Docker has become a one-stop solution for containerizing applications and launching applications on AWS cloud infrastructure. Using Docker with AWS EC2 instances is an effective way to achieve project flexibility and scalability. Knowing how to install Docker on EC2 will enable developers to deploy and manage applications efficiently.Prerequisites for Installing Docker on EC2You must ensure that you have the following prerequisites before starting the process.AWS AccountAn active AWS account is a must to create and manage EC2 instances. If you don’t have an existing account, visit the AWS website and sign up. A free tier is offered by AWS that includes EC2 which is perfect for testing Docker setups. Key PairCreate a key pair in the AWS console to SSH securely into your instance. This document is important and should be downloaded, as it cannot be accessed later. Store it in a protected area on your PC.Security Group ConfigurationWhile creating your instance, set up a security gathering to permit SSH access. Add an inbound rule for port 22 with your IP address. This guarantees that only you can associate with the instance safely.Step 1: Launching an EC2 InstanceLog into the AWS Management ConsoleGo to the EC2 dashboard and click on “Launch Instance.”Select an Amazon Machine Image (AMI)Pick a Linux-based AMI, for example,Amazon Linux 2: Preconfigured for AWS conditions, guaranteeing compatibility.Ubuntu Server: Famous for its adaptability and support.Choose an Instance TypeSelect an instance type based on your requirements. t2.micro is adequate for most Docker applications, including testing and small applications.Configure Instance DetailsModify instance settings, for example,Network: Connect the instance to an existing VPC.IAM Role: Assign a job to give access to other AWS resources if necessary.Add StorageYou can select the size of the EBS volume. The default (8 GB) is generally enough for Docker arrangements.Tag Your InstanceAssign a name to assist with distinguishing the instance. For instance, name it "Docker-Test-Example."Configure Security GroupSet inbound guidelines for SSH (port 22). If you intend to uncover Dockerized applications, add rules for HTTP (port 80) or HTTPS (port 443).Step 2: Connecting to the EC2 InstanceLocate Your Instance’s Public IPGo to the EC2 dashboard, track down your instance, and copy its public IPv4 address.Open a Terminal or SSH ClientConnect with a terminal or a tool like PuTTY (on Windows).Run the SSH Commandssh -i <key-pair>.pem ec2-user@<public-IP>Replace <key-pair> with the file name of your key pair (e.g., my-key.pem).Replace <public-IP> with the instance's IP address.Confirm the SSH ConnectionWhen prompted, type yes to add the host to your known_hosts record. At that point, you’ll access the instance terminal.Step 3: Updating the System PackagesUpdating system packages is vital to guarantee you have the most recent security patches and programming similarities.Amazon Linux 2sudo yum update -yThis updates all installed packages to the latest versionUbuntusudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -yThe apt update command refreshes the package index.The apt upgrade command installs newer versions of packages.Step 4: Installing Docker on EC2Installing Docker on Amazon Linux 2Install Dockersudo amazon-linux-extras install docker -yThis command enables Docker through Amazon Linux’s additional package repository.Start the Docker Servicesudo service docker startStarting the Docker service makes it ready to use.Enable Docker on Bootsudo systemctl enable dockerThis ensures Docker automatically begins when the instance reboots.Installing Docker on UbuntuInstall Prerequisite Packagessudo apt install apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl software-properties-common -yThese packages allow secure communication and repository management.Add Docker’s Official GPG Keycurl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/docker-archive-keyring.gpgThis adds the Docker signing key to verify package authenticity.Add the Docker Repositoryecho "deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/docker-archive-keyring.gpg] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu $(lsb_release -cs) stable" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.listThis command adds Docker’s repository to your package sources.Update Package Indexsudo apt updateInstall Dockersudo apt install docker-ce -yThis installs Docker’s Community Edition.Start and Enable Dockersudo systemctl start docker sudo systemctl enable docker Step 5: Adding User to Docker GroupRunning Docker commands without sudo makes the workflow simpler:Add your user to the Docker group:sudo usermod -aG docker $USERLog out and back in to apply changes:exit ssh -i <key-pair>.pem ec2-user@<public-IP> Step 6: Verifying Docker InstallationCheck the Docker versiondocker --versionYou should see the installed Docker version.Run a test containerdocker run hello-worldThis downloads and runs a test image, verifying Docker functionality.Troubleshooting Common IssuesPermission Denied for Docker Commands:Verify your user is added to the Docker group.Use sudo if the issue persists.Firewall Blocking TrafficEnsure EC2 security group rules allow traffic on required ports.Docker Service Fails to StartCheck the statussudo systemctl status dockerReview logs for errorssudo journalctl -u dockerYour Gateway to Cloud-Powered ContainersWith Docker effectively introduced on your EC2 instance, you've moved toward dominating cloud-based application management.Docker's containerization innovation permits you to run applications in separate conditions, guaranteeing consistency across development, testing, and creation stages. By utilizing EC2's adaptability, you can undoubtedly oversee jobs of fluctuating sizes while decreasing overhead costs and asset distribution.Whether building microservices, testing applications, or running complex organizations, Docker on EC2 gives a solid and adaptable platform to satisfy your task's needs.This arrangement additionally fills in as a door to exploring ideas like container orchestration with devices like Kubernetes and CI/CD pipelines and incorporating Docker with other AWS administrations like S3, RDS, or Lambda.As you dive more deeply into Docker's capacities, consider exploring different avenues regarding multi-container applications utilizing Docker. Develop and manage full-scale applications with an orchestration platform.The mix of Docker's portability and EC2's cloud infrastructure enables you to create, convey, and oversee current applications productively, opening up additional opportunities for advancement and development.Read Morehttps://devopsden.io/article/best-alternatives-for-apache-kafkaFollow us onhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/devopsden/