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Docker Setup

Installation

brew install --cask docker

Or download from docker.com

curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
# logout and login

# winget
winget install Docker.DockerDesktop

# scoop
scoop install docker

Or download from docker.com

Running Docker in VDI Environment

In corporate VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) environments, Docker Desktop may require elevated privileges to run properly.

Step 1: Right-click Docker Desktop

Right-click the Docker Desktop shortcut and select Run with Administrator Privileges.

Docker Admin Menu

Step 2: Provide Elevation Reason

A Privilege Elevation dialog will appear. Enter a reason (e.g., "Development work") and click Continue.

Privilege Elevation Dialog

Step 3: Confirmation

You'll see a confirmation that Docker is now running with administrator privileges.

Privilege Elevated Successfully

TIP: If Docker fails to start containers or shows permission errors, running with elevated privileges usually resolves these issues in VDI environments.

Login to Azure Container Registry

Before pulling images from Azure Container Registry (ACR), you need to authenticate with Azure first.

WARNING: In VDI environments, run these commands in a normal terminal (not elevated). ACR login does not work in terminals started with administrator privileges.

Step 1: Login to Azure

az login

Or use device code for remote/VDI sessions:

az login --use-device-code

Step 2: Select Subscription

List available subscriptions and select the correct one:

az account list -o table
az account set -s "<subscription-name-or-id>"

Step 3: Login to ACR

az acr login -n <acr-name>

Step 4: Docker Login

docker login <acr-name>.azurecr.io

NOTE: ACR login tokens are valid for 3 hours. Re-run az acr login and docker login if you get authentication errors.

Troubleshooting: Docker Login Still Fails

If docker login still doesn't work, edit the Docker config file:

  • Windows: %USERPROFILE%\.docker\config.json
  • macOS/Linux: ~/.docker/config.json

Change credsStore from:

"credsStore": "wincred",

To:

"credsStore": "",

Then retry the docker login command.

Custom Install Path (Windows)

Don't double-click the installer. Use command line to specify custom paths.

# Run as Administrator
cd ~\Downloads
Start-Process -Wait -FilePath ".\Docker Desktop Installer.exe" -ArgumentList "install", "-accept-license", "--installation-dir=D:\Docker", "--wsl-default-data-root=D:\Docker\images"

:: Run as Administrator
cd %USERPROFILE%\Downloads
start /w "" "Docker Desktop Installer.exe" install -accept-license --installation-dir=D:\Docker --wsl-default-data-root=D:\Docker\images

Flags explained:

Flag Purpose
-accept-license Auto-accept license agreement
--installation-dir=D:\Docker Install Docker app to D:\Docker
--wsl-default-data-root=D:\Docker\images Store WSL data & images on D:

NOTE: Without --wsl-default-data-root, images still go to %HOME%\AppData\Local\Docker

Custom Data Path (Post-Install)

Docker Desktop → Settings → Resources → Disk image location

Edit /etc/docker/daemon.json:

{
  "data-root": "/path/to/docker"
}

sudo systemctl restart docker

Docker Desktop → Settings → Resources → Disk image location

Common Commands

docker ps                     # running containers
docker ps -a                  # all containers
docker images                 # list images
docker system prune -a        # cleanup

Compose

docker compose up -d
docker compose down
docker compose logs -f