[SOLVED] Cannot Connect to the Docker Daemon (Multiple scenarios)

Docker is a popular tool developer use to build, run, and deploy applications. However, sometimes you may encounter issues when working with Docker. The “Cannot connect to the Docker daemon” error is a common problem. In the troubleshooting article, we will discuss why this error may occur and how to troubleshoot it.

Docker Daemon Overview

Before diving into the troubleshooting steps, it’s essential to understand the Docker daemon. The Docker daemon is a background process that manages Docker objects, such as images, containers, networks, and volumes. It listens for Docker API requests and performs the requested actions. When you use Docker commands, such as docker run or docker build, you send requests to the Docker daemon.

Reasons for the “Cannot Connect to the Docker Daemon” Error

You may encounter the “Cannot Connect to the Docker Daemon” error for several reasons. One of the most common reasons is that the Docker daemon is not running. To check if the Docker daemon is running, you can use the following command:

sudo systemctl status docker

If the Docker daemon is not running, you can start it using the following command:

sudo systemctl start docker

Another reason why you may encounter this error is that you don’t have the necessary permissions to access the Docker daemon. By default, only the root user and users in the docker group can access the Docker daemon. To add your user to the docker group, you can use the following command:

sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

After running this command, you must log out and back in for the changes to take effect.

Firewall and Proxy Settings

Firewall and proxy settings may also cause issues with connecting to the Docker daemon. You may need to configure Docker to use the appropriate settings if you are behind a firewall or using a proxy. You can configure Docker to use a proxy by setting the HTTP_PROXY and HTTPS_PROXY environment variables. For example:

export HTTP_PROXY=https://proxy.example.com:8080
export HTTPS_PROXY=https://proxy.example.com:8080

If you use a firewall, you may need to allow traffic on the Docker daemon port (2375 or 2376). You can do this by adding a firewall rule using the following command:

sudo ufw allow 2375/tcp

Conclusion

The “Cannot Connect to the Docker Daemon” error can be frustrating, but it’s often caused by simple issues that can be resolved with a few troubleshooting steps. By understanding the Docker daemon and checking for common problems such as permissions, firewall settings, and proxy settings, you can quickly get back to working with Docker.