Understanding Docker networking is crucial for VPS deployments. Bridge networks (default) isolate containers while allowing inter-container communication. Create custom bridge networks for service groups: docker network create app-network. Containers on the same network resolve each other by name. Host networking (--network host) gives containers direct access to the host network — useful for high-performance scenarios but reduces isolation. Never expose Docker’s default bridge to the internet; use Nginx reverse proxy for external access.
Docker Networking on VPS
Understanding Docker networking is crucial for VPS deployments. Bridge networks (default) isolate containers while allowing inter-container communication. Create custom bridge networks for service groups: docker network create app-network. Containers on the same network resolve each other by name. Host networking (--network host) gives containers direct access to the host network — useful for high-performance scenarios but reduces isolation. Never expose Docker’s default bridge to the internet; use Nginx reverse proxy for external access.
Volume Management and Persistence
Docker containers are ephemeral — data is lost when containers are destroyed. Use named volumes for database storage: docker volume create postgres-data. Bind mounts for application code: -v /var/www:/app. Back up volumes with docker run --rm -v postgres-data:/data -v /backups:/backup alpine tar czf /backup/postgres.tar.gz /data. Monitor volume sizes with docker system df -v. Prune unused volumes regularly: docker volume prune. Proper volume management prevents data loss and disk space exhaustion.
Security Best Practices
Run containers as non-root users: USER 1000 in Dockerfile. Use read-only filesystems where possible: --read-only. Limit container resources: --memory=512m --cpus=1. Scan images for vulnerabilities with Trivy or Docker Scout. Use multi-stage builds to minimize image size and attack surface. Never store secrets in images — use Docker secrets or environment files. FastNode’s sub-10ms latency across the UK handles Docker’s storage needs efficiently for containerized workloads.
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