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How to Install Docker on Debian 12?

Docker is one of the most powerful open-source platforms that facilitates developers to build, ship and run applications in containers. It simplifies software deployment by packaging applications with their dependencies, which promises consistency across systems. If you are using Debian 12, it could work wonders in the development and deployment of your projects.

In this guide, we will take you through the step-by-step method of installing Docker on Debian 12. It does not matter whether you are still a student or a proficient developer; this guide will help you in quickly getting started with the installation of Docker on Debian 12!!

Why Install Docker on Debian 12?

Debian 12 is one of the stable and lightweight Linux distributions and is the perfect choice for running Docker. There are multiple reasons why you may want to install Docker on Debian 12. Let’s examine some of them!

  • Easy application deployment: Docker simplifies application deployment using lightweight, portable containers.
  • Isolation: This provides independence for each container, thereby isolating applications from potential conflicts.
  • Resource efficiency: Containers consume comparatively less resources than virtual machines.
  • Cross-platform compatibility: One can very easily run applications on different environments without changing them.
  • Scalability: Docker makes it easy to scale applications up or down to meet production workloads.

Now, let’s navigate to the installation process!

Pre-requisites Before Installing Docker

Before installing Docker, we need to ascertain that:

  • You have a system that runs Debian 12.
  • You have an active user account with sudo privileges.
  • You have a proper internet connection.

Step-Wise Guide for Installing Docker on Debian 12

Docker installation on Debian 12 is simple and can be carried out within a few simple steps listed below!

Step 1: System Updations
It is a pre-requisite step to update your system packages to the latest versions before installing Docker.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install Required Dependencies
Docker requires certain packages and needs to be installed.

sudo apt install -y ca-certificates curl gnupg

Step 3: Add Docker’s Official GPG Key
Run the following command to add Docker’s GPG key:

sudo install -m 0755 -d /etc/apt/keyrings
curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/debian/gpg | sudo tee /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc > /dev/null
sudo chmod a+r /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc

Step 4: Add Docker repository
To add the Docker repository, make sure that you run the following command.

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

Step 5: Install Docker Engine
Ensure that you update the package index and run the command to install Docker.

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

Step 6: Verify Docker Installation

Verify if Docker is installed and running.

docker --version
Docker version 24.0.2, build 1234567

Check the Docker service status.

sudo systemctl status docker

If the docker service is running, it will show output indicating that it is active.

Step 8: Add User to Docker Group (Optional)
Add your user to the Docker group if you want to run Docker commands without using sudo:

sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

To apply these changes, log out and log back in, or run:

newgrp docker

Commands to Manage the Docker system service

Docker runs as a system service and can be managed by using systemctl commands.

To Start the Docker:

sudo systemctl start docker

To Stop the Docker:

sudo systemctl stop docker

To Restart the Docker:

sudo systemctl restart docker

To Check the Docker Status:

sudo systemctl status docker

To Disable the Docker on Startup:

sudo systemctl disable docker

How to Deploy Containerized Applications Using Docker?

After installing the Docker, one can easily deploy containerized applications. For instance, let’s say running an NGINX web server inside a Docker container.

Step 1: Pull the NGINX Image

docker pull nginx

Step 2: Run the NGINX Container

docker run -d -p 8080:80 --name mynginx nginx

Here,
-d runs the container in detached mode.
-p 8080:80 maps port 8080 on the host to port 80 in the container.
–name mynginx names the container “mynginx”.
nginx is the image name.

Step 3: Verify Running Containers

docker ps

You should see an active NGINX container in the output.

Step 4: Access the Application

Open a browser and navigate to http://localhost:8080. You should see the default NGINX welcome page.

Step 5: Stop and Remove the Container
If you no longer need the container, stop and remove it.

docker stop mynginx
docker rm mynginx

Conclusion

Docker is easy to install on Debian 12; it will easily help you deploy applications in isolated environments known as containers. With the steps in this guide, you will be able to install Docker and manage its service easily alongside the deployment of containerized applications. As the developer or system admin, you will find it useful to ease your workflows and improve your deployment strategies.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check if Docker is running on Debian 12?

Type the following command to verify if the Docker is running on Debian 12,

sudo systemctl status docker

If Docker is up and running, it will show the status as “running”.

Can I install Docker without root privileges?

Docker needs root access, but you can run sudo-less commands if you add your user to the Docker group.

 How do I uninstall Docker from Debian 12?

To uninstall Docker from Debian 12, run the following command:

sudo apt remove --purge docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io
sudo rm -rf /var/lib/docker

What is the difference between a Docker and a virtual machine?
Docker is lightweight since it shares the host OS kernel in its containerization applications, while a virtual machine starts an entire operating system and takes up more resources.

Can I use Docker Compose on Debian 12?
Yes, Docker Compose is installed as a Netflix plugin together with Docker in this case. You can check its version with:

docker compose version
March 20, 2025