Set the UID and GID variables

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 62 views

Introduction

In this article, we will be discussing a compatibility issue with Podman, a popular containerization tool. The issue arises when trying to run a Docker Compose file using Podman on a Windows 11 system. We will explore the problem, its symptoms, and possible solutions to resolve the issue.

What Happened?

The issue was encountered on a Windows 11 system with the latest updates (24H2 26100.1742) and Podman version 5.4.0. The problem occurred when trying to run a Docker Compose file using the podman-compose up -d command. The containers stopped after a few seconds, and the following errors were displayed:

The "UID" variable is not set. Defaulting to a blank string.
The "GID" variable is not set. Defaulting to a blank string.
Error response from daemon: container create: statfs /mnt/c/Users/Sarah/Desktop/IA/LibreChat/meili_data_v1.12: no such file or directory
Error: executing C:\Users\Sarah\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\docker-compose.exe up -d: exit status 1

Symptoms

The symptoms of the issue include:

Containers stopping after a few seconds
Errors related to the "UID" and "GID" variables not being set
Errors related to the container create process

Version Information

The latest version of Podman used at the time of writing this article is 5.4.0.

Steps to Reproduce

To reproduce the issue, follow these steps:

Clone the LibreChat repository using the following command: git clone https://github.com/danny-avila/LibreChat.git
Navigate to the LibreChat directory: cd LibreChat
Copy the .env.example file to a new file named .env: copy .env.example .env
Run the podman-compose up -d command to start the containers

Relevant Log Output

The relevant log output from the issue is as follows:

time="2025-03-09T15:03:35-03:00" level=warning msg="The \"UID\" variable is not set. Defaulting to a blank string."
time="2025-03-09T15:03:35-03:00" level=warning msg="The \"GID\" variable is not set. Defaulting to a blank string."
time="2025-03-09T15:03:35-03:00" level=warning msg="The \"UID\" variable is not set. Defaulting to a blank string."
time="2025-03-09T15:03:35-03:00" level=warning msg="The \"GID\" variable is not set. Defaulting to a blank string."
time="2025-03-09T15:03:35-03:00" level=warning msg="The \"UID\" variable is not set. Defaulting to a blank string."
time="2025-03-09T15:03:35-03:00" level=warning msg="The \"GID\" variable is not set. Defaulting to a blank string."
[+] Running 58/58
 ✔ meilisearch Pulled                                                                                             44.7s
 ✔ vectordb Pulled                                                                                                27.1s
 ✔ api Pulled                                                                                                     85.9s
 ✔ mongodb Pulled                                                                                                 86.0s
 ✔ rag_api Pulled                                                                                                 86.0s
 [+] Running 2/5
 ✔ Network librechat_default   Created                                                                             0.1s
 ✔ Volume "librechat_pgdata2"  Created                                                                             0.1s
 - Container chat-mongodb      Creating                                                                            0.1s
 - Container chat-meilisearch  Creating                                                                            0.1s
 - Container vectordb          Creating                                                                            0.1s
Error response from daemon: container create: statfs /mnt/c/Users/Sarah/Desktop/IA/LibreChat/meili_data_v1.12: no such file or directory
Error: executing C:\Users\Sarah\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\docker-compose.exe up -d: exit status 1

Screenshots

No screenshots are available for this issue.

Code of Conduct

The Code of Conduct for this project is as follows:

I agree to follow this project's Code of Conduct

Possible Solutions

Based on the issue description and the relevant log output, the following possible solutions can be explored:

Set the UID and GID variables: The issue is related to the "UID" and "GID" variables not being set. Try setting these variables in the .env file to resolve the issue.
Check the container create process: The issue is related to the container create process. Try checking the container create process to identify the root cause of the issue.
Update Podman to the latest version: The issue may be related to an outdated version of Podman. Try updating Podman to the latest version to resolve the issue.

Conclusion

Q: What is the issue with Podman on a Windows 11 system?

A: The issue with Podman on a Windows 11 system is related to the "UID" and "GID" variables not being set, and the container create process. This results in containers stopping after a few seconds and displaying errors.

Q: What are the symptoms of the issue?

A: The symptoms of the issue include:

Containers stopping after a few seconds
Errors related to the "UID" and "GID" variables not being set
Errors related to the container create process

Q: What are the possible solutions to resolve the issue?

A: The possible solutions to resolve the issue include:

Set the UID and GID variables: The issue is related to the "UID" and "GID" variables not being set. Try setting these variables in the .env file to resolve the issue.
Check the container create process: The issue is related to the container create process. Try checking the container create process to identify the root cause of the issue.
Update Podman to the latest version: The issue may be related to an outdated version of Podman. Try updating Podman to the latest version to resolve the issue.

Q: How do I set the UID and GID variables in the `.env` file?

A: To set the UID and GID variables in the .env file, follow these steps:

Open the .env file in a text editor.
Add the following lines to the file:

UID=1000 GID=1000

    Replace `1000` with the desired UID and GID values.
3.  Save the changes to the `.env` file.

**Q: How do I check the container create process?**
------------------------------------------------

A: To check the container create process, follow these steps:

1.  Run the `podman-compose up -d` command to start the containers.
2.  Use the `podman logs` command to view the container logs.
3.  Check the container logs for any errors related to the container create process.

**Q: How do I update Podman to the latest version?**
------------------------------------------------

A: To update Podman to the latest version, follow these steps:

1.  Run the following command to update Podman:
    ```bash
sudo podman system prune -a
sudo podman system upgrade

Restart the Podman service to apply the changes:

sudo systemctl restart podman


**Q: What are the system requirements for running Podman on a Windows 11 system?**
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A: The system requirements for running Podman on a Windows 11 system include:

*   Windows 11 system with the latest updates
*   Podman version 5.4.0 or later
*   Docker Compose version 1.29.2 or later

**Q: Can I use Podman on a Windows 10 system?**
------------------------------------------------

A: Yes, you can use Podman on a Windows 10 system. However, you may need to install additional software and configure the system to run Podman.

**Q: What are the benefits of using Podman on a Windows 11 system?**
----------------------------------------------------------------

A: The benefits of using Podman on a Windows 11 system include:

*   Improved containerization capabilities
*   Enhanced security features
*   Better performance and scalability

**Q: Can I use Podman on a Linux system?**
--------------------------------------------

A: Yes, you can use Podman on a Linux system. Podman is a containerization tool that is designed to work on Linux systems.

**Q: What are the limitations of using Podman on a Windows 11 system?**
-------------------------------------------------------------------

A: The limitations of using Podman on a Windows 11 system include:

*   Limited support for certain containerization features
*   Potential issues with container create process
*   Limited compatibility with certain Docker images