A Complete Guide to Installing and Running Docker on Linux

Written By Anurag Soam Published On April 6, 2025

Reading time: 7 minutes

In today’s DevOps and cloud-native era, Docker has come forward as a breakthrough in how applications are developed, deployed, and managed. This lightweight containerization platform allows developers and system administrators to package applications with all their needs into portable, scalable, and secure containers. Whether you are a professional Linux developer or a novice in the world of containers, understanding how to install and operate Docker on Linux is a must-learn skill.

One of the interesting points you must know is that Linux is the preferred operating system for running Docker due to its flexibility, security, and performance. Different from traditional virtualization, Docker containers share the host OS kernel, making them more efficient than virtual machines. In this blog post, we are going to discuss the installation process, configuration, and crucial Docker commands, ensuring you have an easy experience operating Docker on your Linux Dedicated Server system.

What is Docker?

The term Docker refers to an open-source platform that allows developers to build, deploy, run, and manage containers. Containers are standardized, executable components that combine application source code with the operating system libraries and dependencies needed to run that code in any environment. Using Docker allows you to ship code faster, standardize application operations, easily move code, and save money by improving resource utilization. With Docker, you get a single object that can reliably operate anywhere. It's simple and straightforward syntax provides you with complete control.

Understanding the Requirements for Installing Docker on Linux

Are you a Linux user who wants to install Docker? If so, you don't need to use the GUI application Docker Desktop. Unlike Windows and macOS users, who prefer the GUI to install Docker, Linux users have the option of installing Docker Engine. Contrary to the desktop application, Docker Engine consumes significantly fewer resources, with 1 to 2 GB of memory (RAM) being enough for it to run smoothly.

How do you choose the right hosting solution for Docker to run on a Linux Server?

Although you can install and run Docker on your own Linux dedicated server, it is much better to have a provider host the server for you. Considering a hosting provider like Net2Secure, you can benefit from solid enterprise hardware and a first-class broadband connection. At Net2Secure, you can select from three different server hosting models that each provide better speed performance.

Cloud Servers: With a cloud server from Net2Secure, you can host your Docker on virtualized resources in the cloud. Performance can be increased or decreased based on your computing requirements, and the price is determined according to usage.

VPS Servers from Net2Secure also use virtualized hardware, although, unlike cloud servers, only one host system is used. Another big difference between the two is that you pay a fixed monthly price with vServers.

Dedicated servers from Net2Secure, your server runs on hardware that has not been virtualized. You receive a clearly defined server setup and only pay for the resources you use.

Step by Step Guide to Install Docker on Linux

Docker can be installed on different Linux distributions, but the most popular ones are Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, RHEL, and Fedora. Here is the complete installation guide for Ubuntu/Debian-based distributions.

Step 1: Update Your System

Before installing Docker, it’s always recommended to update your package repository to ensure you get the latest versions of dependencies. Run the following command:

bash

$ sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y #For Ubuntu/Debian
sudo dnf update -y #For CentOS/RHEL

Step 2: Install Required Dependencies

To install Docker, you need some essential packages that allow the installation via HTTPS. Run the appropriate command based on your Linux distribution:

For Ubuntu/Debian

bash

$ sudo apt install -y ca-certificates curl gnupg lsb-release

For Ubuntu/Debian:

bash

$ sudo apt install -y yum-utils

Step 3: Add Docker’s Official GPG Key and Repository

Next, you need to add the official Docker repository to your package manager to get the latest stable version.

For Ubuntu/Debian, add the repository and GPG key:

bash

$ sudo mkdir -p /etc/apt/keyrings

curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | sudo tee

/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg > /dev/null

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

Then update your package index again:

bash

$ sudo apt update

For CentOS/RHEL, enable the Docker repository:

sudo dnf config-manager --add-repo
https://download.docker.com/linux/centos/docker-ce.repo

Step 4: Install Docker Engine

Now, install Docker Engine using the package manager.

For Ubuntu/Debian, run:

bash

$ sudo apt install -y docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-buildx-plugin docker-compose-plugin

For CentOS/RHEL, run:

$ sudo dnf install -y docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-buildx-plugin docker-compose-plugin

Step 5: Start and Enable Docker Service

Once the installation is complete, start the Docker service and enable it to start on boot:

bash

$ sudo sysytemctl start docker
sudo systemctl enable docker

To verify that Docker is running:

bash

$ sudo sysytemctl status docker

You should see output indicating that Docker is running.

Step 6: Verify Docker Installation

To check if Docker is installed correctly, run:

bash

$ sudo docker --version

This should return an output like:

nginx

Docker version 24.0.5, build 12345

You can also run a test container to confirm that Docker is working properly:

bash

$ sudo docker run hello-world

If the installation is successful, you will see a message that confirms Docker is up and running.

Step 7: Run Docker Without Sudo (Optional

By default, Docker requires sudo privileges. If you want to run Docker as a non-root user, you need to add your user to the Docker group:

bash

$ sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

Then, log out and log back in to apply the changes. Now, you should be able to run Docker without sudo:

bash

docker run hello-world

Step 8: Enable Docker to Start on Boot (Optional but Recommended)

If you want Docker to start automatically whenever your server reboots, enable it with:

bash

$ sudo systemctl enable docker

Step 9: Configure Docker for Better Performance (Optional)

If you're using Docker on a production system, you may want to configure log rotation and other settings to optimize performance. You can do this by modifying the daemon.json file:

bash

$ sudo nano /etc/docker/daemon.json

Add the following configuration:

json

{
"log-driver": "json-file",
"log-opts":{
"max-size": ""10m",
"max-file": "3"
},
"Storge-driver": "overlay2"
}

Save the file and restart Docker:

bash

$ sudo systemctl restart docker

Step 10: Uninstall Docker (If required)

If you ever need to remove Docker, use the following commands:
For Ubuntu/Debian:

bash

$ sudo apt remove --purge docker-ce decoker-ce-cli containerd.io -y

$ sudo rm -rf /var/lib/docker

For CentOS/RHEL

bash

$ sudo dnf remove -y docker-ce docke-ce-cli conatainered.io

$ sudo rm -rf /var/lib/docker

Conclusion

Indeed, Docker has transformed the way applications are developed, deployed, and managed by a lightweight and scalable containerization platform. With its ability to package applications along with their dependencies, Docker certifies consistency across various environments, making it a crucial tool for developers, system administrators, and DevOps professionals.

Whether you're using Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, or RHEL, Docker provides a powerful way to deploy applications seamlessly. For businesses and individuals looking for a high-performance hosting environment, choosing a reliable provider like Net2Secureensures that Docker runs smoothly on enterprise-grade infrastructure with scalability and security in mind.

In this blog post, we have explained how to run Docker on a Linux dedicated server. Also, it is important to select the right hosting solution to ensure better performance for your Docker workloads. By following the installation steps outlined in this guide, you should now have a fully functional Docker setup on your Linux system. Apart from this, if you are passionate to learn more about why Linux stands out in the hosting world, read our blog post - A Perfect Guide To Linux Dedicated Hosting, and discover how a Linux environment can level up your Docker experience.