Prepare Docker on a VPS: containers, volumes and networking
Prepare Docker on a Linux VPS: select compatible setup, size services, protect persistent data and verify published ports before deployment.
Choose a compatible VPS setup
Check the software requirements of Docker and the images you intend to use against the chosen Linux environment and CPU architecture. VPSLibre’s configurator records a Docker preparation preference; the order status and delivered service confirm when the actual setup is available.
Review panel compatibility before ordering. The current HestiaCP preparation option requires a clean Ubuntu or Debian system and is unavailable with the preinstalled Docker or Nginx profile. A server-management panel and the application’s deployment tooling have different roles.
Include the application, database, cache and background workers, plus the host operating system. Account for image builds, updates and database maintenance when assessing peaks. Storage must cover persistent data, images, logs and temporary working space.
Keep a record of the images and versions used by the deployment. Check actual resource use after the application is running rather than inferring workload capacity from a container count.
Separate replaceable containers from persistent data
Identify which data must survive a container replacement and assign suitable volumes or bind mounts. Document the files, database and configuration required to restore the application. Keep credentials separate from images and public configuration files.
A volume persists data but does not create a recovery copy. Arrange backups appropriate to the application and database, then test reconstruction in a separate environment. Verify ownership and permissions after restoration.
Publish only the endpoints required by the application. Check which interfaces each port binds to and whether the database or administration tools are exposed. Docker manages networking rules, so verify reachability from outside instead of relying solely on the host firewall display.
For a web application, plan the reverse proxy, domain and HTTPS configuration. Check application behaviour and persistent data before directing production visitors to the destination.
Maintain enough configuration to reconstruct the service, with secrets stored appropriately. Test upgrades with recoverable data rather than treating an image update as automatically safe.
Record image versions and required configuration.
Identify and back up every persistent data source.
Check published ports from outside the VPS.
Verify the application and HTTPS before the DNS switch.
Keep a rollback and restoration procedure.
Monitor disk growth and the hosting deadline.
Check Compose startup, health checks and restart policy
A container can be running before its database is ready to accept requests. In Compose, dependency order alone does not establish readiness. Use an appropriate health check and service_healthy dependency condition when the application must wait for that check, and test the actual startup path with the database starting from a stopped state.
A health check and a restart policy answer different questions. The check reports the tested state; the restart policy controls behaviour after a container exits or the engine restarts. An unhealthy result does not by itself establish that Docker will restart the container. Test failure, planned shutdown and restart behaviour, then confirm that the application reconnects and serves a real request.
Plan hosting backups around files, databases and acceptable data loss. Understand weekly or daily restore points and test recovery away from your live website.
Estimate hosting storage from website files, databases, media, logs and growth. Compare your requirements with plan storage and the available space options.