Introduction:

Docker is a powerful tool that lets you package and run applications in lightweight, portable containers.

Instead of installing software directly on your system, Docker lets you run everything in isolated environments—so it’s cleaner, faster, and works the same on any machine. Whether you’re building apps, testing code, or deploying to production, Docker simplifies the process and saves you tons of setup time.

PREREQUISITES:

  • If you’re using a firewall tool like UFW or firewalld, keep in mind that Docker can bypass your firewall rules when exposing container ports.
  • Also, Docker only works with iptables, not nftables. So, make sure your firewall rules are created using iptables or ip6tables, and add them to the DOCKER-USER chain to control traffic properly.

Ubuntu Versions for Docker Engine:

To install Docker Engine, you’ll need a 64-bit version of one of the following Ubuntu releases:

  • Ubuntu 24.10 (Oracular)
  • Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble)
  • Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Jammy)
  • Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (Focal)

Docker supports multiple system architectures, including:

  • x86_64 / amd64 (most common)
  • arm64
  • armhf
  • s390x
  • ppc64le (ppc64el)

Make sure your system matches one of these versions and architectures before proceeding with the installation.

Installation Method For Docker:

Update Your System

Ensure your system packages are up to date before installing Docker.

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y

Install Required Dependencies

Install tools needed to work with external repositories over HTTPS.

sudo apt install apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl software-properties-common -y

Add Docker’s Official GPG Key

Add Docker’s secure key to verify packages from their repository.

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

Set Up Docker Repository

Add the Docker repository to your system’s software sources.

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

Refresh Your Package List

Update your system again to include Docker’s packages.

sudo apt update

Install Docker Engine

Install the Docker runtime and command-line tools.

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

Check Docker Version

Verify that Docker was installed successfully.

sudo docker --version

Run a Test Container

Make sure Docker is working by running the Hello World image.

docker run hello-world

Conclusion:

Starting with Docker might feel like learning a new language at first, but once you get the basics, it becomes an incredibly powerful tool in your development toolkit.
By mastering containers, you’re stepping into a world where applications are more portable, scalable, and reliable than ever before.

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