Install Rancher on Ubuntu to Manage Docker Containers

In this tutorial, I will walk you through the process of installing Rancher on Ubuntu 18.04 server.

Requirements

• Two servers with Ubuntu 18.04 installed.
• A static IP address 192.168.0.100 is configured on Rancher server and 192.168.0.103 is configured on Rancher client.
• A root password is set up on both servers.

Getting Started

Before starting, you will need to update both servers to the latest stable version. You can update them with the following command:

Once both servers are updated, restart them to apply all the changes.

Install Docker CE

Next, you will need to install Docker CE on both servers. By default, the latest version of Docker is not available in the Ubuntu 18.04 server default repository.

So, you will need to add the repository for that.

First, you will need to allow apt to use a repository over HTTPS. You can do it by installing the following packages.

Next, download and add Docker CE GPG key with the following command:

Next, add the Docker CE repository to APT with the following command:

Add the following line:

Save and close the file, when you are finished. Then, update the repository with the following command:

Once the repository is updated, install Docker CE with the following command:

Once the installation has been completed, check the Docker service status with the following command:

You should see the following output:

Docker is now installed and running. You can now proceed to the next step.

Install Rancher Container

Next, you will need to download Rancher image from the Docker hub repository. You can download and start Rancher container with the following command:

You should see the following output:

Rancher server is now starting and listening on port 8080.

Now, open your web browser and type the URL http://192.168.0.100:8080. You should see the following page:

Now, click on the ADMIN menu and click on the Access Control to configure the Rancher Access Control. You should see the following page:

Now, click on the LOCAL Access Control, provide all the required details and click on the Enable Local Auth button. You should see the following output:

Configure Rancher Client for Rancher Server

Now, go to the Rancher server Dashboard > INFRASTRUCTURE > Hosts. You should see the following page:

Now, click on the Add Host button. You should see the Host Registration URL in the following page:

Now, click on the Save button. You should see the following page:

Next, provide Rancher Client IP address and select Custom host type. Then, copy the command from the box.

Next, log in to Rancher client system and paste the command which you have copied earlier:

Once the command runs successfully. You should see the following output:

Next, go to the Rancher Server Dashboard and click on the close button. You should see the Rancher client in the following page:

Conclusion

Congratulations! you have successfully installed and configured Rancher Server and Client with Docker on Ubuntu 18.04 server. You can now create new container from Rancher Server dashboard and manage it from a central location.