Can You Run Docker Containers on a VPS? A Simple Guide for VPS Users

Are you wondering if your VPS can support Docker? When I transferred from a shared hosting environment, I was questioning the very same thing. Instead of wasting time wondering if it was possible, I simply started testing things out and became more familiar with Docker.

So, can you use Docker on your VPS?​

The short answer is simple: YES, you most definitely can run Docker on a Virtual Private Server (VPS) as long as the VPS provides the necessary resources and supports Docker!

If your VPS is running on Linux and you have full access to it, then you are good to go! It's that easy. Most of the time, you will get lucky doing this and have no issues. I personally use Docker on my VPS daily and have found that it makes things easier. I don't have to install each application individually because Docker does all of that for me.

Check if your VPS meets these requirements?​

• Is your VPS running on Linux (eg., Ubuntu or Debian)?
• Do you have root or sudo access to install any software you want?
• Is your VPS using full virtualization (ie., KVM) vs. older types of virtualization?
• Does your VPS have sufficient RAM and CPU to run containers without any performance issues?

Why Docker is a good match for running on a VPS​

Having a VPS with Docker is a great combination because:

• Each application is in its own environment, so one application going down won't affect all others.
• It interfaces with the VPS through a lower error rate during installation.
• It will scale easily when the incoming traffic increases.
• You are able to have more control over your VPS versus shared hosting.

If you've ever had an app fail and take down your entire VPS server, Docker can help keep that from happening. That's a huge plus.

The negatives?​

You have to maintain your VPS as well. All OS updates, security, and backups are up to you. If you like to have full control, this is great; if you don’t, it may seem like a lot of extra work.