Harbor is an open-source container image registry designed to enhance Docker and OCI image management with built-in security, authentication, and replication features. It provides organizations with a private, secure, and scalable alternative to public registries like Docker Hub. Harbor is widely used for containerized applications in cloud and enterprise environments.

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Key Features of Harbor on Debian 12

1. Private Container Registry
   • Allows secure storage and management of Docker and OCI images within an organization.
2. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
   • Supports user and team-based permissions to control access to repositories.
3. Image Vulnerability Scanning
   • Integrated security scanning using Trivy and Clair to detect vulnerabilities in container images.
4. Image Signing and Content Trust
   • Uses Notary for cryptographic signing to ensure image integrity and prevent tampering.
5. Multi-Registry Replication
   • Synchronizes container images across multiple registries, including Docker Hub, AWS ECR, and Azure ACR.
6. LDAP and OAuth Authentication
   • Supports LDAP, OAuth, and Active Directory integration for enterprise environments.
7. Web-Based UI and API
   • Provides an intuitive web interface for managing repositories and a RESTful API for automation.
8. Helm Chart Repository
   • Enables storing and managing Helm charts for Kubernetes deployments.
9. Garbage Collection
   • Reclaims storage by removing untagged and unused container images.
10. Multi-Tenancy with Projects

• Organizes images into projects, allowing different teams to manage separate repositories.

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Advantages of Using Harbor on Debian 12

• Improved Security: Built-in vulnerability scanning and image signing.
• Better Access Control: Granular permissions for teams and projects.
• Scalability: Supports multi-cloud and on-premises deployments.
• Storage Efficiency: Implements image replication and garbage collection.
• Enterprise-Ready: LDAP/OAuth integration for secure authentication.
• Kubernetes Integration: Seamlessly manages images for Kubernetes deployments.

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Use Cases for Harbor on Debian 12

1. Private Docker Registry
   • Securely store and manage container images for internal use.
2. Cloud-Native Application Development
   • Supports DevOps pipelines with CI/CD integration.
3. Multi-Cloud & Hybrid Deployments
   • Replicate images across different cloud providers for availability.
4. Kubernetes and Helm Chart Management
   • Manage Kubernetes Helm charts alongside container images.
5. Enterprise Security & Compliance
   • Enforce image scanning, signing, and access policies.

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Harbor vs. Other Container Registries

Feature	Harbor	Docker Hub	AWS ECR	Azure ACR
Private Registry	✅ Yes	⚠️ Limited	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Vulnerability Scanning	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Replication Support	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Image Signing (Notary)	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes
Helm Chart Repository	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes

Harbor provides a feature-rich, secure alternative to Docker Hub, with enterprise-grade security and scalability.

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Why Choose Harbor on Debian 12?

Harbor is the ideal choice for organizations, enterprises, and DevOps teams needing a secure, scalable, and highly available container image registry. It enhances security, ensures compliance, and integrates seamlessly with Kubernetes, cloud platforms, and CI/CD pipelines.

Step 1: Create a Server Instance on Shape.Host

Before installing Harbor, you need a server to host your environment. Here’s how to set up a server instance on Shape.Host:

Access Shape.Host: Log in to your Shape.Host account and go to the Cloud VPS section.

Start a New Instance: Click on “Create” and choose the server type that fits your project needs.

Select a Location: Pick a data center near your audience for better performance.

Choose a Plan: Select a hosting plan that matches your resource requirements and budget.

Set the OS: Choose Debian 12 as your operating system.

Complete the Setup: Review your settings and click “Create Instance” to launch your instance. It will be ready shortly.

In Dashboard you will find your Instance IP

Step 2: Connect to Your Instance

Once your server is ready, you need to connect to it using SSH. Here’s how to do it:

• Linux/macOS: Open your terminal and use the following command:

  ssh root@your_server_ip

Replace your_server_ip with the server’s IP address.

• Windows: Use an SSH client like PuTTY. Enter your server’s IP address, specify the port (usually 22), and click “Open.” Log in with your username and password.

Step 3: Update the System

Before installing any software, it’s a good practice to update your system to ensure all packages are up to date. Run the following command:

apt update

Step 4: Install Docker and Docker Compose

Harbor requires Docker and Docker Compose to be installed. Install them using the following commands:

apt install docker.io docker-compose -y

Start and enable the Docker service:

systemctl start docker
systemctl enable docker

Step 5: Install Additional Dependencies

Install unzip and curl, which are required for downloading and extracting Harbor:

apt install unzip curl -y

Step 6: Download and Extract Harbor

Download the latest version of Harbor from the official GitHub repository:

wget https://github.com/goharbor/harbor/releases/download/v2.8.2/harbor-online-installer-v2.8.2.tgz

Extract the downloaded file:

tar xzvf harbor-online-installer-v2.8.2.tgz

Navigate to the extracted Harbor directory:

cd harbor

Step 7: Configure Harbor

Copy the template configuration file to harbor.yml:

cp harbor.yml.tmpl harbor.yml

Create a directory for SSL certificates:

mkdir -p /data/cert

Generate a self-signed SSL certificate:

openssl req -newkey rsa:2048 -nodes -keyout /data/cert/server.key -x509 -days 365 -out /data/cert/server.crt

Edit the harbor.yml file to configure Harbor:

nano harbor.yml

Update the following sections in the harbor.yml file:

hostname: <your-server-ip-or-domain>

harbor_admin_password: strongpassword

https:
  port: 443
  ssl_cert: /data/cert/server.crt
  ssl_cert_key: /data/cert/server.key

Replace <your-server-ip-or-domain> with your server’s IP address or domain name, and set a strong password for the Harbor admin account.

Step 8: Install Harbor

Run the installation script to set up Harbor:

./install.sh

This script will download the necessary Docker images and start the Harbor services.

Step 9: Verify the Installation

Once the installation is complete, verify that the Harbor services are running:

docker ps

You should see a list of running Docker containers related to Harbor.

Step 10: Access Harbor

Open your web browser and navigate to https://<your-server-ip-or-domain>. You should see the Harbor login page. Log in using the admin credentials you configured in the harbor.yml file.

If you’re looking for a reliable and high-performance hosting solution for your container registry, consider Shape.Host Linux SSD VPS services. With fast SSD storage, scalable resources, and excellent support, Shape.Host provides the perfect environment for running Harbor and other demanding applications. Visit Shape.Host to learn more and get started today!