---
name: "docker-swarm-init"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "docker"
version: "1:29.9.2-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/docker-swarm-init"
---

# docker-swarm-init(1)

Initialize a swarm

## NAME

docker-swarm-init - Initialize a swarm

## SYNOPSIS

**docker swarm init \[OPTIONS\]**

## DESCRIPTION

Initialize a swarm

## OPTIONS

**--advertise-addr**=""\
 	Advertised address (format: "\[:port\]")

**--autolock**\[=false\]\
 	Enable manager autolocking (requiring an unlock key to start a stopped manager)

**--availability**="active"\
 	Availability of the node ("active", "pause", "drain")

**--cert-expiry**=2160h0m0s\
 	Validity period for node certificates (ns\|us\|ms\|s\|m\|h)

**--data-path-addr**=""\
 	Address or interface to use for data path traffic (format: "")

**--data-path-port**=0\
 	Port number to use for data path traffic (1024 - 49151). If no value is set or is set to 0, the default port (4789) is used.

**--default-addr-pool**=\[\]\
 	default address pool in CIDR format

**--default-addr-pool-mask-length**=24\
 	default address pool subnet mask length

**--dispatcher-heartbeat**=5s\
 	Dispatcher heartbeat period (ns\|us\|ms\|s\|m\|h)

**--external-ca**=\
 	Specifications of one or more certificate signing endpoints

**--force-new-cluster**\[=false\]\
 	Force create a new cluster from current state

**--listen-addr**=0.0.0.0:2377\
 	Listen address (format: "\[:port\]")

**--max-snapshots**=0\
 	Number of additional Raft snapshots to retain

**--snapshot-interval**=10000\
 	Number of log entries between Raft snapshots

**--task-history-limit**=5\
 	Task history retention limit

## SEE ALSO

**[docker-swarm(1)](/docker-swarm/1.md)**