Mastering Docker: From Basics to Advanced Deployment

2 days

Welcome to “Mastering Docker: From Basics to Advanced Deployment”! This comprehensive course is designed to equip both system administrators and developers with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively use Docker in modern software development and deployment environments.

Docker has revolutionised the way we build, ship, and run applications. By providing a standardised unit of software that packages up code and all its dependencies, Docker ensures that an application runs quickly and reliably from one computing environment to another. Whether you’re a system administrator tasked with managing Docker hosts or a developer looking to streamline your workflow, this course will provide you with the tools and understanding to leverage Docker’s full potential.

Throughout this course, you’ll learn everything from the fundamental concepts of containerisation to advanced topics like custom image creation, complex networking setups, and optimized Docker builds. We’ll cover best practices for creating efficient Docker images and managing containers effectively.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to confidently create and manage Docker containers, design efficient Docker networks, handle data persistence with volumes, and orchestrate multi-container applications using Docker Compose. You’ll also gain hands-on experience in optimizing Docker images and implementing best practices for container management.

Course Structure

This course is designed to be delivered over two days, covering all essential aspects of Docker from containers and images to networking, storage, and Docker Compose. For teams and individuals who want to dive deeper into Docker image building and optimization, we offer an optional third day that focuses entirely on Dockerfile creation, multi-stage builds, and build optimization techniques.

The core two-day course (Modules 0-7) provides you with everything you need to work effectively with Docker in your daily operations. The optional third day (Modules 10-15) is perfect for developers and DevOps engineers who need to create and optimize their own Docker images, offering advanced techniques for efficient image building and size optimization.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

Understand the core concepts of containerisation and Docker’s architecture
Install, configure, and manage Docker on various operating systems
Create, run, and manage Docker containers efficiently
Build custom Docker images using Dockerfile and best practices
Implement Docker networking configurations for container communication
Manage persistent data using Docker volumes
Orchestrate multi-container applications with Docker Compose
Optimize Docker images and implement build best practices
Troubleshoot common Docker issues and optimize container performance

Course Outline

Module 0: Course Setup

Environment setup and prerequisites
Installing necessary tools and software
Verifying the setup

Module 1: Introduction to Docker

Understanding containerisation and its benefits
Docker architecture overview
Comparing containers vs. virtual machines
Docker’s role in modern software development

Module 2: Working with Containers

Running your first container
Basic container operations
Container lifecycle management
Working with container resources

Module 3: Docker Images

Understanding Docker images and layers
Working with Docker Hub
Image management fundamentals
Image tagging and versioning

Module 4: Docker Networking

Docker network types
Creating and managing networks
Inter-container communication
Port mapping and exposure
Network troubleshooting

Module 5: Docker Storage

Understanding Docker storage options
Working with volumes
Bind mounts and tmpfs
Data persistence strategies

Module 6: Docker Compose

Introduction to Docker Compose
Writing docker-compose.yml files
Managing multi-container applications
Environment variables and configuration
Compose commands and lifecycle

Module 7: Container Management

Advanced container operations
Resource constraints and limits
Container monitoring and logging
Best practices for container management

Optional Day 3 Modules

This course is designed to be delivered over 2 days, but if you are looking for a more comprehensive course to include build optimisation and multi-stage builds, you can add the following modules to the course:

Module 10: Docker Build Fundamentals

Introduction to Dockerfile
Basic build commands
Building your first image

Module 11: CMD and ENTRYPOINT

Understanding CMD vs ENTRYPOINT
Configuring container startup behavior
Best practices for entry points

Module 12: ENV and WORKDIR

Environment variables in Docker
Working directory configuration
Build-time variables

Module 13: Build Optimization

Layer optimization techniques
Reducing image size
Build performance improvements

Module 14: Using Dive Tool

Introduction to Dive
Analyzing image layers
Identifying optimization opportunities

Module 15: Multi-stage Builds

Understanding multi-stage builds
Implementing efficient build patterns
Reducing final image size
Production-ready images

Appendix A: Installation Guide

Detailed installation instructions
Platform-specific considerations
Troubleshooting common installation issues