Overview

The current versions of the Mac operating systems, only allows Docker to operate then a user is logged in. To ensure continuous operation:

Keep a user always logged in.
Prevent the Mac from sleeping with solutions like: https://www.caffeine-app.net/
Setup auto-login and auto-launch on boot.

References

Install Docker Desktop on Mac

Instructions (Docker Desktop)

Install Docker Desktop

Download Docker Desktop Installer (Requires Restart)
1. Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, etc)
2. Intel Chip (i3, i5, i7, etc)

Verify Docker is installed correctly

docker run hello-world

Install the Edge

source <(curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/xyte-io/edge/refs/heads/main/edge_runner_script.sh)

The script will output your Edge ID:

Edge Id: xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx

📘
Next Step — Register the Edge in the Xyte Portal
The Xyte Portal is a separate web application — not part of Docker Desktop. Log in to your organization's Xyte Portal, navigate to Connections > Edges, and click Connect Edge to register the Edge ID you just generated.
For full instructions, see Claiming a local network device (Edge).
If you don't have portal access, contact your organization administrator.

Common errors

Error: telnet is not installed. Telnet is unable to be installed on newer Mac OS

Install Homebrew

# Install Homebrew
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

# Complete final Brew installation step (provided by installer)
    echo >> /Users/[YOUR USER DIRECTORY]/.zprofile
    echo 'eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"' >> /Users/[YOUR USER DIRECTORY]/.zprofile
    eval "$(/opt/homebrew/bin/brew shellenv)"

Install Telnet through Homebrew

# Install Telnet

brew install telnet

docker: permission denied while trying to connect to the Docker daemon

The current user doesn't have permission to run docker containers, either run the script as sudo (not recommended) or allow user to run docker containers:

# Allow current user to run Docker without sudo
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
newgrp docker