Creating Docker containers using Terraform - Error pinging Docker server - docker

Question

I want to create an nginx based docker container using Terraform.
HCL:
terraform{
required_providers{
docker={
source="kreuzwerker/docker"
}
}
}
provider "docker" {}
resource "docker_image" "nginx" {
name ="nginx:latest"
keep_locally="false"
}
resource "docker_container" "nserver"{
image=docker_image.nginx.latest
name="nginx_server"
ports{
internal =80
external=9090
}
}
But I'm getting an error:
Error pinging Docker server: Cannot connect to the Docker daemon at
unix:///var/run/docker.sock. Is the docker daemon running?
If the same error occurs in docker I would just start/ enable docker using "sudo systemctl start/enable docker" command.
But how should I deal with this error in Terraform ?
Please Help!

Answer 1

I share the solution for my case (I'm on Ubuntu 22.04, Docker Desktop, Terraform).
Check your DOCKER ENDPOINT opening a terminal and typing:
docker context ls
Look there and copy your DOCKER ENDPOINT
Open your main.tf and change provider line, i.e:
provider "docker" {
host ="unix:///home/user/.docker/desktop/docker.sock"
}
Save and do it again:
terraform init
terraform apply
Docs that helps me resolve this issue:
https://developer.hashicorp.com/terraform/tutorials/aws-get-started/install-cli
https://developer.hashicorp.com/terraform/language/syntax
https://docs.docker.com/desktop/faqs/linuxfaqs/#what-is-the-difference-between-docker-desktop-for-linux-and-docker-engine