---
checkId: check.docker.apiversion
plugin: stellaops.doctor.docker
severity: warn
tags: [docker, api, compatibility]
---
# Docker API Version

## What It Checks
Validates that the Docker API version meets minimum requirements for Stella Ops. The check connects to the Docker daemon (using `Docker:Host` configuration or the platform default) and queries the API version via `System.GetVersionAsync()`.

| API Version | Result |
|---|---|
| Below **1.41** | `warn` — below minimum required |
| Between **1.41** and **1.43** | `warn` — below recommended |
| **1.43** or higher | `pass` |

The minimum API version 1.41 corresponds to Docker Engine 20.10+. The recommended version 1.43 corresponds to Docker Engine 23.0+.

Evidence collected includes: API version, Docker version, minimum required version, recommended version, OS, build time, and git commit.

Default Docker host:
- **Linux**: `unix:///var/run/docker.sock`
- **Windows**: `npipe://./pipe/docker_engine`

## Why It Matters
Stella Ops uses Docker API features for container management, image inspection, and network configuration. Older API versions may not support required features such as:

- BuildKit-based image builds (API 1.39+).
- Multi-platform image inspection (API 1.41+).
- Container resource management improvements (API 1.43+).

Running an outdated Docker version also means missing security patches and bug fixes.

## Common Causes
- Docker Engine is outdated (version < 20.10)
- Docker Engine is functional but below recommended version (< 23.0)
- Using a Docker-compatible runtime (Podman, containerd) that reports a lower API version
- Docker not updated after OS upgrade

## How to Fix

### Docker Compose
Update Docker Engine to the latest stable version:

```bash
# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io

# RHEL/CentOS
sudo yum update docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io

# Verify version
docker version
```

### Bare Metal / systemd
```bash
# Check current version
docker version

# Update Docker
curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh

# Restart Docker
sudo systemctl restart docker

# Verify
docker version
```

### Kubernetes / Helm
Update the container runtime on cluster nodes. The method depends on your Kubernetes distribution:

```bash
# Check node runtime version
kubectl get nodes -o wide

# For kubeadm clusters, update containerd on each node
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install containerd.io

# Verify
sudo crictl version
```

## Verification
```
stella doctor run --check check.docker.apiversion
```

## Related Checks
- `check.docker.daemon` — verifies Docker daemon is running (prerequisite for version check)
- `check.docker.socket` — verifies Docker socket is accessible