How To Install Docker Desktop on CentOS Stream 10

Docker has revolutionized the way developers build, deploy, and manage applications through containerization technology. While Docker Engine provides the core containerization functionality via command-line tools, Docker Desktop delivers a more comprehensive, user-friendly experience with an intuitive graphical interface. CentOS Stream 10, the latest version of the CentOS Project distribution, offers an excellent platform for running Docker Desktop. This guide will walk you through the complete process of installing Docker Desktop on CentOS Stream 10, from preparation to optimization and troubleshooting.

Introduction

Containerization has become essential in modern software development and deployment workflows. Docker’s containerization technology allows developers to package applications with all dependencies, ensuring consistent behavior across different environments. The distinction between Docker Engine and Docker Desktop is important to understand – while Docker Engine provides the core container runtime and command-line interface, Docker Desktop bundles additional tools like a graphical user interface, Docker Compose, Kubernetes integration, and container management features.

Installing Docker Desktop on CentOS Stream 10 offers several advantages, including streamlined container management, visual monitoring of resources, and simplified multi-container orchestration. By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have a fully functional Docker Desktop installation to enhance your development and deployment processes on CentOS Stream 10.

Understanding Docker Desktop for Linux

Docker Desktop for Linux extends beyond the basic functionality of Docker Engine by providing a comprehensive graphical interface and additional tools that simplify container management. The intuitive dashboard allows users to visualize running containers, manage images, configure networking, and monitor resource usage without memorizing complex command-line arguments.

Key features of Docker Desktop include:

• Graphical user interface for container management
• Built-in Kubernetes orchestration
• Volume management and data persistence tools
• Container resource monitoring
• Extensions ecosystem
• Development environment integration

For CentOS Stream 10, you’ll need to ensure your system meets the minimum requirements: a 64-bit processor, at least 4GB RAM (8GB recommended), 20GB free disk space, and KVM virtualization support. Docker Desktop provides significant advantages over alternative container solutions like Podman or LXC by offering a more integrated experience while maintaining compatibility with the Docker ecosystem.

Prerequisites for Installation

Before installing Docker Desktop on CentOS Stream 10, verify that your system meets these requirements:

• Hardware: 64-bit processor with 4GB RAM minimum (8GB recommended)
• Storage: At least 20GB of free disk space
• CentOS Stream 10 with the latest updates installed
• Root or sudo access to your system
• Active internet connection for downloading packages
• KVM virtualization support enabled in BIOS/UEFI

To verify KVM virtualization support, run:

lscpu | grep Virtualization

If virtualization is supported, you’ll see “VT-x” or “AMD-V” listed in the output.

Check your system’s available memory and disk space:

free -h
df -h

Additionally, ensure no conflicting container technologies are installed, such as Podman or buildah, which come pre-installed on CentOS Stream distributions.

Preparing Your CentOS Stream 10 System

Proper system preparation is crucial for a successful Docker Desktop installation. Start by updating all system packages to their latest versions:

sudo dnf update -y

Next, install essential utilities needed for the installation process:

sudo dnf install -y dnf-plugins-core wget curl gnupg2 software-properties-common

If firewalld is active on your system, configure it to allow Docker’s network traffic:

sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=public --add-masquerade
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

Since CentOS Stream 10 comes with Podman and buildah pre-installed, remove these packages to prevent conflicts with Docker:

sudo dnf remove -y podman buildah

For optimal Docker performance, adjust kernel parameters by creating a new configuration file:

sudo tee /etc/sysctl.d/99-docker.conf <

These settings enable proper network forwarding and communication between Docker containers and the host system.

Installing Docker Engine Prerequisites

Docker Desktop requires Docker Engine as its foundation. Begin by installing the necessary prerequisites:

sudo dnf install -y yum-utils device-mapper-persistent-data lvm2

These packages provide tools for repository management and support for the device mapper storage driver that Docker uses by default.

Next, ensure that the CentOS extras repository is enabled, as it contains packages required by Docker:

sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled extras

Verify the installation of all prerequisites with:

rpm -qa | grep -E 'yum-utils|device-mapper-persistent-data|lvm2'

The command should display the installed packages, confirming they’re properly set up for the Docker Engine installation.

Installing Docker Engine

Now we’ll install Docker Engine, which is required before installing Docker Desktop:

Adding the Docker Repository

First, add the official Docker repository to your system:

sudo yum-config-manager --add-repo https://download.docker.com/linux/centos/docker-ce.repo

This adds the Docker CE stable repository to your system’s package sources.

Installing Docker Packages

Install Docker Engine, CLI, and containerd with:

sudo dnf install -y docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io

Additionally, install the Docker Compose and Buildx plugins, which extend Docker’s functionality:

sudo dnf install -y docker-buildx-plugin docker-compose-plugin

Starting the Docker Service

Start the Docker service and enable it to run at system boot:

sudo systemctl start docker
sudo systemctl enable docker

Verifying Docker Engine Installation

Verify that Docker Engine is correctly installed by running a test container:

sudo docker run hello-world

If successful, you’ll see a message confirming that Docker is working properly. Check the installed version with:

sudo docker --version
docker compose version

These commands display the versions of Docker Engine and Docker Compose installed on your system.

Installing Docker Desktop on CentOS Stream 10

With Docker Engine installed, we can now proceed to install Docker Desktop:

Downloading Docker Desktop

Visit the Docker Desktop for Linux download page or use wget to download the RPM package:

wget https://desktop.docker.com/linux/main/amd64/docker-desktop-4.25.0-x86_64.rpm

Note: The version number may change, so check the Docker website for the latest version.

Verifying Package Integrity

Verify the downloaded package’s integrity:

sha256sum docker-desktop-4.25.0-x86_64.rpm

Compare the output with the checksum provided on the Docker website to ensure the file wasn’t corrupted during download.

Installing Docker Desktop

Install the Docker Desktop package using DNF:

sudo dnf install -y ./docker-desktop-4.25.0-x86_64.rpm

This command installs Docker Desktop and its dependencies on your system.

Alternative Installation Method

If you encounter issues with the direct RPM installation, you can use the repository method:

# Add Docker Desktop repository
sudo dnf config-manager --add-repo https://download.docker.com/linux/centos/docker-desktop.repo

# Install Docker Desktop
sudo dnf install -y docker-desktop

This alternative approach might resolve dependency issues that sometimes occur with direct package installation.

Post-Installation Configuration

After installing Docker Desktop, configure various settings to optimize performance and usability:

Configuring Docker Daemon

Create or modify the Docker daemon configuration file:

sudo mkdir -p /etc/docker
sudo tee /etc/docker/daemon.json <

This configuration sets up log rotation and increases the file descriptor limits for containers.

Setting Up Log Rotation

Configure log rotation to prevent Docker logs from consuming too much disk space:

sudo tee /etc/logrotate.d/docker <<EOF /var/lib/docker/containers/*/*.log { rotate 7 daily compress size=10M missingok delaycompress copytruncate } EOF

This ensures Docker container logs are rotated daily, compressed, and limited in size.

Configuring Resource Limits

Docker Desktop allows you to allocate specific system resources to containers. You can configure these limits through the Docker Desktop interface or by modifying configuration files:

mkdir -p ~/.docker/
tee ~/.docker/config.json <<EOF
{
"cpu-quota": 50000,
"memory": 4096,
"disk-size": 50
}
EOF

These settings allocate 50% CPU, 4GB RAM, and 50GB disk space to Docker Desktop.

User Permissions and Non-Root Access

For security and convenience, configure Docker to allow non-root users to manage containers:

Creating and Configuring the Docker Group

Create the docker group if it doesn’t already exist:

sudo groupadd docker

Adding Your User to the Docker Group

Add your user to the docker group:

sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

Applying Group Changes

Apply the group changes without logging out:

newgrp docker

Testing Non-Root Access

Test that you can run Docker commands without sudo:

docker run hello-world

If successful, you’ll be able to manage Docker as a non-root user. Remember that membership in the docker group grants privileges equivalent to root on the host system, so only add trusted users to this group.

Launching and Exploring Docker Desktop

Now that Docker Desktop is installed and configured, it’s time to launch and explore its features:

Starting Docker Desktop

Start Docker Desktop by clicking its icon in the applications menu or by running:

systemctl --user start docker-desktop

The Docker Desktop application will launch, displaying its graphical interface.

Navigating the Interface

Docker Desktop’s interface consists of several key sections:

• Dashboard: Shows running containers and recent activity
• Containers: Lists all containers with status and controls
• Images: Displays available Docker images
• Volumes: Shows data volumes for persistent storage
• Dev Environments: Tools for development environments
• Extensions: Additional plugins and functionality

Explore these sections to become familiar with Docker Desktop’s capabilities. The settings icon in the top-right corner allows you to configure preferences, resource allocation, and startup options.

Testing Your Docker Desktop Installation

Verify that Docker Desktop is working correctly by running several tests:

Running Test Containers

Start a simple web server container:

docker run -d -p 8080:80 --name test-nginx nginx

Open your browser and navigate to http://localhost:8080. You should see the Nginx welcome page.

Building a Simple Docker Image

Create a Dockerfile:

mkdir docker-test
cd docker-test
tee Dockerfile <<EOF
FROM alpine:latest
CMD ["echo", "Docker Desktop is working!"]
EOF

Build and run the image:

docker build -t test-image .
docker run test-image

Using Docker Compose

Create a simple Docker Compose file:

tee docker-compose.yml <<EOF version: '3' services: web: image: nginx ports: - "8081:80" redis: image: redis EOF

Run the multi-container application:

docker compose up -d

Visit http://localhost:8081 to verify the Nginx service is running. Use Docker Desktop’s dashboard to monitor these containers and their resource usage.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with careful installation, you might encounter issues with Docker Desktop on CentOS Stream 10. Here are solutions to common problems:

Permission and Access Problems

If you receive “permission denied” errors:

# Check if your user is in the docker group
groups

# Add your user to the docker group if needed
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
newgrp docker

Networking and Connectivity Issues

For container networking problems:

# Restart Docker service
sudo systemctl restart docker

# Check Docker's network configuration
docker network ls
docker network inspect bridge

Resource Limitation Problems

If containers fail due to resource constraints:

1. Open Docker Desktop
2. Go to Settings > Resources
3. Increase CPU, memory, or disk allocations

Compatibility Issues with CentOS Stream 10

For compatibility problems:

# Ensure all dependencies are installed
sudo dnf install -y fuse-overlayfs iptables container-selinux

# Verify Docker is using the correct storage driver
docker info | grep "Storage Driver"

Common Error Messages

For the “Cannot connect to the Docker daemon” error:

# Check if Docker daemon is running
sudo systemctl status docker

# Start it if needed
sudo systemctl start docker

For GUI-related issues:

# Restart the Docker Desktop service
systemctl --user restart docker-desktop

# Check for error logs
journalctl --user -u docker-desktop

These troubleshooting steps address most common issues that users encounter when installing Docker Desktop on CentOS Stream 10.

Performance Optimization

Optimize Docker Desktop’s performance with these strategies:

Resource Allocation Best Practices

Allocate appropriate resources to Docker Desktop based on your workload:

• For development: 2 CPUs, 4GB RAM, 20GB disk
• For testing: 4 CPUs, 8GB RAM, 40GB disk
• For heavy workloads: 6+ CPUs, 16GB RAM, 100GB+ disk

Configure these in Docker Desktop’s settings under Resources.

Storage Configuration Optimization

Choose the right storage driver for your workload:

sudo tee /etc/docker/daemon.json <<EOF { "storage-driver": "overlay2", "storage-opts": [ "overlay2.override_kernel_check=true" ] } EOF sudo systemctl restart docker

The overlay2 driver generally offers the best performance for CentOS Stream 10.

Network Performance Settings

Optimize network performance:

sudo tee -a /etc/docker/daemon.json <<EOF { "mtu": 1500, "default-address-pools": [ {"base": "172.30.0.0/16", "size": 24} ] } EOF sudo systemctl restart docker

This configures the Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) and address pools for container networks.

Memory and CPU Limitation Strategies

Implement resource constraints for individual containers:

docker run -d --name constrained-app --memory=512m --cpus=0.5 nginx

This ensures high-priority containers have necessary resources and prevents any single container from consuming excessive resources.

Advanced Features of Docker Desktop

Docker Desktop includes several advanced features to enhance your container workflows:

Working with Docker Extensions

Docker Desktop supports extensions that add functionality:

1. Click on “Extensions” in the left sidebar
2. Browse available extensions
3. Install extensions like Disk Usage Analyzer or Resource Usage Monitor

Extensions provide additional tools without leaving the Docker Desktop interface.

Setting Up and Managing Kubernetes

Enable Kubernetes in Docker Desktop:

1. Open Settings > Kubernetes
2. Check “Enable Kubernetes”
3. Click “Apply & Restart”

Once enabled, verify with:

kubectl get nodes

This allows you to run Kubernetes workloads locally for development and testing.

Integration with Development Environments

Docker Desktop integrates with popular IDEs:

• Visual Studio Code: Install the “Docker” extension
• JetBrains IDEs: Use the built-in Docker integration

These integrations allow you to manage containers directly from your development environment.

Container Monitoring and Logging

Monitor containers in real-time:

1. View basic metrics in the Containers tab
2. Install monitoring extensions for detailed analytics
3. Configure logging drivers for centralized logging:

sudo tee -a /etc/docker/daemon.json <<EOF { "log-driver": "syslog", "log-opts": { "syslog-address": "tcp://192.168.1.100:514" } } EOF sudo systemctl restart docker

This sends container logs to a central syslog server for analysis.

Upgrading and Maintaining Docker Desktop

Proper maintenance ensures Docker Desktop continues to function optimally:

Updating Docker Desktop

Update Docker Desktop through the application:

1. Click on the gear icon > About Docker Desktop
2. If updates are available, click “Update & Restart”

Alternatively, download the latest RPM and upgrade:

wget https://desktop.docker.com/linux/main/amd64/docker-desktop-latest-x86_64.rpm
sudo dnf upgrade -y ./docker-desktop-latest-x86_64.rpm

Managing Docker Images and Containers

Regularly clean up unused resources:

# Remove unused containers
docker container prune

# Remove unused images
docker image prune

# Remove all unused objects
docker system prune -a

Backup and Restore Strategies

Back up important Docker data:

# Back up Docker configuration
sudo tar -czf docker-config-backup.tar.gz /etc/docker /var/lib/docker

# Back up specific volumes
docker run --rm -v your_volume:/volume -v $(pwd):/backup alpine tar -czf /backup/volume-backup.tar.gz -C /volume ./

These backups can be restored when needed to recover from system failures or migrations.

Docker Desktop for Development Workflows

Docker Desktop enhances development workflows with powerful features:

Integrating with Code Editors and IDEs

Set up Docker integration in popular editors:

• VSCode: Install the Docker extension and connect to Docker Desktop
• JetBrains IDEs: Configure Docker in Settings > Build, Execution, Deployment > Docker

This allows you to manage containers, build images, and debug containerized applications directly from your editor.

Setting Up Development Containers

Create development containers for consistent environments:

# Example devcontainer.json
{
  "name": "Python Dev Environment",
  "image": "python:3.10",
  "extensions": [
    "ms-python.python"
  ],
  "postCreateCommand": "pip install -r requirements.txt"
}

This provides isolated, reproducible development environments for team members.

Volume Mapping for Live Code Updates

Map local code directories to containers for immediate code updates:

docker run -d -p 8080:80 -v $(pwd):/app my-dev-image

Changes to local files are immediately reflected in the container without rebuilding.

Using Docker Compose for Multi-Service Development

Create a docker-compose.yml file for multi-container applications:

version: '3'
services:
  web:
    build: ./web
    volumes:
      - ./web:/app
    ports:
      - "8000:8000"
  db:
    image: postgres:13
    environment:
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: example
  redis:
    image: redis:alpine

Run with docker compose up -d to start all services simultaneously.

Security Considerations

Maintaining security is crucial when using Docker Desktop:

Securing Your Docker Installation

Implement basic security measures:

# Run Docker daemon with limited permissions sudo tee -a /etc/docker/daemon.json <<EOF { "userns-remap": "default" } EOF sudo systemctl restart docker

This enables user namespace remapping, isolating container processes from the host.

Managing Container Privileges

Run containers with minimal privileges:

docker run --security-opt=no-new-privileges --cap-drop=ALL --cap-add=NET_BIND_SERVICE nginx

This prevents privilege escalation and drops unnecessary capabilities.

Network Security for Containers

Isolate container networks:

# Create an isolated network
docker network create --internal private_network

# Run container in the isolated network
docker run --network private_network my-internal-service

Containers on this network cannot access external networks unless explicitly allowed.

Image Scanning and Vulnerability Detection

Scan images for vulnerabilities:

# Install Docker Scout
docker extension install docker/scout-extension

# Scan an image
docker scout cves nginx:latest

This identifies potential security vulnerabilities in container images.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Docker Desktop. Thanks for using this tutorial to install the latest version of Docker Desktop on CentOS Stream 10. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official Docker website.