Docker is an open-source containerization platform written in Go and licensed under Apache License 2.0. It enables developers to package applications along with their dependencies into lightweight, portable containers that can run consistent across any Linux environment.

Manual Installation via .deb Packages

For Raspberry Pi 5 running a Debian-based OS (such as Raspberry Pi OS Bullseye), Docker can be installed by manually downloading and installing the required .deb packages.

Step 1: Download Required Packages

On the Raspberry Pi, create a directory to store the installation files:

mkdir ~/docker-install && cd ~/docker-install

Download the necessary ARM64 packages from Docker’s official repository:

curl -O https://download.docker.com/linux/debian/dists/bullseye/pool/stable/arm64/docker-ce_20.10.10~3-0~debian-bullseye_arm64.deb
curl -O https://download.docker.com/linux/debian/dists/bullseye/pool/stable/arm64/docker-ce-cli_20.10.10~3-0~debian-bullseye_arm64.deb
curl -O https://download.docker.com/linux/debian/dists/bullseye/pool/stable/arm64/containerd.io_1.4.11-1_arm64.deb

Alternatively, these files can be downloaded on another machine (e.g., Windows) from the same URL path and transferred to the Pi using tools like scp, MobaXterm, or VS Code Remote Explorer.

Step 2: Instal Dependencies

Ensure system packages are up to date and install critical dependencies:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y libseccomp2

Step 3: Install Docker Packages

Navigate to the download directory and install the packages in the correct order:

cd ~/docker-install
sudo dpkg -i containerd.io_1.4.11-1_arm64.deb
sudo dpkg -i docker-ce-cli_20.10.10~3-0~debian-bullseye_arm64.deb
sudo dpkg -i docker-ce_20.10.10~3-0~debian-bullseye_arm64.deb

If dependency errors occur during installation, resolve them with:

sudo apt --fix-broken install

In some cases, you may also need to explicitly install iptables:

sudo apt install -y iptables

Step 4: Verify Installation

Check the installed Docker version:

sudo docker --version

Step 5: Configure Registry Mirror (Optional but Recommended)

To improve image pull speed—especially in regions with limited access to Docker Hub—configure a mirror such as Alibaba Cloud’s registry accelerator.

Create or edit the Docker daemon configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/docker/daemon.json

Add the following content (replace the mirror URL if needed):

{
  "registry-mirrors": ["https://<your-mirror-id>.mirror.aliyuncs.com"]
}

Restart Docker to apply changes:

sudo systemctl restart docker

Step 6: Test with Hello World

Run the test container to confirm everything works:

sudo docker run hello-world

If the container runs successfully and displays a confirmation message, Docker is correctly installed and configured.

Alternative: Official Installation Script

Docker provides a automated installation script (get.docker.com), but it may not always work reliably on ARM64 devices like the Raspberry Pi 5 due to architecture-specific packaging issues. Manual installation as described above is often more dependable for this platform.