Hey everyone! I'm trying to get Docker Compose installed on my Windows Server VM (running version 21H2). I successfully installed Docker CE/Moby using a PowerShell script, but it seems like Docker Compose wasn't included. I went ahead and downloaded the correct executable from the repository, but when I type "docker info" in PowerShell, it doesn't show up. I found the plugins folder under C:ProgramDatadocker, and even moved the compose executable there, but it still isn't recognized in my command line. Also, the "docker info" command shows that C:ProgramDatadocker is the root installation directory. I could really use some guidance since I'm not particularly experienced with Docker. For a bit of background, we're using Windows to avoid managing Linux servers, as most of our infrastructure is Windows-based. We're in a rush to get a new product running, but we need Docker for some crucial functionalities. Thanks in advance for any help!
4 Answers
To add on, if Docker Desktop isn't an option for you, just keep in mind that Docker Compose is separate from the Docker CLI in non-desktop scenarios. Make sure to check the documentation for correct installation steps!
Yeah, if you're looking to run Linux docker images, you'll need a Linux server because Docker CE on Windows Server only supports Windows containers. You might want to consider creating a Linux VM using Hyper-V to handle that, especially for the application you're trying to set up. It would save you a lot of headaches in the long run!
From what you've said, it seems like you're on the right track. Just a heads up, Docker Compose on Windows is a separate executable, not a plugin for Docker Engine. So, instead of using "docker info" to check if it’s installed, try running `docker-compose --version` in PowerShell. If you’ve correctly added it to your PATH, it should show you the version. If it doesn’t, you might just have to copy the compose executable to a directory that's already in your PATH.
If you already have Docker Compose installed but it’s not being recognized, you might need to adjust your PATH variable. This can often be the issue when a command isn’t found. If you’re unsure how to do this, there are guides out there for changing system variables on Windows, which could help clear that up.
Yeah, I heard about that. I’ll double-check my PATH settings just to be sure everything's set up right.
That makes sense, but isn’t there an easy way to get it recognized without messing around with PATH variables? Wouldn’t just dropping it into the C:ProgramDatadocker folder work?