How to install Docker and Docker Compose on a VPS

Objective

By the end of this guide, your VPS will have:

• Docker Engine
• Docker Compose (official plugin)
• Permissions configured to avoid using sudo with Docker

Installing via the official Docker repository ensures regular updates, improved stability and maximum compatibility with recent tools.

This guide explains how to install Docker Engine and Docker Compose on an OVHcloud VPS.

Requirements

• An active OVHcloud VPS running Debian 11/12 or Ubuntu 22.04 and later
• SSH access with a user that has sudo privileges

Table of Contents

• Step 1 - Update the system
• Step 2 - Install dependencies
• Step 3 - Add the Docker GPG key
• Step 4 - Add the Docker repository
• Step 5 - Install Docker
• Step 6 - Configure Docker permissions
• Step 7 - Verify the installation

Instructions

Step 1 - Update the system

Before installing anything, update your system:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2 - Install dependencies

Install the required packages:

sudo apt install -y ca-certificates curl gnupg

Step 3 - Add the official Docker GPG key

sudo install -m 0755 -d /etc/apt/keyrings
curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/debian/gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg

Step 4 - Add the Docker repository

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

echo \
  "deb [arch=$(dpkg --print-architecture) signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.gpg] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu \
  $(lsb_release -cs) stable" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null

Step 5 - Install Docker Engine and Docker Compose

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

Step 6 - Configure Docker permissions

By default, Docker commands require sudo.

To avoid permission issues when using Docker Compose or installation scripts, add your user to the docker group:

sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

Reload your session:

newgrp docker

Step 7 - Verify the installation

Check that Docker is working correctly:

docker --version
docker compose version

You should get output similar to:

Docker version 29.x.x, build xxxxxxx
Docker Compose version v2.x.x

Go further

You can now use Docker to:

• Install OpenClaw behind Traefik on an OVHcloud VPS with OVHcloud AI Endpoints
• Install n8n on an OVHcloud VPS
• Install Nextcloud on an OVHcloud VPS with Docker and Traefik

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