---
description: Link your SoftLayer account
keywords: SoftLayer, link, cloud
redirect_from:
- /docker-cloud/getting-started/beginner/link-softlayer/
- /docker-cloud/getting-started/link-softlayer/
title: Link a SoftLayer account
---

You can register your SoftLayer account credentials in your Docker Cloud account
to deploy **nodes** using Docker Cloud's
Dashboard, API, or CLI. Docker Cloud uses your SoftLayer username and API key to interact with SoftLayer on your behalf to create and manage your **nodes** (virtual servers).

Although any SoftLayer account with the right privileges will work, we
recommend creating a new **dockercloud-user** user. If you have already created a service user, or do not wish to do so, continue to [Add SoftLayer Account Credentials](link-softlayer.md#add-softlayer-account-credentials).

### Create dockercloud-user in SoftLayer

Go to the **Users** section in SoftLayer (using the following URL): [https://control.softlayer.com/account/users](https://control.softlayer.com/account/users)

Click **Add User**:

![](images/softlayer-step-1.png)

Fill out the **Add User - Profile** form, and enter `dockercloud-user` in the username field. Docker Cloud uses the service user's API key, so the password you set is less important. Click **Add User**.

![](images/softlayer-step-2.png)

In the next step, **Permissions**, select the following permissions:

* Support
	* View Tickets
	* Add Tickets
	* Edit Tickets
* Devices
	* View Virtual Server Details
* Services
	* Manage SSH keys
* Account
	* Cancel Server
	* Cancel Services
	* Add Server

Click **Add Portal Permissions**.

Go back to the **Users** list, and click **Generate** under the **API Key** column:

![](images/softlayer-step-6.png)

Once generated, click the **View** link under the **API Key** column, and copy the generated API Key.

![](images/softlayer-step-7.png)

Once you create the new user `dockercloud-user`, have its
credentials, and set its permissions, go back to Docker Cloud.

## Add SoftLayer Account Credentials

To link your SoftLayer account so you can launch **nodes** from Docker Cloud,
navigate to **Account info \> Cloud Providers**. Click **Add
credentials**.

![](images/softlayer-link-account.png)

Copy and paste the `username` and the `API Key` you received from SoftLayer into their corresponding fields in dialog that appears.

![](images/softlayer-modal.png)

## What's next?

You're ready to start using SoftLayer as the infrastructure provider
for Docker Cloud! If you came here from the tutorial, click here to [continue the tutorial and deploy your first node](../getting-started/your_first_node.md).