How to Install Docker on Debian

Docker is an essential tool for developers and system administrators, allowing you to create, deploy, and manage applications in containers. This guide will walk you through the steps to install Docker on a Debian system.

Prerequisites

Before you start, make sure:

• You have a Debian system up and running.
• You have sudo privileges to run administrative commands.

Step 1: Update Your System

Open a terminal and update your package index to ensure you have the latest package information.

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install Required Packages

You’ll need to install a few prerequisite packages that allow apt to use packages over HTTPS.

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

Step 3: Add Docker’s Official GPG Key

Next, add Docker’s official GPG key, which is used to verify the integrity of the Docker packages.

curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/debian/gpg | sudo apt-key add -

Step 4: Add Docker Repository

Now, add the Docker repository to your system. This repository contains the latest Docker packages.

echo "deb [arch=amd64] https://download.docker.com/linux/debian $(lsb_release -cs) stable" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list

Step 5: Update Package Index Again

After adding the Docker repository, update the package index to include the new repository.

sudo apt update

Step 6: Install Docker

Now you can install Docker by running the following command:

sudo apt install docker-ce -y

Step 7: Start and Enable Docker

Once Docker is installed, start the Docker service and enable it to run on boot:

sudo systemctl start docker
sudo systemctl enable docker

Step 8: Verify Docker Installation

To check if Docker has been installed correctly, run:

sudo docker --version

You should see the installed version of Docker displayed in the terminal.

Step 9: Manage Docker as a Non-root User (Optional)

By default, Docker requires root privileges. If you want to run Docker commands without using sudo, add your user to the docker group:

sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

After running this command, log out and back in, or restart your terminal.

Step 10: Test Docker Installation

To test your Docker installation, you can run a simple container, such as the hello-world image:

docker run hello-world

If everything is set up correctly, you should see a message confirming that Docker is working.

Conclusion

You’ve successfully installed Docker on your Debian system! With Docker, you can easily manage containers and create isolated environments for your applications. If you encounter any issues during installation, refer to the official Docker documentation for troubleshooting tips.