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Install with Docker

When to use this page

Use this guide when running SkyCMS in containers for local testing, development, or self-hosted deployments.

Prerequisites

  • Docker and Docker Compose.
  • Environment variables or mounted configuration for required SkyCMS settings.
  • Persistent volume strategy for database/content where applicable.

Compose configuration

Configure required settings through environment variables in your compose file:

  • ConnectionStrings__ApplicationDbContextConnection
  • ConnectionStrings__StorageConnectionString
  • AzureBlobStorageEndPoint
  • CosmosPublisherUrl
  • CosmosAllowSetup=true (initial setup only)

Use CosmosAllowSetup=false after setup completes.

Start containers

docker compose up -d

Open the application URL and navigate to /___setup to complete configuration.

Initialize SkyCMS

  1. Complete setup wizard steps.
  2. Finalize and allow the container to restart.
  3. Sign in with the admin account created during setup.

Common Docker issues

  • App restarts repeatedly: verify required environment variables and connection strings.
  • Cannot persist data: validate mounted volume paths and write permissions.
  • Setup not available: ensure CosmosAllowSetup=true for first run.