Containers
Learn how to view and control container apps, open published ports, access App Hub, and install or uninstall Docker from the Edge Portal.
The Containers page shows the user-facing Docker container applications available on the gateway. Use it to check container status, search installed applications, start or stop a container, open published ports, access App Hub, and manage Docker.
Container features depend on the SIA Connect software edition, gateway installation, available memory, and Docker availability. Internal SIA Connect system containers are not displayed on this page.
Open the Containers page
- Sign in to the Edge Portal.
- Expand Tools in the sidebar.
- Select Containers.
The page refreshes the container list automatically. Select Refresh when you want to request the latest status immediately.
Understand the page summary
When Docker is available, the Container apps summary shows:
- The number of running containers compared with the total number of displayed container apps.
- A Docker running or Docker stopped badge based on whether any displayed container is running.
- The Search containers field.
The search matches a container's name, image, ID, and published port information. If no result matches, the page displays No matching containers.
If Docker is available but no user-facing applications are installed, the page displays No container apps installed.
Understand a container card
Each displayed container has its own card with the following information and actions:
| Information or action | What it means |
|---|---|
| Container name | The container's configured name. Supported App Hub containers are shown as App Container Hub. |
| Image | The Docker image used by the container. |
| Running or Stopped | Shows whether the container is currently active. |
| Container ID | The identifier reported by Docker. |
| Status | The detailed Docker status, such as how long the container has been running. The page shows Not available when no status was returned. |
| State | The state reported by Docker. The page shows Unknown when no state was returned. |
| Published ports | The ports or application paths that can be opened from the browser. |
| Start or Stop | Starts a stopped container or stops a running container. |
| Open App Hub | Opens App Hub in a new browser tab. This action appears when the App Hub container is running. |
App Hub is listed first. Other running containers are listed before stopped containers, then sorted by name.
Start or stop a container
- Find the required container.
- Select Start when the container is stopped, or select Stop when it is running.
- Wait while the action shows Updating.
- Confirm the success message and check the updated status badge.
Stopping a container interrupts its service
Active connections to that application can be disconnected when you select Stop. Confirm that the service can be interrupted before stopping it.
Open a published port
If a container exposes one or more ports, they appear under Published ports.
- Find the running container.
- Select the required published port or application path.
- Allow the Edge Portal to open a new browser tab.
For most containers, the portal opens the current gateway address over HTTP using the selected remote port. Grafana-based SIA Connect dashboards open at /dashboards/. App Hub opens at /apphub.
If the application does not open, confirm that the container is running, the selected port is correct, and your browser allows new tabs.
Open App Hub
When the App Hub container is running, select Open App Hub or its published /apphub path.
The first time you open App Hub, the Edge Portal displays App Hub Login Details. The username is admin.
- On a standalone gateway, the bootstrap password is derived from the unit PIN and the suffix
SIAconnect#. - When SIA Connect itself runs as a Docker deployment, enter the SIA Connect master password. This should match the
SIA_CONNECT_PASSWORDvalue provided in the Docker.envfile or during installation. If no custom value was set, the displayed default isSIACONNECT_ADMIN_PASSWORD.
The bootstrap password only applies to the initial App Hub login. If the App Hub administrator password has already been changed, use the changed password instead.
You can select Don't show again before opening App Hub. The preference is stored in the browser.
Install Docker
If Docker is not installed, the page displays Docker is not available.
- Confirm that the gateway is online.
- Select Install Docker.
- Select Install Docker to confirm.
- Wait for the installation to finish and for the gateway to reboot.
- Reconnect to the Edge Portal and return to Tools > Containers.
Docker installation reboots the gateway
Installing Docker can take several minutes, consumes system resources, and reboots the device when installation is complete. The reboot temporarily interrupts all gateway connections.
If the gateway is offline, Install Docker remains unavailable and the page displays The device must be online before Docker can be installed.
Understand Docker availability messages
| Message | Meaning and action |
|---|---|
| Minimum requirements not met | The gateway does not meet the reported Docker resource requirements. Consider SIA Connect Standalone Plus or Ultra, or run SIA Connect ANY-Ware on hardware with more memory. |
| Docker is not available | Docker is not installed or cannot be accessed. Install Docker when the action is available. |
| Could not load Docker | The Docker status could not be retrieved. Select Refresh and use the more specific returned error as the first troubleshooting step. |
When SIA Connect itself runs as a Docker deployment, Docker cannot be installed from inside the SIA Connect container. Mount the host Docker socket when container management is required.
Uninstall Docker
- Select the three-dot Docker actions menu at the top of the page.
- Select Uninstall Docker.
- Select Uninstall Docker to confirm.
Uninstalling Docker is permanent
This removes Docker and all installed container apps. The action cannot be undone. Export or back up any required application data before continuing.
The Docker actions menu is not shown when SIA Connect itself is running as a Docker deployment.
Troubleshoot container actions
| Message or behavior | What to do |
|---|---|
| Failed to start the container. | Select Refresh, check the current container state, and retry. Review any more specific message returned by the gateway. |
| Failed to stop the container. | Select Refresh, check whether the container already stopped, and retry. |
| Failed to install Docker. | Confirm that the gateway is online and meets the displayed resource requirements. Retry the installation and review the system logs if it still fails. |
| Failed to uninstall Docker. | Select Refresh and retry. Review the system logs if the error continues. |
| A published port does not open | Confirm that the container is running and the browser allows new tabs. Verify network access to the displayed port. |
| The expected container is not listed | Clear Search containers and select Refresh. Internal SIA Connect containers are intentionally hidden from this page. |