> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://nginxle.onepub.dev/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://nginxle.onepub.dev/docker-compose.md).

# docker-compose

## Start with docker-compose

May users deploy their docker containers using docker-compose. In these circumstances using the Nginx-LE cli tools may not be appropriate.

This is the case for most production systems, in which case you will just use the standard docker management tools.

Whilst it can be useful to run `nginx-le config,` it is not required and for most users won't be needed.

If you want to use any of the nginx-le commands you MUST first run:

* `docker-compose up` at least once
* `nginx-le config`.

Note: If you do use `nginx-le config` then if you change your dock-compose configuration, docker-compose will recreate the container. When this occurs you MUST re-run `nginx-le config` and select the new container.

To start Nginx-LE with docker-compose you must provide a number of configuration settings:

The following is a sample configuration:

```
version: '3.3'
volumes:
  certificates:

services:   
  nginx-le:
    container_name: nginx-le
    image: noojee/nginx-le:latest
    restart: on-failure
    ports:
      - "80:80"
      - "443:443"
    network_mode: "host"
    environment: 
      HOSTNAME: www
      DOMAIN: example.com.au
      TLD: com.au
      DOMAIN_WILD_CARD: "false"
      PRODUCTION: "true"
      EMAIL_ADDRESS: support@example.com
      AUTO_ACQUIRE: "true"
      DEBUG: "true"
      AUTH_PROVIDER: cloudflare
      AUTH_PROVIDER_TOKEN: XXXXXXX
      AUTH_PROVIDER_EMAIL_ADDRESS: XXX@XXXXX
      SMTP_SERVER: smtp.someserver.com
      SMTP_SERVER_PORT: 25
    volumes:
      - certificates:/etc/letsencrypt
      - /opt/nginx/include:/etc/nginx/include
    logging:
      driver: "journald"
```

The environment variables for the Auth Provider will change based on which Auth Provider you have selected.

### Volumes

The `certificates` volume is used to store the certbot certificates between restarts. The `/opt/nginx/include` host path is where you place the nginx `.location` and `.upstream` includes.

#### Acquire a certificate

If you set the environment variable AUTO\_ACQUIRE=true then Nginx-LE will automatically acquire and renew certificates as required.

If you don't pass the AUTO\_ACQUIRE environment variable or set it to false than you must manually acquire a certificate (using nginx-le acquire).

{% hint style="info" %}
We strongly recommend using AUTO\_ACQUIRE and don't know of any valid reason why you would not.
{% endhint %}


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