Install Docker and Portainer on Debian

Prerequisites

• A Debian-based system (tested on Debian 11/12)
• sudo privileges

Step 1: Create the Installation Script

Run this command to create the script file:

sudo nano install_docker_portainer.sh

Paste this script into the editor:

#!/bin/bash

# Update package lists
sudo apt update

# Install prerequisites
sudo apt install -y apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl gnupg lsb-release

# Add Docker's GPG key
curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/debian/gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/docker-archive-keyring.gpg

# Add Docker repository
echo "deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/docker-archive-keyring.gpg] https://download.docker.com/linux/debian $(lsb_release -cs) stable" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null

# Update again for Docker packages
sudo apt update

# Install Docker components
sudo apt install -y docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io

# Install Docker Compose (latest)
sudo curl -L "https://github.com/docker/compose/releases/download/$(curl -s https://api.github.com/repos/docker/compose/releases/latest | grep -oP '(?<=tag_name\": \")[0-9a-zA-Z.-]+')/docker-compose-$(uname -s)-$(uname -m)" -o /usr/local/bin/docker-compose

# Make Docker Compose executable
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/docker-compose

# Create Docker group
sudo groupadd docker
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

# Set up Portainer
sudo docker pull portainer/portainer-ce:latest
sudo docker volume create portainer_data
sudo docker run -d -p 9000:9000 --name portainer --restart=always -v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock -v portainer_data:/data portainer/portainer-ce:latest

# Final message
echo "Installation complete!"
echo "Access Portainer: http://$(hostname -I | awk '{print $1}'):9000"
echo "Log out and back in to apply Docker permissions."

Save the file:
Press Ctrl+O → Enter → Ctrl+X.

Step 2: Make the Script Executable

sudo chmod +x install_docker_portainer.sh

Step 3: Run the Script

sudo ./install_docker_portainer.sh

Step 4: Finalize Setup

1. Log out and back in to apply Docker permissions
2. Access Portainer at: http://<your-server-ip>:9000

Verification

sudo systemctl status docker  # Check Docker status  
sudo docker ps | grep portainer  # Verify Portainer