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title = "Set up for the tutorial"
description = "Getting Started tutorial for Docker Engine swarm mode"
keywords = ["tutorial, cluster management, swarm mode"]
advisory = "rc"
[menu.main]
identifier="tutorial-setup"
parent="swarm-tutorial"
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# Getting started with swarm mode

This tutorial introduces you to the features of Docker Engine Swarm mode. You
may want to familiarize yourself with the [key concepts](../key-concepts.md)
before you begin.

The tutorial guides you through the following activities:

* initializing a cluster of Docker Engines in swarm mode
* adding nodes to the swarm
* deploying application services to the swarm
* managing the swarm once you have everything running

This tutorial uses Docker Engine CLI commands entered on the command line of a
terminal window. You should be able to install Docker on networked machines and
be comfortable running commands in the shell of your choice.

If you’re brand new to Docker, see [About Docker Engine](../../index.md).

## Set up

To run this tutorial, you need the following:

* [three networked host machines](#three-networked-host-machines)
* [Docker Engine 1.12 or later installed](#docker-engine-1-12-or-later)
* [the IP address of the manager machine](#the-ip-address-of-the-manager-machine)
* [open ports between the hosts](#open-ports-between-the-hosts)

### Three networked host machines

The tutorial uses three networked host machines as nodes in the swarm. These can
be virtual machines on your PC, in a data center, or on a cloud service
provider. This tutorial uses the following machine names:

* manager1
* worker1
* worker2

###  Docker Engine 1.12 or later

You must install Docker Engine on each one of the host machines. To use swarm
mode, install the Docker Engine `v1.12.0-rc1` or later from the [Docker releases
GitHub repository](https://github.com/docker/docker/releases). Alternatively,
install the latest Docker for Mac or Docker for Windows Beta.

>**Advisory**: Some multi-node features may not work for Docker for Mac Beta and
Docker for Windows Beta. We're working on the multi-node features for GA.

Verify that the Docker Engine daemon is running on each of the machines.

<!-- See the following options to install:

* [Install Docker Engine](../../installation/index.md).

* [Example: Manual install on cloud provider](../../installation/cloud/cloud-ex-aws.md).
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### The IP address of the manager machine

The IP address must be assigned to an a network interface available to the host
operating system. All nodes in the swarm must be able to access the manager at the IP address.

>**Tip**: You can run `ifconfig` on Linux or Mac OS X to see a list of the
available network interfaces.

The tutorial uses `manager1` : `192.168.99.100`.

### Open ports between the hosts

* **TCP port 2377** for cluster management communications
* **TCP** and **UDP port 7946** for communication among nodes
* **TCP** and **UDP port 4789** for overlay network traffic

## What's next?

After you have set up your environment, you're ready to [create a swarm](create-swarm.md).
