TLDR

• Map local directories (data, import, and plugins) to directories in container.
• Instead of editing config file, pass config options using --env.

The simple start

This is the most simple way to get a neo4j server up and running.

sudo docker run \
    --publish=7474:7474 --publish=7687:7687 \
    --volume=$HOME/neo4j/data:/data \
    neo4j

After running this command, you can go to http://localhost:7474 and access to the web ui. The initial login account and password is neo4j/neo4j, and you will be prompted to change the password after your first login.

Importing csv files

Start a container with this command.

sudo docker run \
    --publish=7474:7474 --publish=7687:7687 \
    --volume=$HOME/neo4j/data:/data \
    --volume=$HOME/neo4j/import:/import \
    --env NEO4J_dbms_security_allow__csv__import__from__file__urls=true \
    neo4j

And you can copy the csv file(s) to $HOME/neo4j/import (this may require sudo). Then you can import the file in cypher, e.g: you have $HOME/neo4j/import/a.csv, your import url in cypher should be "file:///a.csv".

Using apoc plugin

Add more options in the docker run command.

sudo docker run \
    --publish=7474:7474 --publish=7687:7687 \
    --volume=$HOME/neo4j/data:/data \
    --volume=$HOME/neo4j/import:/import \
    --volume=$HOME/neo4j/plugins:/plugins \
    --env NEO4J_apoc_export_file_enabled=true \
    --env NEO4J_apoc_import_file_enabled=true \
    --env NEO4J_apoc_import_file_use__neo4j__config=true \
    --env NEO4J_PLUGINS=\[\"apoc\"\] \
    neo4j