How to Install Portainer Docker UI Web Interface on Debian 12

Portainer is a robust tool for container management that offers an intuitive web interface for easy management of Docker environments. It allows users to effortlessly control containers, images, networks, and volumes using a graphical interface rather than needing to navigate Docker’s intricate command line. From system preparation to the first login into the Portainer web interface, this manual will guide you through all the steps necessary for installing Portainer on Debian 12.

Table of Contents

• Prerequisites
• Installing Docker
• Installing Portainer
• Configuring Portainer
• Setting Up Firewall Access
• Enabling Portainer to Start on Boot
• Accessing Portainer UI
• Troubleshooting
• Updating Portainer
• Conclusion

Prerequisites

Before installing Portainer, ensure the following components are available:

• Debian 12 (Bookworm) is already installed and updated.
• Access to a user account with sudo permission.
• Available internet for package downloads.
• Recommended – 1GB RAM.

Installing Docker

Portainer needs the installation of Docker first. Follow these steps to install it on Debian 12:

Step 1: Update System Repository

First, make sure the system repository is updated:

sudo apt update

Step 2: Install Required Dependencies

After that, users need to install the essential packages that are for further Docker installation:

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

Step 3: Adding Docker’s Official GPG Key

Then, users need to input the GPG key to ensure package authenticity. It accepts policy framework and public key for verifying packages’ GPG signatures:

curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/debian/gpg | sudo gpg –dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/docker-archive-keyring.gpg

Step 4: Setting Up the Docker Repository

Add the Docker repository to your system:

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

Step 5: Install Docker Engine

Update unused packages and install the program:

sudo apt update sudo apt install -y docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io

Step 6: Verify Docker Installation

You should be able to see information indicating that Docker has been installed and activated:

sudo systemctl status docker

Step 7: Add Your User to the Docker Group (Optional)

If you want command lines such as “docker ps” to work without sudo, append your account to the Docker group:

sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

Remember: You can refresh your session with the following command without logging out and then log back in as described above:

newgrp docker

Authenticate that the commands can be run without sudo:

docker –version

Installing Portainer

There are two methods for deploying Portainers. This guide concentrates on the Portainer CE since it’s free and ideal for most users.

Step 1: Creating a Volume

So that the container’s data won’t be deleted when the container is stopped, create a Docker volume:

docker volume create portainer_data

Step 2: Install the Portainer Server

Portainer can be installed in two different methods: we can either use Docker CLI or Docker Compose. Both methods will be discussed.

Option A: Using Docker CLI

Let’s start the Portainer installation. It can occur via the following command:

docker run -d -p 8000:8000 -p 9443:9443 –name portainer –restart=always -v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock -v portainer_data:/data portainer/portainer-ce:latest

Let’s analyze the command:

• -d: Start the container in detached mode (background mode)
• -p 8000:8000: Map port 8000 on the host to port 8000 in the container (permission for edge agent)
• -p 9443:94443: Map port 9443 on the host to port 9443 in the container(the web interface)
• -v portainer_data: Mount port Docker socket with Portainer to communicate with the Docker daemon
• name: Name the container as “portainer”
• :volatile: Mount Portainer data volume with persistent settings

Option B: Using Docker Compose Command

Docker Compose first needs to be installed.

sudo apt install -y docker-compose

Create a Docker Compose file:

mkdir -p ~/portainer cd ~/portainer nano docker-compose.yml

Add the following content to the file:

version: ‘3’ services: portainer: image: portainer/portainer-ce:latest container_name: portainer restart: always ports: – “8000:8000” – “9443:9443” volumes: – /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock – portainer_data:/data volumes: portainer_data:

Just modify it with an editor of your choice or run Docker Compose on the URL.

docker-compose up -d

Step 3: Verify Portainer Installation

Ensure the Portainer container is listed:

docker ps

Configuring Portainer

The subsequent steps are done so Portainer can be completed with the initial setup.

Step 1: Access the Portainer Web Interface

Head of an Internet browser and access:

https://your_server_ip:9443

Note: Remember that Portainer includes a self-signed SSL Certificate by default, and your browser may issue a security warning. You can click “Advanced” and “Accept the Risk and Continue” or any other equivalent statement given by your browser.

Step 2: Create an Admin User

You can set the password on the first setup page. Set a Username (recommended as simply “admin”). Set a password and click on Create user:

Step 3: Select Docker Environment

After the user creation step, select Get Started in the Docker environment section. This should connect Portainer with your local Docker environment.

Setting Up Firewall Access

If your firewall is enabled, you need to allow access to the Portainer’s ports.

Using UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall)

If so, allow permission to TCP ports 8000 and 9443:

sudo ufw allow 9443/tcp sudo ufw allow 8000/tcp sudo ufw reload

Using iptables

If so, use iptables directly:

sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp –dport 9443 -j ACCEPT sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp –dport 8000 -j ACCEPT sudo netfilter-persistent save

Enabling Portainer to Start on Boot

Thanks to the –restart=always flag used during installation, Portainer starts automatically once Docker starts. To make sure Docker itself is set to boot at startup:

sudo systemctl enable docker

Accessing Portainer UI

You may access Portainer web GUI at:

https://your_server_ip:9443

Log in with the recently created admin credentials from the initial setup.

Troubleshooting

Addressing the issues stated below can help offer solutions to problems relevant to your particular situation:

Problem: Cannot access the Portainer web interface

Solutions:

Check whether the Portainer container is operational.

docker ps | grep portainer

Verify that the ports are correctly configured or mapped:

docker port portainer

Check that your firewall is permitting access to ports 8000 and 9443.

If the container is not running, check the logs.

docker logs portainer

Problem: Permission issues with Docker socket

Solution: If Portainer cannot seem to connect, verify the access rights set on the Docker socket:

ls -la /var/run/docker.sock

The Docker socket needs to be assigned to the group Docker. If not, you will need to alter permissions:

sudo chown root:docker /var/run/docker.sock

Problem: Portainer shows “No environments available.”

Solution: This indicates that Portainer is not able to reach the Docker daemon. Restart Portainer. Use command:

docker restart portainer

Updating Portainer

In order to update Portainer, execute the following Command to pull the desired version. To do this, branch off of the previous commands issued via the console. Here is an example:

Step 1: Stop and Remove the Current Container

docker stop portainer docker rm portainer

Step 2: Pull the Latest Image

docker pull portainer/portainer-ce:latest

Step 3: Create a New Container with the Latest Image

docker run -d -p 8000:8000 -p 9443:9443 –name portainer –restart=always -v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock -v portainer_data:/data portainer/portainer-ce:latest

This is noted that it contains data saved under the common volume.

Conclusion

You have successfully installed Portainer in Debian 12 and have set it up for configuring your Docker infrastructure. Through Portainer, you can Dockerize, start and stop containers, Compose stacks using Docker Compose, Monitor utilization of resources by the container, Control Docker Swarm (if it has been set up), Access logs and output from the console, and a number of other functions. If you wish to learn further about managing Portainer, read the official documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions