title: Can you run docker or podman on a Raspberry Pi 4?
source: http://localhost:3000/c/6fe5130361f8ede664eb8d4440a439e82de8edc8
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created: 2025-02-17
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  - Podman

Can you run docker or podman on a Raspberry Pi 4?

Yes, both Docker and Podman can be run on a Raspberry Pi 4. However, the suitability of these tools depends on your specific needs and the resources available on your device.

Running Docker on Raspberry Pi 4

Compatibility and Performance

According to 1, you can indeed run Docker on Raspbian, which is the official operating system for Raspberry Pi. The performance might be limited due to the hardware constraints of the Raspberry Pi 4 compared to more powerful systems. However, it's still a viable option for running containers.

Installation Steps

To install Docker on your Raspberry Pi 4, you can follow these steps:

Update your package list: sudo apt-get update
Install necessary dependencies: sudo apt-get install -y apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl software-properties-common
Add the Docker GPG key: curl -fsSL https://download.docker.com/linux/raspbian/gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/docker-archive-keyring.gpg
Set up the stable repository: echo "deb [arch=arm64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/docker-archive-keyring.gpg] https://download.docker.com/linux/raspbian $(lsb_release -cs) stable" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/docker.list > /dev/null
Update the package list again: sudo apt-get update
Install Docker: sudo apt-get install -y docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io
Start and enable Docker to run at boot: sudo systemctl start docker && sudo systemctl enable docker

Performance Considerations

While Docker can be installed, the performance might not be optimal due to the limited resources of the Raspberry Pi 4. For more resource-intensive tasks, you may want to consider using Podman instead.

Running Podman on Raspberry Pi 4

Advantages of Podman

Podman is a container management tool that does not require root privileges for most operations, making it easier to use in environments where root access is limited. It also supports running containers natively without the overhead of Docker's daemon.

Installation Steps

To install Podman on your Raspberry Pi 4, you can follow these steps:

Update your package list: sudo apt-get update
Install Podman: sudo apt-get install -y podman

Usage Examples

Once installed, you can start a container using Podman with commands like:

Start an interactive shell in a container: podman run --rm -it <image-name>
List running containers: podman ps
Stop a container: podman stop <container-id>

Conclusion

Both Docker and Podman are viable options for running on a Raspberry Pi 4, but the choice depends on your specific requirements. If you need rootless operations and better resource management, Podman is recommended. For more traditional container management tasks, Docker can still be used effectively.

By understanding these differences and following the installation steps provided, you can choose the best tool for your needs on a Raspberry Pi 4.