Install Docker Machine

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

On macOS and Windows, Machine is installed along with other Docker products when you install the Docker for Mac, Docker for Windows, or Docker Toolbox.

If you want only Docker Machine, you can install the Machine binaries directly by following the instructions in the next section. You can find the latest versions of the binaries are on the docker/machine release page on GitHub.

Installing Machine Directly

  1. Install the Docker binary.

  2. Download the Docker Machine binary and extract it to your PATH.

    If you are running on macOS:

    $ curl -L https://github.com/docker/machine/releases/download/v0.9.0/docker-machine-`uname -s`-`uname -m` >/usr/local/bin/docker-machine && \
    chmod +x /usr/local/bin/docker-machine
    

    If you are running on Linux:

    $ curl -L https://github.com/docker/machine/releases/download/v0.9.0/docker-machine-`uname -s`-`uname -m` >/tmp/docker-machine &&
      chmod +x /tmp/docker-machine &&
      sudo cp /tmp/docker-machine /usr/local/bin/docker-machine
    

    If you are running with Windows with git bash:

    $ if [[ ! -d "$HOME/bin" ]]; then mkdir -p "$HOME/bin"; fi && \
      curl -L https://github.com/docker/machine/releases/download/v0.9.0/docker-machine-Windows-x86_64.exe > "$HOME/bin/docker-machine.exe" && \
      chmod +x "$HOME/bin/docker-machine.exe"
    

    Otherwise, download one of the releases from the docker/machine release page directly.

  3. Check the installation by displaying the Machine version:

    $ docker-machine version
    docker-machine version 0.8.2, build e18a919
    

Installing bash completion scripts

The Machine repository supplies several bash scripts that add features such as:

  • command completion
  • a function that displays the active machine in your shell prompt
  • a function wrapper that adds a docker-machine use subcommand to switch the active machine

To install the scripts, copy or link them into your /etc/bash_completion.d or /usr/local/etc/bash_completion.d directory. To enable the docker-machine shell prompt, add $(__docker_machine_ps1) to your PS1 setting in ~/.bashrc.

PS1='[\u@\h \W$(__docker_machine_ps1)]\$ '

You can find additional documentation in the comments at the top of each script.

How to uninstall

To uninstall Docker Machine:

  • Remove the executable: rm $(which docker-machine)

  • Optionally, remove the machines you created.

    To remove each machine individually: docker-machine rm <machine-name>

    To remove all machines: docker-machine rm -f $(docker-machine ls -q)

Removing machines is an optional step because there are cases where you might want to save and migrate existing machines to a Docker for Mac or Docker for Windows environment, for example.

Where to go next

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