How to manage Docker via GUI

To manage Docker via a Local Area Network (LAN) and use a GUI (Graphical User Interface), you can expose Docker’s remote API over the network and then use a Docker management tool with a GUI. Here’s how to set up Docker to be accessible over LAN and manage it via a GUI.

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1. Enable Docker Remote API Over LAN

By default, Docker only listens on the localhost interface, which restricts access to local users. To allow remote access over your LAN, you need to modify the Docker daemon configuration.

Step 1: Edit Docker Configuration

1. Open the Docker service configuration file in a text editor:

   sudo nano /etc/docker/daemon.json
   

2. If the file doesn’t exist, create it and add the following configuration:

   {
     "hosts": ["unix:///var/run/docker.sock", "tcp://0.0.0.0:2375"]
   }
   

   • tcp://0.0.0.0:2375: Exposes Docker on port 2375 for remote connections. You can replace 0.0.0.0 with the host’s IP address if you prefer to bind it to a specific network interface.
3. Restart Docker Service to apply the changes:

   sudo systemctl restart docker
   

4. Test the connection by running the following on another device within your LAN:

   docker -H tcp://<host-ip>:2375 info
   

   This should display Docker information from the remote machine.

Step 2: Secure Docker API (Optional but Recommended)

While exposing Docker over the LAN is possible, it’s not secure by default. You can secure it with TLS (Transport Layer Security). Here’s a basic idea of what to do:

1. Generate SSL certificates (you can use openssl or Docker’s certs tools).
2. Configure Docker to use these certificates in the daemon.json file for secure communication:

   {
     "hosts": ["unix:///var/run/docker.sock", "tcp://0.0.0.0:2376"],
     "tls": true,
     "tlscert": "/path/to/cert.pem",
     "tlskey": "/path/to/key.pem",
     "tlsca": "/path/to/ca.pem"
   }
   

3. Restart Docker and ensure remote access is secure over port 2376.

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2. Use GUI for Docker Management

Once you have Docker accessible over your LAN, you can use a GUI tool to manage Docker containers, networks, volumes, etc. Below are some popular Docker management GUIs.

a. Portainer

Portainer is a lightweight and easy-to-use web-based GUI for managing Docker.

1. Install Portainer Run the following Docker command to install Portainer:

   docker volume create portainer_data
   docker run -d -p 9000:9000 -p 9443:9443 --name portainer --restart always \
     -v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock \
     -v portainer_data:/data portainer/portainer-ce
   

2. Access Portainer
   • Once Portainer is running, you can access it from a browser at http://<host-ip>:9000.
   • Log in using the default credentials or set up an admin account.
3. Connect to Remote Docker
   • In the Portainer interface, you can connect to a remote Docker engine via the “Endpoints” section. Choose the “Remote” option and provide the IP address of the host with the Docker API exposed (on port 2375 or 2376 if using TLS).
   • After this, you can manage your Docker containers, images, volumes, and networks via the GUI.

b. Docker Desktop (for Windows/macOS)

Docker Desktop provides a GUI that you can use to manage local and remote Docker engines. For remote connections:

1. Enable Remote Docker API on your host (as described in the earlier steps).
2. In Docker Desktop settings, go to “Docker Engine” and change the host:

   {
     "hosts": ["tcp://<host-ip>:2375"]
   }
   

3. Restart Docker Desktop and the remote Docker host will be available for management via the Docker Desktop interface.

c. LazyDocker

LazyDocker is a terminal-based, simple-to-use GUI for Docker management, useful if you prefer CLI but want some GUI features.

1. Install LazyDocker:

   sudo apt install lazydocker
   

2. Run LazyDocker: Launch it via terminal:

   lazydocker
   

It will provide a simple interface for managing Docker containers, images, and networks directly from the terminal.

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3. Managing Docker Over LAN with Remote Access

Once Docker is accessible over the LAN and you have a GUI like Portainer set up, you can manage your containers, images, networks, and volumes remotely.

Example: Manage Containers on a Remote Host

1. From Portainer or Docker Desktop, you’ll be able to:
   • Start/Stop containers.
   • View logs.
   • Create and delete containers.
   • Manage networks and volumes.
2. Monitor Resource Usage: In Portainer, you can monitor CPU, memory, and disk usage for your containers and Docker host.

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Security Considerations

• Do not expose Docker’s API without securing it. Always use TLS and set up proper firewall rules.
• Limit Remote Access: Use firewall rules to restrict who can access the Docker API over the network.
• Consider VPNs: For additional security, use a VPN to connect securely to the Docker host.

Let me know if you need help setting up any of the steps or securing your Docker environment!