🚀 Managing Containers Using Docker 🐳

May 12, 2026 by [email protected]

A Beginner-Friendly Guide to Docker Containers on AWS EC2

In today’s cloud-native world, Docker Containers have completely changed the way applications are developed, deployed, and managed. Containers are lightweight, fast, portable, and incredibly efficient compared to traditional virtual machines.

In this blog, we will learn:

✨ What Docker is
✨ Important Container Terminologies
✨ How to Install Docker on AWS EC2
✨ How to Run and Manage Containers
✨ How to Launch an NGINX Web Server using Docker
✨ How to Expose Applications to the Internet

Let’s dive in! 🔥

📦 What is Docker?

Docker is a powerful Containerization Platform that allows developers to package applications along with all dependencies into lightweight containers.

Containers ensure that applications run consistently across:

• Development
• Testing
• Production

🧠 Important Container Terminologies

🌐 1. Container Registry

A Container Registry is a repository where container images are stored.

There are two types:

• 🌍 Public Registry
• 🔒 Private Registry

Popular Registries:

• Docker Hub
• Red Hat Registry
• Quay.io
• Amazon ECR

⚙️ 2. Container Runtime Engine

The Container Runtime Engine manages containers.

It performs operations like:
✅ Start
✅ Stop
✅ Delete
✅ Run Containers

Example:

Docker Engine

🖼️ 3. Container Image

A Container Image acts as a blueprint for containers.

It contains:

• Application Code
• Libraries
• Dependencies
• Configuration Files
• Binary Files

📦 4. Container

A Container is a running instance of a Container Image.

Key Features:

✨ Lightweight
✨ Fast
✨ Portable
✨ No separate Operating System required

Containers share the kernel of the Host OS.

🖥️ 5. Container Host

The machine where containers run is called the Container Host.

Example:

AWS EC2 Instance

☁️ Docker Lab — Launching Containers on AWS EC2

🚀 Step 1 — Launch an EC2 Instance

Go to AWS Console → EC2 → Launch Instance

Choose:

✅ Amazon Linux Instance

🔐 Step 2 — Connect to EC2 using SSH

Open Terminal and run:

ssh -i key.pem ec2-user@Public-IP

Replace:

• key.pem → Your Key Pair
• Public-IP → Your EC2 Public IP

📥 Step 3 — Install Docker

Run the following command:

sudo yum install docker -y

What happens?

Docker package gets installed on the EC2 instance.

▶️ Step 4 — Start Docker Service

sudo systemctl enable --now docker

What this does:

✅ Starts Docker Service
✅ Enables Auto Start during reboot

✅ Step 5 — Verify Docker Status

sudo systemctl status docker

If you see:

active (running)

Docker is running successfully 🎉

🔎 Step 6 — Check Docker Version

docker version

This displays:

• Docker Client Version
• Docker Server Version

🖼️ Step 7 — View Available Images

docker images

Initially, no images will be available.

📥 Step 8 — Pull Ubuntu Image

docker pull ubuntu

What happens?

Docker downloads the Ubuntu image from Docker Hub.

🚀 Step 9 — Run a Container

docker run --name myubuntu -it ubuntu /bin/bash

🧠 Command Breakdown

📋 Step 10 — View Running Containers

docker ps

📦 Step 11 — View All Containers

docker ps -a

This shows:
✅ Running Containers
✅ Stopped Containers

▶️ Step 12 — Start a Container

docker start myubuntu

⏹️ Step 13 — Stop a Container

docker stop myubuntu

⚡ Step 14 — Execute Commands Inside Container

docker exec -it myubuntu ps aux

This displays running processes inside the container.

🗑️ Step 15 — Delete a Container

First stop the container:

docker stop myubuntu

Then remove it:

docker rm myubuntu

💥 Step 16 — Force Delete a Container

docker rm myubuntu --force

🧹 Step 17 — Delete an Image

docker rmi ubuntu

🌐 Launching an NGINX Web Server Container

Now let’s deploy a real web server using Docker! 🔥

📥 Step 18a — Pull NGINX Image

docker pull nginx

🚀 Step 18b — Run NGINX Container

docker run --name web -d nginx

What does -d mean?

Runs the container in Detached Mode (Background).

📋 Step 18c — Check Running Containers

docker ps

🔍 Step 18d — Inspect Container Details

docker inspect web

Note:

Find the Container IP Address.

🌐 Step 18e — Test NGINX Web Server

curl http://ContainerIP

You should see the default NGINX page.

✏️ Step 18f — Modify NGINX Web Page

Access the container:

docker exec -it web /bin/bash

Navigate to the document root:

cd /usr/share/nginx/html

Modify the index page:

echo "Hello nginx" > index.html

Exit the container:

exit

🌍 Step 18g — Test Again

curl http://ContainerIP

Now the output will be:

Hello nginx

🎉 Congratulations!
You just customized a live containerized web server.

🌎 Step 19 — Expose Container to the External World

Use Port Mapping:

docker run --name web -d -p 80:80 nginx

🔌 Port Mapping Explained

🌐 Access from Browser

Open:

http://EC2-Public-IP

You will see the NGINX Web Page in your browser 🚀

📚 Essential Docker Commands Summary

🎯 Final Thoughts

Docker has become one of the most essential tools in modern DevOps and Cloud Computing.

With Docker Containers you can:
✅ Deploy Faster
✅ Scale Easily
✅ Reduce Infrastructure Costs
✅ Ensure Application Consistency

Learning Docker is the first big step toward:

• Kubernetes
• DevOps
• Cloud Native Applications
• Microservices Architecture

Happy Learning & Happy Containerizing! 🐳🔥