Install Docker Engine & Docker Compose v2 on AlmaLinux 9

Docker Engine & Docker Compose v2 on AlmaLinux 9 – Enterprise Containerization on a RHEL-Compatible Platform

Docker Engine, coupled with Docker Compose v2, delivers a production-ready container stack for application development, deployment, and orchestration. When paired with AlmaLinux 9, a downstream clone of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), the combination provides a robust, predictable, and secure environment for managing containerized workloads across the enterprise lifecycle.

AlmaLinux 9 as a Docker Host

AlmaLinux 9 is a 1:1 binary-compatible distribution with RHEL 9, designed to offer long-term support, consistency, and compliance—especially for businesses migrating away from CentOS. It provides an ideal base for Docker deployments due to its:

Stability and enterprise lifecycle (through 2032)
SELinux enforcement for container access control
Linux Kernel 5.14 LTS with full support for cgroups v2 and namespaces
Systemd v250+ for container service orchestration
Minimal base image availability for lean container builds

This makes AlmaLinux a preferred choice for regulated environments, enterprise infrastructure, and hybrid deployments involving Docker.

Docker Engine on AlmaLinux 9

Docker Engine is the industry-standard container runtime and includes:

dockerd: The background daemon managing container lifecycle
docker CLI: User interface for container/image/volume/network management
containerd: The OCI-compliant high-performance container runtime
runc: The low-level container process launcher

Key features on AlmaLinux 9:

Feature	Functionality and Role
Cgroups v2	Fine-grained resource control (CPU, RAM, I/O)
SELinux (enforcing)	Constrains container file and process access
OverlayFS	Efficient image layering and reuse
Seccomp	Limits available syscalls in containers
Systemd integration	Robust container daemon management and restart policies

Docker can also be configured to run in rootless mode on AlmaLinux, enhancing security in shared or multi-user environments.

Docker Compose v2 on AlmaLinux 9

Docker Compose v2 is the modern replacement for Compose v1, written in Go and integrated as a plugin for the Docker CLI. Instead of using docker-compose, users can now execute:

docker compose up

Improvements and benefits on AlmaLinux 9:

Integrated directly into Docker CLI as a plugin
Faster execution and lower resource use than Compose v1
Simplifies orchestration of multi-container stacks via YAML
Compatible with Swarm mode via deploy: directives
Works seamlessly with Docker’s volume, network, and secrets subsystems

Compose v2 is especially valuable in DevOps workflows, as it aligns with container-native CI/CD pipelines and GitOps tooling.

Security Model

AlmaLinux 9 emphasizes security and compliance, making it particularly suitable for regulated industries. Docker Engine integrates with AlmaLinux’s security stack through:

Component	Purpose
SELinux	Mandatory access control for containers and volumes
Firewalld	Configurable zones for container traffic control
Auditd	Logs container activity for auditing and incident analysis
Systemd	Isolates services and containers using cgroup slices and limits
Rootless Docker	Avoids daemon privileges for unprivileged users

When combined with AlmaLinux’s optional FIPS-mode and OpenSCAP compliance tooling, Docker becomes a secure containerization foundation for enterprise applications.

Common Use Cases

Docker + Compose on AlmaLinux 9 is used across many environments, including:

Enterprise development environments: Build, test, and iterate on applications using consistent YAML-based stacks.
Self-hosted tools: Deploy services like GitLab, Jenkins, Portainer, and monitoring stacks.
Microservices: Run modular applications across multiple containers with isolated networks and volumes.
DevOps and CI/CD: Automate builds, tests, and deployments using Compose files in version control.
Hybrid cloud: Package and ship containers across on-premises and cloud environments using the same Docker infrastructure.

AlmaLinux 9 as a Container Base Image

AlmaLinux provides official Docker images like almalinux:9, which offer:

Small footprint (almalinux:9-minimal)
RPM package compatibility (via dnf)
SELinux compatibility for hardened containers
Extended support lifecycle, making it suitable for enterprise image pipelines

These images are widely used in container builds that require Red Hat ecosystem compatibility without vendor lock-in.

Comparison to Other Platforms

Feature	AlmaLinux 9	Ubuntu 24.04	Debian 12
SELinux support	Native, enforcing	Not enabled by default	AppArmor (not SELinux)
Systemd version	v250+	v255+	v252+
Docker support	Community-supported	First-class via Docker repos	Community-supported
Enterprise readiness	Strong	Moderate	Strong, but minimalist
Rootless Docker support	Available	Available	Available

AlmaLinux 9 is particularly strong in environments that previously used CentOS, especially where RHEL compatibility and SELinux policies are required.

Docker Engine and Docker Compose v2 on AlmaLinux 9 deliver a scalable, secure, and enterprise-aligned container management solution. Whether used for local development or full-scale production deployment, this stack combines the portability of Docker with the reliability and governance of RHEL-based systems.

For teams looking to build robust, repeatable, and secure containerized systems—without vendor lock-in—AlmaLinux 9 offers an excellent foundation.

Step 1: Set Up a Server Instance on Shape.Host

Before installing Docker, you need a fresh Alma Linux 9 server. Shape.Host provides reliable cloud VPS instances, perfect for Docker-based projects.

How to create a VPS on Shape.Host:

Go to https://shape.host and log in.

Click “Create” in your dashboard.

Choose “Instance” from the resource list.

Select a data center location closest to you.

Shape.host instance form with the data center location selector highlighted.

Choose Alma Linux 9 (64-bit) as your operating system.

Pick a plan with at least 2 CPUs, 2 GB RAM, and 20 GB SSD.

Shape.host instance form with the operating system image selector highlighted.

Click “Create Instance” and wait for the provisioning process to complete.

Shape.host instance form with the Create Instance button highlighted.

Copy the IP address listed under your instance in the Resources section.

Shape.host Resources dashboard with the server IP address highlighted.

Connect to Your Server via SSH

On Linux/macOS:

ssh root@your_server_ip

On Windows (using PuTTY):

Download PuTTY from https://www.putty.org.
Open PuTTY and enter your server’s IP in the Host Name field.
Use port 22 and ensure SSH is selected.
Click Open and log in as root.

Step 2: Install Docker Engine & Docker Compose v2

Use the following commands step by step to install Docker and Compose v2:

1. Update system packages:

dnf update

Terminal showing DNF/YUM package management commands and output.

2. Install required tools:

dnf install curl gnupg lsb-release ca-certificates yum-utils

3. Add the Docker repository:

tee /etc/yum.repos.d/docker-ce.repo > /dev/null <<EOF
[docker-ce-stable]
name=Docker CE Stable - \$basearch
baseurl=https://download.docker.com/linux/centos/9/\$basearch/stable
enabled=1
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=https://download.docker.com/linux/centos/gpg
EOF

Terminal showing tee commands or output during Add the Docker repository:.

4. Install Docker Compose plugin:

dnf install docker-compose-plugin

5. Install Docker Engine and components:

dnf install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-buildx-plugin docker-compose-plugin

6. Start Docker service:

systemctl start docker

7. Enable Docker to start on boot:

systemctl enable docker

Terminal showing systemd service management commands or output.

8. Check Docker Compose version:

docker compose version

Terminal showing the installed Docker Compose version.

Step 3: Run a Test Using Docker Compose

Now let’s verify your Docker Compose installation by running a simple container.

1. Create a test directory and move into it:

mkdir ~/compose-test && cd ~/compose-test

2. Create a Docker Compose file:

nano docker-compose.yml

Terminal showing file and directory setup commands.

Paste the following contents into the file:

services:
  hello:
    image: hello-world

Save and close the file (CTRL+O, ENTER, then CTRL+X).

Terminal showing the GNU nano editor and configuration text.

3. Start the container with Docker Compose:

docker compose up

If successful, you’ll see the hello-world container output confirming that Docker and Docker Compose are working correctly.

Terminal showing container image download progress.

You’ve now successfully installed Docker Engine and Docker Compose v2 on Alma Linux 9, and verified the setup with a running container. This environment is now ready for deploying containerized applications or multi-service stacks.

Ready to go further? Host your production containers on Shape.Host Cloud VPS for unmatched speed, flexibility, and reliability.

Launch your next project at https://shape.host.