Docker Desktop is no longer allowed at Argonne.

If you currently use Docker Desktop on your Argonne computer or in support of Argonne work, read on.

A couple of years back, Docker changed the licensing terms for Docker Desktop requiring all but a handful of exceptions and personal use cases to pay a license fee, and even if you were entitled to free usage under the exemptions, the licensing terms still applied.  Argonne/DOE and Docker did not to come to mutually acceptable licensing terms, and as such we are no longer allowed to use Docker Desktop.

Please note, this applies specifically to Docker Desktop, the GUI-based program combining the open source tools.  It’s not referring to the underlying open source tools.  You can see more on the finer points of this at the Docker Desktop Licensing FAQ.

Docker has required that Argonne cease use of Docker Desktop immediately.  If you are currently using Docker Desktop on Argonne-owned computers or in support of Argonne work, you need to uninstall it and switch to something else.  The most common choice is Rancher Desktop which is an open source product and some say a superior offering.

If you require assistance, please send an email to [email protected] and we’ll get you in the queue for help.  There are also numerous guides online on how to migrate easily, depending on your desktop operating environment.

Thanks.