Deploy Apache Web Server Using Docker: A Step-by-Step Guide

🚀 Install and Run Apache Web Server Using Docker

This guide explains how to install Docker, pull an Apache image, create a container, start it, and verify that Apache is running successfully.

📌 Prerequisites

• Linux server (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Ubuntu)
• Docker installed and running
• Root or sudo access

Step 1️⃣ Install Docker

For RHEL / Amazon Linux

sudo yum install -y docker
sudo systemctl start docker
sudo systemctl enable docker
sudo systemctl status docker

Verify Docker Installation

docker --version
docker info

Step 2️⃣ Pull the Apache Docker Image

docker pull ubuntu/apache2:2.4-20.04_beta

Step 3️⃣ Create the Apache Container

Create a container named apache2 and map port 80 from the container to the host.

docker create \
  --name apache2 \
  -p 80:80 \
  ubuntu/apache2:2.4-20.04_beta

Verify Container Creation

docker ps -a

Step 4️⃣ Start the Container

docker start apache2

Verify Running Container

docker ps

Step 5️⃣ Verify Apache Service

Option 1: Test from the Server

curl http://localhost

Option 2: Test from Browser

http://<SERVER-IP>

✅ You should see the Apache default welcome page, confirming that Apache is running successfully inside the Docker container.

🧹 Useful Docker Commands

docker stop apache2
docker start apache2
docker restart apache2
docker logs apache2
docker rm apache2

🎯 Conclusion

You have successfully installed Docker, created and started an Apache container, and verified the service. This approach is ideal for quick deployments, testing, and learning Docker fundamentals.