How to Install and Run Podman on Rocky Linux: A Step-by-Step Guide

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If you’re looking to manage containers efficiently on Rocky Linux, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll explore how to install and run Podman on Rocky Linux. Podman is a popular container management tool that provides a daemonless container engine, making it a powerful alternative to Docker. With its focus on simplicity and security, Podman has become a go-to choice for many developers and system administrators.

how to install and run Podman on Rocky Linux

Why Use Podman?

Podman offers several advantages over traditional container engines:

  • Daemonless Architecture: Unlike Docker, Podman does not require a central daemon to run, making it more lightweight and efficient.
  • Rootless Containers: Podman allows users to run containers without root privileges, enhancing security.
  • Docker-CLI Compatible: Podman provides a command-line interface that is compatible with Docker, making the transition easy for existing users.

Prerequisites

Before we dive into the installation process, ensure you have:

  • A Rocky Linux server (version 8 or later).
  • A user account with sudo privileges.

Step-by-Step Guide to Install and Run Podman on Rocky Linux

Step 1: Update Your System

Before installing any package, it’s a good practice to update your system packages to the latest version.

Command:

sudo dnf update -y

Step 2: Install Podman

Podman can be installed directly from the official Rocky Linux repositories. Use the following command to install Podman.

Command:

sudo dnf install podman -y

Step 3: Verify the Installation

After the installation completes, verify that Podman is installed correctly by checking its version.

Command:

podman --version

Expected Output:

podman version 3.x.x

Step 4: Running Your First Container

Now that Podman is installed, let’s run a simple container to ensure everything is working correctly. We will use the nginx image for this demonstration.

Command:

podman run -d -p 8080:80 nginx
  • -d: Run the container in detached mode.
  • -p 8080:80: Map port 8080 on the host to port 80 on the container.

Step 5: Accessing the Running Container

To access the nginx server running in your Podman container, open a web browser and navigate to:

http://your-server-ip:8080

You should see the default NGINX welcome page.

Step 6: Listing Running Containers

To view all running containers, use the following command:

Command:

podman ps

Expected Output:

CONTAINER ID  IMAGE   COMMAND   CREATED          STATUS          PORTS                 NAMES
abcd1234efgh  nginx   nginx     10 seconds ago   Up 10 seconds   0.0.0.0:8080->80/tcp  amazing_kirch

Step 7: Stopping and Removing Containers

To stop a running container, use the following command, replacing <container_id> with the actual ID from the previous command:

Command:

podman stop <container_id>

To remove a stopped container, use:

Command:

podman rm <container_id>

Step 8: Pulling and Running Other Images

Podman allows you to pull and run various container images from registries. For example, to run an Alpine Linux container, you can execute:

Command:

podman run -it alpine /bin/sh

This command will pull the Alpine image and start an interactive shell session.

Conclusion

In this guide, we covered how to install and run Podman on Rocky Linux. With its ease of use and powerful features, Podman is an excellent tool for managing containers in your development and production environments. Start exploring the capabilities of Podman today, and optimize your container management workflows.

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FAQs

What is Podman?

Podman is a daemonless container engine that allows users to manage OCI containers and images, offering a more secure and efficient alternative to Docker.

Can I run Podman without root privileges?

Yes, Podman supports rootless containers, enabling users to run containers without needing root access.

Is Podman compatible with Docker commands?

Yes, Podman provides a command-line interface that is compatible with Docker, making it easy for Docker users to transition to Podman.

How do I list all images in Podman?

Use the following command to list all images:

podman images

Where can I find more information about Podman?

You can find detailed documentation and resources on the official Podman website.

External Resources