You *can* start OpenSearch Dashboards using `docker run` after [creating a Docker network](https://docs.docker.com/engine/reference/commandline/network_create/) and starting OpenSearch, but the process of connecting OpenSearch Dashboards to OpenSearch is significantly easier with a Docker Compose file.
1. Create a [`docker-compose.yml`](https://docs.docker.com/compose/compose-file/) file appropriate for your environment. A sample file that includes OpenSearch Dashboards is available on the OpenSearch [Docker installation page]({{site.url}}{{site.baseurl}}/opensearch/install/docker#sample-docker-composeyml).