How to Deploy Checkmk with Docker Compose: Streamlining IT Infrastructure Monitoring

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Checkmk is a comprehensive IT monitoring solution that allows system administrators and IT professionals to monitor servers, applications, networks, and cloud environments. It’s designed to be scalable, offering both raw and enterprise editions to cater to different organizational needs. Running Checkmk in Docker simplifies deployment and management, making it an attractive option for those looking to streamline their monitoring infrastructure. This guide will walk you through setting up Checkmk using Docker Compose, enabling efficient and scalable IT infrastructure monitoring.

Table of Contents

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

Docker installed on your system.
Docker Compose installed on your system.
Basic familiarity with Docker concepts and the YAML syntax used in Docker Compose files.

Step 1: Create a Docker Compose File

Create a directory dedicated to your Checkmk setup. This directory will contain your Docker Compose file (docker-compose.yml) and any additional configuration files or directories you might need.

mkdir checkmk-docker && cd checkmk-docker

Create the docker-compose.yml file:

touch docker-compose.yml

Open this file in a text editor and insert the following configuration:

version: '3.8'
services:
  checkmk:
    image: checkmk/check-mk-raw:2.0.0-latest
    container_name: checkmk
    ports:
      - "8080:5000"
    volumes:
      - checkmk_data:/omd/sites
    environment:
      - CMK_SITE_ID=cmk
      - CMK_PASSWORD=supersecret
      - CMK_EDITION=raw
    restart: always

volumes:
  checkmk_data:

Configuration Explained:

image: Specifies the Checkmk Docker image to use. This example uses checkmk/check-mk-raw:2.0.0-latest, the latest raw edition of Checkmk.
container_name: Sets a custom name for your Checkmk container for easier reference.
ports: Maps port 8080 on the host to port 5000 inside the container, which is the default port used by Checkmk.
volumes: Maps a named volume (checkmk_data) to persist Checkmk’s site data. This ensures data retention across container restarts and upgrades.
environment:
- CMK_SITE_ID: Specifies the ID for the Checkmk site to be created.
- CMK_PASSWORD: Sets the password for the cmkadmin user.
- CMK_EDITION: Defines the edition of Checkmk to run; options are raw or enterprise.
restart: Configures the container to restart automatically unless explicitly stopped.

Step 2: Launch Checkmk

Navigate to the directory containing your docker-compose.yml file and start Checkmk by running:

docker compose up -d

This command will download the necessary Docker image (if not already present) and start the Checkmk container in detached mode.

Step 3: Access Checkmk

Once the container is up and running, access the Checkmk web interface by navigating to http://localhost:8080/cmk in your web browser. Use the username cmkadmin and the password you specified in the CMK_PASSWORD environment variable to log in.

Step 4: Configure Your Monitoring Environment

After logging in, you can start configuring Checkmk to monitor your IT infrastructure. This includes adding hosts, services, and setting up notifications. Checkmk offers various monitoring options and plugins to cater to various environments and requirements.

Conclusion

Deploying Checkmk with Docker Compose offers an efficient path to setting up a powerful and scalable IT monitoring solution. Following the steps outlined in this guide, you can have a Checkmk instance up and running quickly, ready to monitor your infrastructure. Docker Compose simplifies the management of Checkmk, making it easier to maintain, backup, and scale your monitoring environment. Whether you’re monitoring a small network or a complex cloud environment, Checkmk provides the flexibility and features needed to ensure the health and performance of your IT infrastructure.

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Anastasios Antoniadis

Anastasios Antoniadis is the founder and editor-in-chief of BORDERPOLAR... He is a software engineer, blogger, and avid gamer covering tech, gaming, and coding guides for over 4 years. He is a 2014 graduate of the Department of Informatics and Telecommunications of the University of Athens, an M.Sc. holder in Computer Science, and a Ph.D. student in Program Analysis.