# Can I run Docker on my VPS?
Source: https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/docker-on-vps
Last reviewed: 2026-07-02
Summary: Yes. Docker runs out of the box on Linux VPS and Premium VPS, no modules to load, no platform tweaks, no workarounds. Install it the normal way and go; Docker Compose works as usual, and Docker Swarm works with one flag.

## What this is

Yes. **Docker is fully supported on Linux VPS and Premium VPS**, and there's nothing to enable on our side, no kernel modules to load, no compatibility files, no platform quirks. If you've read older guides mentioning `.dockerenv` tricks or `br_netfilter` workarounds for our platform, those belong to a previous generation of our stack and are no longer needed.

## Installing it

The standard method works as-is, on a fresh Ubuntu or Debian:

```
curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
```

Or follow Docker's own install docs for your distro. **Docker Compose** (`docker compose`) works normally, and so does Podman if you prefer it.

## Worth knowing

- **Docker Swarm** works on Linux VPS with one adjustment to the service endpoint mode, see [Running Docker Swarm](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/docker-swarm).
- **Kubernetes** is its own story, k3s yes, full k8s wants Premium, see [Kubernetes on VPSDime](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/technical-questions/kubernetes-on-vps).
- **Exposed container ports are real open ports.** Docker publishes ports past most local firewalls, so a `-p 5432:5432` puts your database on the internet. Bind to localhost when only the VPS needs it (`-p 127.0.0.1:5432:5432`), and note our [managed firewall](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/client-area/services/firewall) still shields the riskiest app ports at the network edge.
- One of our [one-click Applications](https://vpsdime.com/knowledgebase/getting-started/one-click-applications) is **Coolify**, which gives you a Docker-based deploy platform without assembling it yourself.

## Still need help?

You can [open a support ticket](https://vpsdime.com/open-ticket/). So we can help on the first reply, it's worth mentioning:

- the VPS hostname or IP,
- the docker command that misbehaves and its exact output.

## Related questions

- "Does Docker work on your Linux VPS?"
- "Do I need to enable anything to run Docker?"
- "Does docker compose work?"
- "Is the .dockerenv workaround still needed?"