downloaded “.dmg” file and follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation.

Step 2: Launch Docker Desktop

Once the installation is complete, you can launch Docker Desktop by pressing CMD + Space on your keyboard. Then, in the Spotlight search bar that appears, type ‘Docker’ and hit Return to start the Docker application.

Step 3: Confirm Docker Is Running

Check the top-right part of your Mac’s menu bar to be sure that Docker is running. You should see a small Docker icon – that’s the Whale icon. If it is present and steady, it signifies that Docker is running successfully.

Step 4: Start Docker Daemon

Now, to start the Docker daemon, open the Terminal app on your Mac. You can find it in your Applications folder, inside the Utilities folder. Once the terminal opens up, type in open --background -a Docker, then press Return on your keyboard. This command aim to start the Docker daemon.

Also, note that every time you restart or boot your Mac, Docker daemon should start up automatically.

Step 5: Test Docker Daemon

To confirm that Docker daemon is functioning properly, you can run the simple Docker command docker run hello-world in your terminal. This command will download and run a test image in a container. If this works and you can see a message welcoming you to Docker, then it signifies Docker daemon is running and functioning properly on your Mac.

Congratulations! You have successfully started Docker daemon on your Mac. You can now proceed to use Docker to create, manage, and use containers. Remember, knowing how to manage Docker daemon is the first step in mastering Docker itself. Happy Dockering!