In this guide, we’ll demonstrate how to install Docker on Raspberry Pi.
Docker is a powerful tool that offers OS-level virtualization, allowing you to package software in isolated containers. This isolation ensures that the software only accesses resources explicitly provided by the Docker runtime, enhancing security and resource management.
One of the key benefits of Docker is its ability to simplify software deployment. By packaging everything within a container, you can effortlessly deploy your software across devices, whether you’re using Ubuntu, Debian, or other compatible operating systems.
Additionally, Docker operates with minimal overhead, making it ideal for resource-constrained devices like the Raspberry Pi.
In the following sections, we’ll guide you through the steps to install Docker on your Raspberry Pi and verify its correct operation.
How To Install Docker On The Raspberry Pi
Equipment List
Installing Docker
The process of installing Docker on Raspberry Pi OS is simplified thanks to a convenient installation script provided by the Docker team. You can even carry out the following steps remotely via an SSH connection to your Raspberry Pi.
- Update Existing Packages
Before installing Docker, it’s important to ensure that all existing packages and dependencies on your Raspberry Pi are up to date. You can achieve this by running the following commands:
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade- Install Docker
With your Raspberry Pi fully updated, you’re ready to install Docker. The Docker team has provided a bash script that automates the installation process, making it quick and easy. To download and execute the official Docker setup script, run the following command:
curl -sSL https://get.docker.com | shThis command streams the script directly into the shell. While it’s generally advisable to avoid executing scripts directly from the internet, Docker is a reputable source.
If you prefer to review the script before running it, you can visit get.docker.com to view its contents.
Please note that the script may take some time to complete, as it automatically detects your system and installs the necessary components to run Docker on the Raspberry Pi.
Configuring Your User for Docker
Before we can use Docker seamlessly, we need to make a small adjustment to our user account due to the way the Linux permission system interacts with Docker. By default, only the Docker user has permission to interact with Docker, but there’s a workaround.
- Adding Your User to the Docker Group
After installing Docker on your Raspberry Pi, you need to add your user account to the Docker group to allow it to interact with Docker. This is done using theusermodcommand:
sudo usermod -aG docker $USERHere, $USER is an environment variable that represents the current user’s name. If your user is not added to the Docker group, you won’t be able to interact with Docker without running as the root user.
For more information about permissions and groups in Linux, you might find our guide on file permissions in Linux helpful.
- Logging Out and Logging Back In
Since we’ve made changes to the user’s group membership, you’ll need to log out and log back in for the changes to take effect. You can log out using the following command:
logout- Verifying the Group Addition
After logging back in, you can verify that your user has been successfully added to the Docker group by running:
groupsThis command will list all the groups the current user is a part of. If everything is set up correctly, you should see docker listed among the groups.
Testing the Docker Installation on the Raspberry Pi
Now that Docker is set up, it’s time to test it to ensure everything is working properly.
- Running a Test Container
To test Docker, we’ll run the following command, which tells Docker to download, set up, and run a container called “hello-world”:
docker run hello-world- Verifying the Installation
If Docker is installed correctly on your Raspberry Pi, you should see a message that includes the following text:
Hello from Docker!This message indicates that your Docker installation is functioning properly.
Conclusion
You’re now ready to start using Docker for your projects, such as setting up a Docker swarm with your Raspberry Pi. Docker containers provide a convenient way to quickly deploy software onto your device.
To simplify the management of your Docker containers, consider setting up Portainer on your Pi. Portainer is a useful tool that allows you to create and manage containers through a web interface. You can easily add the Portainer repository to your Docker setup for streamlined updates and management.