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🌱Docker HomeLab Notes


Published by 
Scott Kingery
 on 

About

I have a Windows 11 mini PC that I am repurposing as a HomeLab to run Docker Containers on. I'll use this page to keep track of how things go.

Pre Ubuntu Server Install

  • Make sure your PC is connected to a Wired port on the router
  • Boot Windows and make sure the BIOS is up to date
    • Make notes about the current Windows set up
      • Go to Start and type About, copy all the details into a note you'll be able to find later
      • Get the Windows Key by opening PowerShell as Administrator and type: get key: powershell "(Get-WmiObject -query 'select * from SoftwareLicensingService').OA3xOriginalProductKey"
    • Get anything you may need later OFF of this PC because it's going away
  • Download Ubuntu Server
  • Boot to Windows, put the flash drive in an open USB slot and open a command prompt at Administrator
    • type shutdown /r /fw
      • This lets you boot back up into the BIOS so you can set it to boot from the flash drive
    • Make your adjustments in the BIOS and save them

Install Ubuntu Server

  • When the computer boots, select the install option
  • Choose full Ubuntu Server
  • Use the full disk
  • Note your username and password somewhere
  • Install OpenSSH Server.
  • Do not install extra server packages yet.
  • Do not install Docker from Ubuntu’s optional package selection.
  • Reboot when done

After the first boot:

sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade
sudo reboot
  • Connect to your new server via SSH (I use Putty on Windows) at its IP address

Basic Server Setup

  • Set correct time zone
sudo timedatectl set-timezone America/Los_Angeles
timedatectl

sudo apt install curl ca-certificates git nano htop unattended-upgrades
  • Enable automatic security updates:
sudo dpkg-reconfigure unattended-upgrades

Install Docker

Use Docker’s official APT repository

sudo apt update
sudo apt install ca-certificates curl
sudo install -m 0755 -d /etc/apt/keyrings
sudo curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg -o /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc
sudo chmod a+r /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc

Add the Docker repository:

sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.sources > /dev/null <<EOF
Types: deb
URIs: https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu
Suites: $(. /etc/os-release && echo "${UBUNTU_CODENAME:-$VERSION_CODENAME}")
Components: stable
Architectures: $(dpkg --print-architecture)
Signed-By: /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc
EOF

Install Docker and Compose:

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

Test it:

sudo docker run hello-world
sudo docker compose version
sudo systemctl status docker

Create an Organized Application Structure

A consistent directory layout will make backup, troubleshooting, and migration much easier:

/srv/docker/
├── compose/
│   ├── dockge/
│   ├── uptime-kuma/
│   └── app-name/
├── appdata/
│   ├── dockge/
│   ├── uptime-kuma/
│   └── app-name/
└── backups/

Create the top-level directories:

sudo mkdir -p /srv/docker/{compose,appdata,backups}
sudo chown -R "$USER":"$USER" /srv/docker
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