Install Docker on a VPS — pre-installed at boot

The most useful default a server can have

Most modern software ships as a container image: databases, queues, dashboards, that open-source tool from yesterday's post. A VPS with Docker already installed turns "evaluate it" into one command. Our Docker one-click does exactly one thing at first boot: installs Docker Engine + Compose v2 from Docker's official channel (get.docker.com) and enables the service.

First five minutes

Create the server with Docker ticked, SSH in, and check the basics:

• docker run --rm hello-world — engine works;
• docker compose version — Compose v2 is there;
• cat /root/docker-info.txt — the note the installer leaves behind.

From here, anything with a docker-compose.yml is git clone + docker compose up -d away.

Three habits that keep a Docker box healthy

• Compose files over long docker-run commands. A directory per project under /opt with its compose file is self-documenting and survives your own memory. It's how our other one-clicks (WordPress, Nextcloud) are laid out.
• Named volumes for anything you'd miss. Containers are disposable; volumes are the data. Snapshot the server from the panel before big upgrades.
• Inside a container, 127.0.0.1 refers to that container. Connect containers through a shared Docker network and the database service name.

Sizing and scaling

Choose shared or dedicated vCPU to match your workload. A VPS gives you root access; application performance depends on resources and configuration.