A Beginner’s Guide to Docker and its Benefits on Linux

Docker is an open-source platform for building, shipping, and running applications in containers. Containers are lightweight, portable, and self-sufficient environments that can run anywhere, from laptops to servers to cloud environments. In this blog, we will discuss what Docker is, the benefits of Docker over VM alternatives, and why you should choose Docker over alternatives. We will also provide step-by-step instructions on how to install Docker on Ubuntu, Debian, Arch, and RedHat.

What is Docker?

Docker is a containerization platform that allows you to package your application and its dependencies into a single container, which can be run on any system that supports Docker. Containers provide a lightweight, isolated environment for your application, while still sharing the underlying operating system with other containers.

Benefits of Docker over VM alternatives:

1. Lightweight: Docker containers are much smaller and more lightweight than VMs, as they do not require a separate operating system for each container. This means that you can run more containers on a single machine than you can with VMs, leading to better resource utilization.
2. Faster startup time: Docker containers can start up much more quickly than VMs, as they do not need to boot a separate operating system. This makes it easier to scale your application up or down in response to changing demand.
3. Better performance: Docker containers generally offer better performance than VMs, as they can directly access the host operating system’s resources, such as CPU and memory.
4. Consistent environments: Docker allows you to create a consistent environment for your application, regardless of the underlying host operating system. This makes it easier to develop, test, and deploy your application across different machines and environments.
5. Easier management: Docker provides a range of tools and services that make it easier to manage and orchestrate containerized applications, such as Docker Compose and Docker Swarm. These tools allow you to define the services and dependencies of your application and manage them as a single unit.

Why choose Docker over alternatives?

While there are other containerization platforms available, Docker is currently the most popular and widely used. Docker has a large community of developers and users, which means there is a wealth of resources and support available. Additionally, Docker provides a range of tools and services that make it easier to manage and orchestrate containerized applications, such as Docker Compose and Docker Swarm. Finally, Docker is an open-source platform, which means it is constantly evolving and improving, with new features and updates being added all the time.

How to install Docker on Ubuntu, Debian, Arch, and RedHat:

Ubuntu:

1. Update your package index: sudo apt-get update
2. Install the necessary packages to allow apt to use a repository over HTTPS: sudo apt-get install apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl gnupg-agent software-properties-common
3. Add Docker’s GPG key: curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | sudo apt-key add -
4. Add the Docker repository to your system: sudo add-apt-repository "deb [arch=amd64] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu $(lsb_release -cs) stable"
5. Update your package index again: sudo apt-get update
6. Install Docker: sudo apt-get install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io

Debian:

1. Update your package index: sudo apt-get update
2. Install the necessary packages to allow apt to use a repository over HTTPS: sudo apt-get install apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl gnupg-agent software-properties-common
3. Add Docker’s GPG key: curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/debian/gpg | sudo apt-key add -
4. Add the repository to your system: sudo add-apt-repository "deb [arch=amd64] https://download.docker.com/linux/debian $(lsb_release -cs) stable" 5. Update your package index again: sudo apt-get update
5. Install Docker: sudo apt-get install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-buildx-plugin docker-compose-plugin

Arch:

1. Install Docker: sudo pacman -S docker
2. Start and enable the Docker service: sudo systemctl start docker && sudo systemctl enable docker

RedHat:

1. Add the Docker repository to your system: sudo subscription-manager repos --enable "rhel-7-server-extras-rpms" && sudo yum install -y docker
2. Start and enable the Docker service: sudo systemctl start docker && sudo systemctl enable docker

Conclusion:

Docker is a powerful tool for containerizing your applications, allowing you to create lightweight, isolated environments that can be run anywhere. In this blog, we discussed what Docker is, the benefits of Docker over VM alternatives, and why you should choose Docker over alternatives. We also provided step-by-step instructions on how to install Docker on Ubuntu, Debian, Arch, and RedHat. With Docker, you can simplify your application deployment and management, while also improving performance, scalability, and portability.