Install and Use Podman on Debian 11 | Best Setup

This guide, presented by Orcacore, aims to instruct you on How To Install and Use Podman on Debian 11. Podman is a robust, open-source container management tool designed for developing, managing, and running OCI containers. It offers a compelling alternative to Docker, particularly for those seeking enhanced security and rootless capabilities. Let’s explore some of the advantages Podman offers compared to other container management tools:

Rootless Container Execution: Podman allows containers to be run without root privileges, enhancing security by limiting the potential impact of container breaches.
Daemonless Architecture: Unlike Docker, Podman doesn’t rely on a central daemon. This eliminates a single point of failure and simplifies management.
Docker Compatibility: Podman is largely compatible with Docker images and commands, making migration relatively seamless.
Pod Management: Podman supports the creation and management of pods, which are groups of containers that share resources and networking.

However, there are certain limitations to Podman that you should be aware of:

GUI Limitations: Podman primarily relies on a command-line interface (CLI), which might not be ideal for users who prefer graphical user interfaces (GUIs). While third-party GUI tools exist, they may not offer the same level of functionality as Docker Desktop.
Ecosystem Maturity: While rapidly growing, the Podman ecosystem is still smaller than Docker’s, meaning fewer readily available tools and community support in some areas.

To install Podman, you must log in to your server as a non-root user with sudo privileges. To achieve this, you can refer to our guide on the Initial Server Setup with Debian 11.

Now, let’s proceed with the steps to complete this guide and get Podman up and running on your Debian 11 system.

1. Installing Podman on Debian 11

Podman packages are readily available in the default Debian 11 repository. Execute the following command to install Podman on your server:

sudo apt install podman -y

Next, verify your installation by checking the installed version:

podman --version

**Output**
podman version 3.0.1

Start and enable the Podman socket service using the following commands:

sudo systemctl start podman.socket
sudo systemctl enable podman.socket

Verify that the Podman service is active and running on Debian 11:

sudo systemctl status podman.socket

For detailed information about Podman’s configuration and capabilities, you can use the following command:

podman info

2. Configure Podman Registries on Debian 11

The registry file registry.conf is a crucial configuration file that defines the container registries to be used when pushing or pulling container images. Its full path is /etc/containers/registries.conf. Numerous container registries are available, including Docker Hub, Quay.io, Red Hat Container Registry, and others.

You can inspect the contents of this file using a text editor like vi:

sudo vi /etc/containers/registries.conf

While Docker primarily relies on Docker Hub, Podman empowers users with the flexibility to search and pull images from various registries. You can specify the list of container registries by adding the following line to the configuration file:

unqualified-search-registries = [ 'registry.access.redhat.com', 'registry.redhat.io', 'docker.io']

Save the changes and close the file.

When you execute the podman search or podman pull command, Podman will contact these registries sequentially, starting with the first one listed. Remember to save your modifications before exiting the file.

3. How To Use Podman on Debian 11

Now that you have successfully installed Podman on your Debian 11 server, let’s explore its fundamental usage. This part is important for understanding How To Install and Use Podman on Debian 11.

Search and pull images with Podman

Similar to Docker, Podman allows you to search for images from different repositories using the command-line interface.

For instance, if you intend to install a Debian container using Podman, you can search for available images across various repositories:

podman search debian

Subsequently, you can download and pull the desired image using the following command:

podman pull debian

List all Images with Podman

If you have downloaded multiple images and need to view the images currently available on your system, you can list them using the following command:

podman images

Example output:

**Output**
REPOSITORY                TAG     IMAGE ID      CREATED      SIZE
docker.io/library/debian  latest  dd8bae8d259f  2 weeks ago  129 MB

Create a Container with Podman

After obtaining the image of the application you want to run, you can create a container based on that image. In this example, we have downloaded the Debian image using Podman. Let’s demonstrate how to create a container using the Debian image:

podman run -dit --name orca debian

Note: The --name parameter allows you to assign a user-friendly name to the container.

To access the container’s command-line interface, use the following command:

podman attach orca

You will observe that your command prompt changes to reflect the container ID:

sam@1b11e1035173:/#

To start the container, use the following command:

podman start container-id or name

To stop the container, use the following command:

podman stop container-id or name

For comprehensive information and advanced usage scenarios, consult the official Podman Documentation page.

Conclusion

In conclusion, installing and using Podman on Debian 11 is a straightforward process that provides a secure, Docker-compatible means of managing containers without the need for a daemon. It’s an excellent choice for users seeking a lightweight and rootless container solution. Understanding How To Install and Use Podman on Debian 11 is becoming increasingly important in modern system administration.

Hopefully, you found this guide helpful. You might also be interested in these related articles:

Alternative Solutions for Container Management on Debian 11

While Podman is an excellent choice, let’s explore two alternative methods for managing containers on Debian 11:

1. Docker Engine:

Docker Engine is the traditional and most widely used containerization platform. While Podman offers daemon-less and rootless benefits, Docker Engine boasts a mature ecosystem, extensive tooling, and a vast community.

Installation: Docker Engine isn’t available in the default Debian repositories. You’ll need to add the Docker repository to your system. Follow these steps:

Update the apt package index and install packages to allow apt to use a repository over HTTPS:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl gnupg lsb-release

Add Docker’s official GPG key:

curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/debian/gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/docker-archive-keyring.gpg

Set up the stable repository:

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

Install Docker Engine:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io

Verify the installation:
```
sudo docker run hello-world
```

Explanation: Docker Engine uses a daemon (dockerd) that manages containers. The docker CLI interacts with this daemon. Because it is a daemon, it traditionally requires root privileges. However, you can configure Docker to run as a non-root user (rootless mode), although this requires additional configuration.
Code Example: Running a Nginx container with Docker:
```
sudo docker run -d -p 80:80 nginx
```
This command downloads the Nginx image, creates a container, maps port 80 on the host to port 80 in the container, and runs the container in detached mode.

2. LXC/LXD:

LXC (Linux Containers) is a lightweight virtualization technology that provides a more traditional system container approach. LXD is a container management daemon built on top of LXC, offering a more user-friendly experience. While Podman focuses on application containers, LXC/LXD is suitable for running entire operating systems within containers.

Installation: LXD is available in the Debian repositories as a snap package.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install snapd
sudo snap install lxd
sudo lxd init #Follow the prompts to configure LXD

Explanation: LXC/LXD containers offer near-native performance because they share the host kernel. LXD manages LXC containers, providing features like image management, networking, and storage. It also supports live migration of containers.
Code Example: Launching an Ubuntu container with LXD:
```
lxc launch ubuntu:20.04 myubuntu
lxc exec myubuntu bash # Access the container's shell
```
This command launches an Ubuntu 20.04 container named "myubuntu" and then opens a shell inside the container.

These alternative solutions offer different approaches to container management, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Choosing the right solution depends on your specific needs and requirements. While Install and Use Podman on Debian 11 is a good first step, understanding these alternatives broadens your options. The process of How To Install and Use Podman on Debian 11 provides a strong foundation for understanding containerization in general. Remember to consider factors like security, performance, ease of use, and ecosystem support when making your decision.