Docker Guides: Setup, Compose, Containers, Updates, Backups, and Self-Hosting

Docker is one of the first things people usually run into when they start building a home lab or self-hosting applications. It is lightweight, portable, and makes it much easier to run services like Pi-hole, Uptime Kuma, Tailscale, WG-Easy, Homarr, Nginx Proxy Manager, and a lot more.

I’ve used Docker for more than eight years across my own home lab and clients’ home labs, and the biggest thing I’ve learned is that Docker is easy to start with, but it can get messy quickly if you do not have a plan for volumes, compose files, networking, updates, and backups.

This page is meant to be the starting point for all of my Docker guides. If you’re brand new, start with where you want to run Docker, then learn Docker Compose, then add containers one at a time. If you already have Docker running, jump into the sections for container management, popular containers, remote access, SSL certificates, monitoring, updates, and backups.

Docker guides for setup, comparisons, containers, and maintenance — Docker is one of the easiest ways to self-host applications, but the best setups are organized around Docker Compose, persistent volumes, updates, and backups.

New to Docker? Start Here

If you’re setting up Docker for the first time, I would not start by installing a dozen random containers. Get the foundation right first.

This is the order I’d follow:

Decide where Docker should run: Proxmox, Synology, TrueNAS, OpenMediaVault, Ubuntu, or Debian.
Install Docker and Docker Compose on that system.
Pick one management tool, like Portainer or Dockge, instead of constantly switching between tools.
Learn how Docker volumes and bind mounts work before storing important data.
Set up one simple container first, then add more services after you understand the workflow.
Document your Docker Compose files so you can rebuild the stack later.
Set up an update and backup process before relying on the containers long-term.

That process is slower up front, but it prevents the most common Docker problem: ending up with a bunch of containers running, no idea where the data lives, and no easy way to rebuild everything if something breaks.

Why Use Docker?

Docker containers are portable, lightweight, and self-contained. Instead of installing every application directly on the host operating system, you run each service inside its own container with its own configuration, ports, and persistent storage.

The biggest advantage is portability. If you have your Docker Compose file and the data stored in your volumes or bind mounts, you can usually move the container to a different server without rebuilding everything from scratch.

That is why I like Docker so much for home labs. You can run a lot of services without creating a full virtual machine for each one. For lightweight self-hosted apps, Docker is usually the right tool. For full operating systems, stronger isolation, or more complex workloads, I’d use a VM instead.

Where Should You Run Docker?

There are a lot of places you can run Docker, and I’ve run it just about everywhere. The “best” option depends on what hardware or platform you already use.

For most people using Proxmox, I like running Docker inside a Linux VM. You get the benefits of Proxmox snapshots, backups, and VM isolation, while still using Docker Compose for the actual applications.

On Synology, Docker/Container Manager is convenient and works well for lightweight services, but I would not buy a Synology NAS only because you want to run a lot of containers. If Docker is the main workload, a dedicated mini PC, Proxmox host, or Linux server is usually a better long-term option.

Docker Compose and Container Management

Docker Compose is the part I would focus on early. A Docker Compose file documents how the container is configured: image, container name, ports, volumes, environment variables, restart policy, and network settings.

You can manage containers from the command line, but a GUI can make Docker easier to learn and maintain. If you need help deciding which tool to use, these guides are the best place to start:

Managing Docker Containers with Dockge

Personally, I care less about which interface you use and more about whether the configuration is documented. If your container only exists because you clicked through a GUI and never saved the compose file, rebuilding it later becomes much harder.

Popular Docker Containers to Self-Host

One thing you’ll notice with Docker is that most containers can run on almost any host. The setup steps may look slightly different on Synology, Proxmox, OpenMediaVault, Ubuntu, or Debian, but the core Docker configuration is usually very similar.

If you’re new, I’d start with something simple like Uptime Kuma, Heimdall, or Pi-hole. Those give you a feel for ports, volumes, environment variables, and networking without starting with a complicated stack.

Remote Access, VPNs, and SSL Certificates

Remote access is one of the easiest areas to get wrong. Docker makes it simple to run services, but that does not mean every container should be exposed directly to the internet.

For most home lab users, I would start with a VPN or private access method before opening ports. Tailscale and WG-Easy are good options depending on how much control you want. Cloudflare Tunnels can also work well, especially if you want to publish a service without forwarding ports.

My general rule is simple: if a service does not need to be public, do not make it public. Use VPN access, private DNS, local SSL certificates, or a controlled tunnel instead.

Docker Updates, Backups, and Maintenance

The part of Docker that people skip too often is maintenance. Getting a container running is easy. Keeping it updated, backed up, and easy to rebuild is the part that matters long term.

At a minimum, I would back up your Docker Compose files and the persistent data folders used by each container. If you can restore those two things, you can usually rebuild the container quickly on the same system or different hardware.

I would also be careful with automatic updates. They are convenient, but they can break things if a container image changes unexpectedly. For important services, I prefer knowing what is being updated and having a rollback plan.

What I Would Avoid as a Docker Beginner

If you’re new to Docker, I would keep the setup simple at first. Docker gives you a lot of flexibility, but that flexibility can create a messy setup if you are not careful.

Do not run everything in one giant Docker Compose file. It might be easy at first, but it becomes harder to manage as your stack grows.
Do not store important data only inside the container. Use persistent volumes or bind mounts so the data survives container updates and rebuilds.
Do not expose every container to the internet. Use VPNs, tunnels, reverse proxies, and firewall rules intentionally.
Do not skip backups. Docker makes containers easy to recreate, but your data and configuration still need to be backed up.
Do not rely only on a GUI. Portainer, Dockge, and other tools are useful, but keep your compose files somewhere you can find and restore them.
Do not update critical containers without a rollback plan. Updates are good, but broken updates are a lot easier to handle when you can restore quickly.

The best Docker setups are usually boring in the right ways: clean compose files, organized folders, persistent data, limited external exposure, regular backups, and a simple update process.

Community Resources

Just about every Docker container has its own documentation or GitHub page, but there are a few broader resources worth using. The Docker documentation is the best official reference, and r/Docker can be useful for troubleshooting and general Docker questions.

If you’re looking for new self-hosted applications to run, r/selfhosted is one of the better places to find ideas. Just be careful not to install everything you see. Start with the services that solve a real problem for your setup.

Final Thoughts

Docker is one of the best tools for self-hosting because it makes applications easier to deploy, move, update, and rebuild. It is not the right answer for every workload, but for lightweight services and home lab applications, it is hard to beat.

The biggest thing is to build your Docker setup in a way that you can maintain. Use Docker Compose, keep your data persistent, document your configuration, avoid exposing services unnecessarily, and back up the files that actually matter.