## NATS Docker Tutorial

In this tutorial you run the [NATS server Docker image](https://hub.docker.com/_/nats/). The Docker image provides an instance of the [NATS Server](/README.md). Synadia actively maintains and supports the nats-server Docker image. The NATS image is only 6 MB in size.

**1. Set up Docker.**

See [Get Started with Docker](http://docs.docker.com/mac/started/) for guidance.

The easiest way to run Docker is to use the [Docker Toolbox](http://docs.docker.com/mac/step_one/).

**2. Run the nats-server Docker image.**

```sh
> docker run -p 4222:4222 -p 8222:8222 -p 6222:6222 --name gnatsd -ti nats:latest
```

**3. Verify that the NATS server is running.**

You should see the following:

```sh
Unable to find image 'nats:latest' locally
latest: Pulling from library/nats
2d3d00b0941f: Pull complete 
24bc6bd33ea7: Pull complete 
Digest: sha256:47b825feb34e545317c4ad122bd1a752a3172bbbc72104fc7fb5e57cf90f79e4
Status: Downloaded newer image for nats:latest
```

Followed by this, indicating that the NATS server is running:

```sh
[1] 2017/06/28 18:34:19.605144 [INF] Starting nats-server version 0.9.6
[1] 2017/06/28 18:34:19.605191 [INF] Starting http monitor on 0.0.0.0:8222
[1] 2017/06/28 18:34:19.605286 [INF] Listening for client connections on 0.0.0.0:4222
[1] 2017/06/28 18:34:19.605312 [INF] Server is ready
[1] 2017/06/28 18:34:19.608756 [INF] Listening for route connections on 0.0.0.0:6222
```

Notice how quickly the NATS server Docker image downloads. It is a mere 6 MB in size.

**4. Test the NATS server to verify it is running.**

An easy way to test the client connection port is through using telnet.

```sh
> telnet localhost 4222
```

Expected result:

```sh
Trying ::1...
Connected to localhost.
Escape character is '^]'.
INFO {"server_id":"YMeTi2z178lM5SG302YgH2","version":"0.9.6","go":"go1.7.4","host":"0.0.0.0","port":4222,"auth_required":false,"ssl_required":false,"tls_required":false,"tls_verify":false,"max_payload":1048576} 
```

You can also test the monitoring endpoint, viewing `http://localhost:8222` with a browser.