Deploy Apps Faster: Use Docker on Linux Like a Pro

Use Docker on a Linux server to easily build, ship, and run applications in lightweight, portable containers. Docker provides a consistent environment that isolates your software from the host system, making development, testing, and deployment more efficient and reliable.

This guide will walk you through how to use Docker on a Linux server, covering installation, starting and managing the Docker service, running containers, and basic Docker commands.

Prerequisites

• A Linux server running a supported distribution such as Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, or Red Hat
• Root or sudo access to install and manage Docker
• A 64-bit version of Linux with a kernel version 3.10 or higher
• Terminal or SSH access to the Linux server

Use Docker on a Linux Server

Using Docker on a Linux server allows you to run applications in lightweight, isolated containers, simplifying deployment and management. Docker provides a consistent runtime environment, making it easier to build, ship, and run software across different systems. Linux offers native support for Docker, delivering optimal performance and resource efficiency. Whether you’re managing microservices or full-stack applications, Docker on Linux helps streamline development workflows, improve scalability, and maintain cleaner infrastructure.

Install Docker on the Linux Server

The easiest way to install Docker on Linux is by using Docker’s official repositories or a quick-install script.

Quick Install Script Method:

Run the following commands on your Linux server to get Docker installed quickly:

curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com -o get-docker.sh
sudo sh get-docker.sh

This script will detect your Linux distribution, add the appropriate Docker repository, install dependencies, and install the Docker Engine.

Alternatively, install Docker via the package manager manually (example for Ubuntu/Debian):

sudo apt update
sudo apt install \
    ca-certificates \
    curl \
    gnupg \
    lsb-release

curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/docker-archive-keyring.gpg

echo \
  "deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/docker-archive-keyring.gpg] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu \
  $(lsb_release -cs) stable" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null

sudo apt update
sudo apt install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io

For CentOS, RHEL, or other distributions, Docker installation steps differ slightly but follow a similar approach with repository setup and package installation.

Start and Enable Docker Service

Once installed, start the Docker service and enable it to start automatically on system boot:

sudo systemctl start docker
sudo systemctl enable docker
sudo systemctl status docker

If the status shows active (running), Docker is ready to use.

Manage Docker as a Non-root User

Running Docker commands usually requires root privileges. To avoid using sudo it every time, add your user to the docker group:

sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

Log out and log back in (or restart your session) for the group changes to take effect.

Test Docker Installation

Verify Docker is installed correctly by running the hello-world container:

docker run hello-world

This command downloads a test image and runs a container that prints a confirmation message, indicating Docker is working.

Basic Docker Usage on Linux Server

Once Docker is installed, you can start using basic commands to manage containers and images. This includes pulling images, running containers, listing active services, and stopping or removing containers. These foundational operations are essential for working effectively with Docker on a Linux server.

Pull and Run Containers

To download and start containers from Docker Hub:

docker pull nginx
docker run -d -p 80:80 --name mynginx nginx

This pulls the official Nginx image and runs it detached (-d), mapping port 80 on your server to the container.

List Containers and Images

docker ps            # List running containers
docker ps -a         # List all containers
docker images        # List downloaded images

Stop and Remove Containers

docker stop mynginx
docker rm mynginx

Remove Images

docker rmi nginx

View Logs of a Container

docker logs mynginx

Conclusion

To use Docker on a Linux server, install Docker Engine via the official script or repositories, start the Docker service, and optionally configure non-root usage. You can then pull images, run containers, and manage your applications efficiently in isolated environments. Docker on Linux servers empowers developers and system administrators to streamline deployment, scale services easily, and maintain consistency across different stages of development and production.