Install Docker (Step-by-Step Tutorial)

What is Docker?

Docker is an open-source application that enables easier development and deployment while managing applications through containerization. In computing, a container is an isolated environment built by packaging an application and its dependencies, libraries, and configuration files so that the application can run uniformly across different environments.

Docker effectively simplifies workflows, empowering developers to build, test, and run applications in complete isolation. This avoids the famous "works on my machine" problem and improves portability and scalability as application containers can run on any system supporting Docker—from cloud platforms to on-premises servers. Additionally, Docker offers a platform for sharing and downloading containerized applications from Docker Hub. The increasing adoption of Docker has made it a staple in DevOps, being widely deployed as part of continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines.

How to Download and Install Docker on Windows

Before installing Docker on Windows, ensure you meet the following prerequisites.

Check System Requirements

• Windows Server, 10/11 Education, Pro, or Enterprise (Home version requires WSL2 or Docker Toolbox).
• Hardware virtualization needs to be enabled in the BIOS; this is typically the default setting.

Download the Docker Desktop Tool

• Go to Docker's official website.

• Click the "Download for Windows" button. This downloads the Docker Desktop installer.

Install Docker Engine

After downloading the installer, double-click it to begin the installation. Then, follow the prompts:

• Accept the terms and conditions.
• (Optional) Select the checkbox "Use WSL 2 instead of Hyper-V" to use the Windows Subsystem for Linux 2.

• Click "Install" to download and install the Docker Engine.

Enable WSL 2 (Optional)

If you select WSL 2, the Windows Subsystem for Linux must be installed. Start PowerShell or Windows Command Prompt as an administrator and execute:

wsl --install

wsl --install

Start Docker Desktop

• Docker Desktop should launch itself instantly after installation. It is also accessible through the Start menu.
• Log in or register for a Docker Hub account if requested. (optional)

Verify Installation

Launch Command Prompt or PowerShell and execute:

docker --version

docker --version

• If everything is configured correctly, you should see the installed version of Docker. Docker Desktop is now operational!

Advantages of Using Docker

Docker offers significant benefits that align well with modern development and deployment workflows. The most significant advantages are:

1. Portability

Docker containers bundle the application and all its dependencies in a single unit. Therefore, the same application can be transferred between different environments, ensuring consistency at the development, testing, and production levels.

2. Efficiency

Containers are lightweight and share the host operating system's kernel, resulting in fewer overheads compared to traditional VMs. This enables faster startup times and improved resource utilization.

3. Isolation

Each container functions in isolation, preventing conflicts between applications or services. This allows developers to manage complex applications comprising various services without causing dependency clashes.

4. Scalability

Docker enables easy horizontal scalability. You can efficiently run thousands of containers, which is particularly useful for microservices architecture where each service can have its own container.

5. CI/CD Simplification

Docker's container platform integrates seamlessly with CI/CD pipelines, automating testing, building, and deploying applications to support faster release cycles.

Install Docker Image

IronSecureDoc

IronSoftware's IronSecureDoc is a comprehensive solution for document security, designed to prevent the leakage of sensitive information across different document formats. It employs state-of-the-art encryption methods to secure documents from unauthorized access, ensuring only authorized readers or editors can view or modify them. It also supports digital signatures, ensuring the document's authenticity and protection from tampering.

IronSecureDoc also enables safe sharing and management of documents, offering control over who can view and share them. These features help individuals and companies comply with data protection acts and prevent data breaches, making it an excellent choice for enhancing document security with a user-friendly interface.

Features of IronSecureDoc

IronSecureDoc ensures the safety and integrity of data through various features, including:

Digital Signing of Documents

IronSecureDoc allows users to sign documents digitally for authentication purposes so that any changes cannot affect the authenticity of their source. It supports various formats for Word and PDFs.

Document Encryption

This tool enables strong encryption algorithms to protect sensitive data within documents from unauthorized access.

Safe Document Transmission

IronSecureDoc facilitates the secure transfer of documents between parties, maintaining privacy and integrity by ensuring they are adequately signed and encrypted before sharing.

Installing IronSecureDoc in Docker

Using PowerShell

To pull the IronSecureDoc Docker image from the repository, open a terminal or Command Prompt and execute:

docker pull ironsoftwareofficial/ironsecuredoc

docker pull ironsoftwareofficial/ironsecuredoc

Using Docker Application

In the Docker application, search for ironsoftwareofficial/ironsecuredoc in the search textbox. Select the required image from the results, then click "Pull" to download the image to your Docker application.

Running the IronSecureDoc Image on Docker

Using PowerShell

After pulling the image, use the following command to start a new IronSecureDoc container. Modify the -p flag for port mapping or use --rm to remove one or more running containers on the Docker host.

docker container run --rm -p 8080:8080 -e IronSecureDoc_LicenseKey=<IRONSECUREDOC_LICENSE_KEY> -e ENVIRONMENT=Development -e HTTP_PORTS=8080 ironsoftwareofficial/ironsecuredoc:latest

docker container run --rm -p 8080:8080 -e IronSecureDoc_LicenseKey=<IRONSECUREDOC_LICENSE_KEY> -e ENVIRONMENT=Development -e HTTP_PORTS=8080 ironsoftwareofficial/ironsecuredoc:latest

Using Docker Application

In the Docker application, navigate to the "Images" section, then select the IronSecureDoc image. Click the run icon to start the container.

Once the container runs, logs will display relevant information.

Using IronSecureDoc with Docker

Once you have installed and run IronSecureDoc in Docker, its REST API enables you to redact, certify, and encrypt documents. Find API documentation and endpoints here: http://localhost:8080/swagger/index.html.

Where can it be used?

IronSecureDoc offers APIs and SDKs compatible with various programming languages. Supported languages and tools include:

C# (.NET)

IronSecureDoc provides a C# Client SDK installable via a NuGet package to integrate into .NET-based applications, including support for ASP.NET, Windows Forms, and WPF.

Python

The REST API allows connection to IronSecureDoc from Python applications using libraries such as requests or HTTP clients to communicate with the API.

Java

Java developers can use the REST API to integrate IronSecureDoc into enterprise applications based on Spring Boot and J2EE.

JavaScript/Node.js

REST APIs can be used to integrate IronSecureDoc functionality into JavaScript-based web applications or Node.js backend systems.

Support for other programming languages/scripts such as Curl, GO, PHP, PowerShell, etc., is also available.

Conclusion

Docker simplifies deploying and scaling IronSecureDoc, enabling businesses to securely create, process, and manage secure documents across containerized environments. Docker's portability and isolation features allow IronSecureDoc to be deployed on-premises or in the cloud, offering robust features such as encryption, redaction, and digital signing.

This simplifies document security management, reduces operational overhead, and ensures compliance while maintaining flexibility to integrate into diverse workflows. For more information about IronSecureDoc licensing, learn more about Iron Software products.