~/Docker for Self Hosted Services Deployment

Feb 14, 2021

Docker provides a standardized way to deploy and manage self hosted services through containerization. Containers package applications and dependencies, ensuring consistency across environments. This approach simplifies installation, scaling, and maintenance while improving security and portability.

Architecture

Self hosted services like Nextcloud, WordPress, Gitea, and Plex can be deployed as containers using Docker Compose or direct docker run. Each service runs in an isolated environment with defined networking, volumes, and resource limits.

Sample Docker Compose File

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version: '3'

services:
  nextcloud:
    image: nextcloud
    ports:
      - "8080:80"
    volumes:
      - nextcloud_data:/var/www/html
    environment:
      - MYSQL_PASSWORD=example
      - MYSQL_DATABASE=nextcloud
      - MYSQL_USER=nextcloud
      - MYSQL_HOST=db

  db:
    image: mariadb
    environment:
      - MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD=example
      - MYSQL_DATABASE=nextcloud
      - MYSQL_USER=nextcloud
      - MYSQL_PASSWORD=example
    volumes:
      - db_data:/var/lib/mysql

volumes:
  nextcloud_data:
  db_data:

Networking

Docker creates internal networks for inter container communication. Services are accessible via exposed ports.

Data Persistence

Use named volumes or bind mounts for persistent data. This prevents data loss when containers are updated or recreated.

Updating Services

Pull updated images using docker pull or docker-compose pull. Restart containers with docker-compose up -d.

Security Considerations

Limit container privileges using user namespaces, read only filesystems, and network restrictions. Use image provenance from official repositories.

More Resources

• Docker Documentation
• Docker Hub
• Awesome Self Hosted
• Portainer for Docker Management
• Docker Secrets
• Traefik Reverse Proxy
• Watchtower for Automatic Updates
• LinuxServer.io Docker Images
• Docker Networking Best Practices
• Fail2Ban integration

Docker reduces complexity for self hosting by providing reproducible and reliable deployments. Always consult the documentation for latest features and best practices.