docudjeex/content/en/3.serveex/2.core/2.docker.md

title, description

title	description
Docker	Install Docker and Dockge on Debian to deploy and manage self-hosted services with simple container stacks.

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Docker

Docker, to install deployable services in seconds and manage them with just a few commands or clicks.

::note 🎯 Goals:

• Install Docker
• Install Dockge to manage stacks
• Install Watchtower to update containers ::

Install Docker

Add the Docker repositories and GPG key:

# Add Docker's official GPG key:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ca-certificates curl
sudo install -m 0755 -d /etc/apt/keyrings
sudo curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/debian/gpg -o /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc
sudo chmod a+r /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc

# Add the repository to Apt sources:
echo   "deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc] https://download.docker.com/linux/debian   $(. /etc/os-release && echo "$VERSION_CODENAME") stable" |   sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null
sudo apt-get update

Install the packages:

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

That's it!

More options: Install Docker for Debian 13

::note

From here on, we assume the stacks are installed in the /docker folder, created using the command: bash [Terminal] sudo mkdir /docker ::

Install Dockge to manage and deploy containers

Dockge is a web tool to create, configure, launch, and manage Docker containers. It's a simple, intuitive interface that’s lighter and easier for beginners than using the CLI or Portainer.

Configuration

File structure we will create:

root
└── docker
    └── dockge    
        └── compose.yml

Create the stack folder:

cd /docker
sudo mkdir dockge

Then create the compose.yml file in this folder using nano:

cd /docker/dockge
sudo nano compose.yml

Paste the following:

---
services:
  dockge:
    image: louislam/dockge:1
    restart: unless-stopped
    container_name: dockge
    ports:

      - 3555:5001 # LAN-accessible port will be 3555

    volumes:

      - /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock
      - /docker/dockge/data:/app/data
      - /docker:/docker
    environment:

      - DOCKGE_STACKS_DIR=/docker

Press :kbd{value="Ctrl+O"}, then :kbd{value="Enter"} to save, and :kbd{value="Ctrl+X"} to exit.

To launch the container:

cd /docker/dockge
sudo docker compose up -d

Then go to http://yourserverip:3555 in your browser to access the login page.

More info on Dockge and how to use it

And there you go! Docker and a tool to easily manage your containers are ready!

Watchtower, to auto-update containers

Watchtower is a container that checks for updates and pulls new images automatically, just by adding a label in your containers’ compose.yml files.

Configuration

• Open Dockge in your browser
• Click compose
• Name the stack watchtower
• Paste the config below into the default config area in Dockge

---
services:
  watchtower:
    container_name: watchtower
    image: ghcr.io/nicholas-fedor/watchtower:latest
    restart: unless-stopped
    env_file:

      - .env
    environment:

      - TZ=Europe/Paris
      - WATCHTOWER_SCHEDULE=${SCHEDULE}
      - WATCHTOWER_LABEL_ENABLE=true
      - WATCHTOWER_CLEANUP=true
      - WATCHTOWER_REMOVE_VOLUMES=true
      # Discord notifications - uncomment if used
      #- WATCHTOWER_NOTIFICATIONS=slack
      #- WATCHTOWER_NOTIFICATION_SLACK_IDENTIFIER=Watchtower
      #- WATCHTOWER_NOTIFICATION_SLACK_HOOK_URL=${WH_URL}
    volumes:

      - /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock

Then fill in the .env section in Dockge with the following:

SCHEDULE=
WH_URL=

Property	Value	Examples
SCHEDULE	Cron format	0 0 6 * * * (every day at 6 AM)
WH_URL	Your Discord webhook URL - append /slack at the end	https://yourdiscordserver/webhook/slack

To have Watchtower monitor your other containers, add this to their compose.yml:

labels:

  - com.centurylinklabs.watchtower.enable=true

Then restart the modified stacks. And that's it! You now have a solid base to start deploying the services you want!