Docker, Docker Compose & Must-Have Utilities on Ubuntu 24

This tutorial gets your Ubuntu 24 VM (for example the 112-Technitium-DNS_Server VM) ready for running Docker and Docker Compose, plus a small set of must-have utilities that make daily Linux and homelab work easier.

Where This Fits

    flowchart LR
  A[VM 112-Technitium-DNS_Server] --> B[This tutorial]
  B --> C[Docker + Compose + tools]
  C --> D[Technitium in Docker]
  

• Before: You have an Ubuntu 24 VM with a static IP (e.g. from Create VM 112-Technitium-DNS_Server).
• After: Same VM with Docker, Docker Compose, and useful utilities installed. Next: Technitium DNS in Docker.

What You’ll Install

Step 1: Update the System

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install Docker (Official Method)

1. Add Docker’s repository and install:

sudo apt install -y 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
echo "deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu $(. /etc/os-release && echo "$VERSION_CODENAME") stable" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-buildx-plugin docker-compose-plugin

2. Add your user to the docker group so you can run Docker without sudo:

sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

3. Log out and back in (or run newgrp docker), then check:

docker run hello-world

Step 3: Docker Compose (V2 Plugin)

With the steps above you already have Docker Compose V2 as a plugin. Use it like this:

docker compose version

Example: create a folder and a docker-compose.yml for a later service (e.g. Technitium):

mkdir -p ~/technitium && cd ~/technitium
# You'll add your compose file in the Technitium tutorial

Step 4: Must-Have Utilities

Install a small set of tools that help with debugging and day-to-day use:

sudo apt install -y curl wget htop vim nano net-tools iproute2

Quick Check

• Docker: docker run hello-world runs and exits successfully.
• Docker Compose: docker compose version prints a version.
• Utilities: htop, curl -I https://example.com, and ip addr work.

What’s Next?

Next: Install Technitium DNS in Docker →