Installation
This chapter is partly just for your information. Docker is already installed in our training environment. You can start directly with task 2. What you can learn:
- Install Docker Desktop
- Inspect Docker Desktop
- Inspect Docker cli
- Inspect Docker Hub
1. Install Docker
Only for reference
This task is only for reference or if you want to work on your own device.
Docker as a whole can be installed quickly through a single package - namely Docker Desktop. Docker Desktop not only provides the UI to access and manage the containers on your machine. It also installs more bundled tools, such as Kubernetes, Docker Compose, etc.
Most importantly though, it will set up an optimized Linux VM on your machine (except you are working with Linux directly). This VM serves as the running environment for Docker Engine and all the other tools. It handles updates and system integration to your running OS automatically. That way you can focus on building images and running containers!
With this said, let us install Docker Desktop. Choose the correct distribution for your OS and wait for the installation to be finished. It is worth to mention some alternatives to Docker Desktop with (almost) the same functionality:
Next, check the configuration of the Docker Engine and check, which features are enabled by default.
HINT
1. Start Docker Desktop
2. Navigate to "Preferences > Docker Engine"
3. Look into the json-formatted settings under features
When looking for the Docker Engine features, did you spot some other tools in the preferences that are familiar to you?
Let us look for the Version of Docker Desktop now. When you find it, also take note of other tools that have been set up for you. Write down the name and version of the tools that you find!
HINT
1. Start Docker Desktop
2. Navigate to "About Docker Desktop"
3. Write down the versions of Docker Desktop and the other tools - for example should you see Kubernetes and Docker Compose
2. Inspect Docker cli
Docker is pre-installed
Docker is already pre-installed in your working environment.
Now that we installed Docker Desktop, everything should be in place to start working with containers.
Open your terminal and get a first impression of the Docker cli workflow and commands by calling Docker cli with the --help option.
Solution
$ docker --help
Let’s check the version of Docker Engine.
Solution
$ docker version
That’s enough for now. Continue with Chapter 2 for a brief intro to working with the Docker cli!