I just start using my homelab to host some new good services, and I want to know what is the approach of a docker setup, what is the best distro for? How to deploy them correctly? Basically I’m a real noob in this subject. Thank you
Debian with the docker convenience script. Stay away from Ubuntu server, for the love of dog.
Make a folder such as /stacks and put everything there by building docker compose stacks. I bind mount everything local to a subfolder with the docker-compose.yml for that application so when I restore it, it’s all in one spot, not spread all over the hell like docker likes to do if you don’t use bind mounts.
Add lazydocker for getting easy log and stats access for each stack.
Avoid bare docker run commands. It makes an unmanageable mess when you get more that a couple containers running.
Consider using the nextcloud AIO master container. It runs docker containers inside a master container compose file, and it is by far the easiest way to manage and run nextcloud.
What is so bad about Ubuntu server?
When I tried it last (a couple years ago), the docker snap was an untroubleshootable mess. I don’t like the idea of running Docker that way, in whatever version of a container that Canonical has come up with for snaps. It’s just looking for problems. Run an application with Snap if you want, but a whole container system? No thanks.
I wrote a script to remove snaps and install Docker as per the docker website. Works great mate.
Plus you get the benefit of frequent updates.
I don’t need what Ubuntu offers to run server applications, and Debian is rock solid and predictable. Might as well go to the source since it’s Debian all the way down anyway, just with added cruft.
