Configure a container registry

Akka deploys services as container images. These images, which include your Akka services and any dependencies, are produced using Maven (i.e., mvn install) and sent to Akka for deployment. Before deployment, the container must be made accessible in a container registry.

Akka provides a built-in Akka Container Registry (ACR) which is pre-configured for your convenience. Alternatively, external container registries are also supported for Akka.

Akka Container Registry

The Akka Container Registry (ACR) is available to all Akka users and supported across all Akka regions, allowing for easy, integrated deployments without dependency on external registry connectivity. Authentication is built-in, so deployments, restarts, and scaling operate independently from external networks.

Prerequisites

Ensure the following prerequisites are met before continuing:

  • The current user must be logged into Akka.

  • Docker must be installed and accessible for the current user.

To verify your Akka login status, run akka auth current-login. (If not logged in, use akka auth login.)

> akka auth current-login
ba6f49b0-c4e1-cccc-ffff-30053f652c42   user [email protected]   true       CLI login from machine.localdomain(127.0.0.1)   3d21h

Confirm that you have Docker installed by checking the version:

> docker --version
Docker version 27.3.1, build ce1223035a

Configuring ACR authentication

The Akka Container Registry uses an access token generated via Akka for authentication. When you initiate a docker push, an intermediate credential helper retrieves this token using the Akka CLI. Configure the Docker credentials helper as follows:

> akka auth container-registry configure
This operation will update your '.docker/config.json' file. Do you want to continue?
Use the arrow keys to navigate: ↓ ↑ → ←
? >:
  ▸ No
    Yes

Select "Yes" to proceed.

Once configuration completes, it will display the ACR hostnames for all available regions:

Docker configuration file successfully updated.
Available Akka Container Registry hosts per region:
PROVIDER   CLOUD       REGION          ORGANIZATION   ORGANIZATION_ID                        AKKA CONTAINER REGISTRY
gcp        us-east1    gcp-us-east1    PUBLIC         NONE                                   acr.us-east-1.akka.io
gcp        us-east1    gcp-us-east1    acme           cde1044c-b973-4220-8f65-0f7d317bb458   acr.us-east-1.akka.io

The Akka Container Registry is now ready for use.

See deploy and manage services for further details on how to deploy a service.

See also