How to Install Docker Engine: The Complete Setup Guide for Developers

**Installing Docker Engine: A Comprehensive Guide for Developers**

As a developer, having a solid understanding of containerization is essential in today’s cloud-native world. Docker has become the de facto standard for deploying and managing containers. In this article, we will guide you through the process of installing Docker Engine on your system, covering the necessary steps and considerations.

**System Requirements**

| Operating System | CPU Architectures |
| — | — |
| Ubuntu/Debian | x86-64 (amd64) |
| CentOS/RHEL | x86-64 (amd64), aarch64 (arm64) |
| Windows 10/8.1 | x86-64 (amd64) |

**Installation Steps**

### **Prerequisites**

Before installing Docker, make sure you have the following prerequisites:

* A 64-bit operating system
* At least 2 GB of RAM (4 GB or more recommended)
* A working internet connection

### **Installing Docker on Linux**

To install Docker on a Linux-based system, follow these steps:

| Distribution | Installation Command |
| — | — |
| Ubuntu/Debian | `sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install docker.io` |
| CentOS/RHEL | `sudo yum install -y docker` |

After installation, start the Docker service and enable it to run at boot time:
“`bash
sudo systemctl start docker
sudo systemctl enable docker
“`
Verify that Docker is running by checking the status of the service:
“`bash
sudo systemctl status docker
“`

### **Installing Docker on Windows**

To install Docker on a Windows system, follow these steps:

1. Download and run the official Docker Desktop installer from the [Docker website](https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop).
2. Follow the installation prompts to complete the installation.

After installation, open Docker Desktop and start a new container by clicking on “New Container” and selecting an image from the Docker Hub registry.

### **Configuring Docker**

After installing Docker, you may need to configure it according to your system’s needs. This can include setting up Docker Networking or configuring Docker Secrets.

| Configuration | Description |
| — | — |
| Docker Networking | Configure network settings for Docker containers |
| Docker Secrets | Store sensitive data, such as passwords and API keys |

### **Verifying Docker Installation**

To verify that Docker has been installed correctly, run the following command:
“`bash
docker –version
“`
This should display the version of Docker installed on your system.

**Conclusion**

In this article, we have covered the process of installing Docker Engine on various operating systems. We have discussed the necessary prerequisites, installation steps for Linux and Windows, and provided configuration options to customize Docker according to your needs. By following these instructions, you should now have a working Docker installation on your system, ready to deploy containers and manage your applications with ease.

**Summary**

* Install Docker Engine on Ubuntu/Debian: `sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install docker.io`
* Install Docker Engine on CentOS/RHEL: `sudo yum install -y docker`
* Install Docker Engine on Windows: Download and run the official Docker Desktop installer
* Configure Docker Networking and Secrets as needed
* Verify Docker installation with `docker –version`

We hope this guide has provided you with a comprehensive understanding of installing Docker Engine. If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, feel free to ask!

Image by: Enric Cruz López
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