Installing Docker on Bare Metal Servers

Updated by Bryan Friedman on Aug 12, 2015
Article Code: kb/723

Description

Docker is open-source software for Linux that is used to deploy applications inside software containers by providing an additional layer of abstraction within the operating system–level virtualization. Lumen Cloud supports Docker on virtual cloud servers as well as on bare metal servers. The instructions for installing Docker on bare metal servers are listed below. A shell script that runs all the commands below is also attached for reference.

Prerequisite

  • Follow the instructions for creating a new bare metal server if you don't already have one. Make sure to select CentOS 6, RedHat Enterprise Linux 6, or Ubuntu 14 from the OS list. Any of these operating systems support Docker. Depending on the OS you choose, follow the instructions below for installing Docker on CentOS 6/Red Hat 6 or on Ubuntu 14.

Steps

Ubuntu 14

  1. Run the following command to install Docker. This will download and install the latest version and configure it to start during system boot.

     curl -sSL https://get.docker.com/ | sh  
    
  2. Run the hello-world container to test the docker command and confirm the installation was successful.

     docker run hello-world
    

CentOS 6 and Red Hat 6

  1. Log into the machine via SSH as the root user. (Make sure you are logged into your VPN and connecting to the machine's private IP as it is not recommended to allow SSH over a public IP.)

     ssh root@{ip_address}
    
  2. It is recommended to run a full update on the system to ensure that it is fully patched.

     yum -y update
    
  3. Download the Docker RPM using curl.

     curl -O -sSL https://get.docker.com/rpm/1.7.1/centos-6/RPMS/x86_64/docker-engine-1.7.1-1.el6.x86_64.rpm
    
  4. Install the package with yum.

     yum -y localinstall --nogpgcheck docker-engine-1.7.1-1.el6.x86_64.rpm
    
  5. Start the Docker daemon with this command:

     service docker start
    
  6. Run the hello-world container to test the docker command and confirm the installation was successful.

     docker run hello-world
    
  7. To set Docker to start during system boot, run the following command:

     chkconfig docker on