--- title: "swarm join" description: "The swarm join command description and usage" keywords: "swarm, join" --- # swarm join ```markdown Usage: docker swarm join [OPTIONS] HOST:PORT Join a swarm as a node and/or manager Options: --advertise-addr string Advertised address (format: [:port]) --availability string Availability of the node (active/pause/drain) (default "active") --help Print usage --listen-addr node-addr Listen address (format: [:port]) (default 0.0.0.0:2377) --token string Token for entry into the swarm ``` Join a node to a swarm. The node joins as a manager node or worker node based upon the token you pass with the `--token` flag. If you pass a manager token, the node joins as a manager. If you pass a worker token, the node joins as a worker. ### Join a node to swarm as a manager The example below demonstrates joining a manager node using a manager token. ```bash $ docker swarm join --token SWMTKN-1-3pu6hszjas19xyp7ghgosyx9k8atbfcr8p2is99znpy26u2lkl-7p73s1dx5in4tatdymyhg9hu2 192.168.99.121:2377 This node joined a swarm as a manager. $ docker node ls ID HOSTNAME STATUS AVAILABILITY MANAGER STATUS dkp8vy1dq1kxleu9g4u78tlag * manager2 Ready Active Reachable dvfxp4zseq4s0rih1selh0d20 manager1 Ready Active Leader ``` A cluster should only have 3-7 managers at most, because a majority of managers must be available for the cluster to function. Nodes that aren't meant to participate in this management quorum should join as workers instead. Managers should be stable hosts that have static IP addresses. ### Join a node to swarm as a worker The example below demonstrates joining a worker node using a worker token. ```bash $ docker swarm join --token SWMTKN-1-3pu6hszjas19xyp7ghgosyx9k8atbfcr8p2is99znpy26u2lkl-1awxwuwd3z9j1z3puu7rcgdbx 192.168.99.121:2377 This node joined a swarm as a worker. $ docker node ls ID HOSTNAME STATUS AVAILABILITY MANAGER STATUS 7ln70fl22uw2dvjn2ft53m3q5 worker2 Ready Active dkp8vy1dq1kxleu9g4u78tlag worker1 Ready Active Reachable dvfxp4zseq4s0rih1selh0d20 * manager1 Ready Active Leader ``` ### `--listen-addr value` If the node is a manager, it will listen for inbound swarm manager traffic on this address. The default is to listen on 0.0.0.0:2377. It is also possible to specify a network interface to listen on that interface's address; for example `--listen-addr eth0:2377`. Specifying a port is optional. If the value is a bare IP address, or interface name, the default port 2377 will be used. This flag is generally not necessary when joining an existing swarm. ### `--advertise-addr value` This flag specifies the address that will be advertised to other members of the swarm for API access. If unspecified, Docker will check if the system has a single IP address, and use that IP address with the listening port (see `--listen-addr`). If the system has multiple IP addresses, `--advertise-addr` must be specified so that the correct address is chosen for inter-manager communication and overlay networking. It is also possible to specify a network interface to advertise that interface's address; for example `--advertise-addr eth0:2377`. Specifying a port is optional. If the value is a bare IP address, or interface name, the default port 2377 will be used. This flag is generally not necessary when joining an existing swarm. ### `--token string` Secret value required for nodes to join the swarm ### `--availability` This flag specifies the availability of the node at the time the node joins a master. Possible availability values are `active`, `pause`, or `drain`. This flag is useful in certain situations. For example, a cluster may want to have dedicated manager nodes that are not served as worker nodes. This could be achieved by passing `--availability=drain` to `docker swarm join`. ## Related information * [swarm init](swarm_init.md) * [swarm join-token](swarm_join_token.md) * [swarm leave](swarm_leave.md) * [swarm unlock](swarm_unlock.md) * [swarm unlock-key](swarm_unlock_key.md) * [swarm update](swarm_update.md)