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7: Portainer - Docker Management Platform

Portainer CE (Community Edition) provides a web-based management interface for Docker environments. It offers container lifecycle management, stack deployment, image/volume/network management, resource monitoring, and role-based access control. For advanced features, API documentation, and enterprise features, see the official Portainer documentation.

Prerequisites

  • ✅ Docker installed (Chapter 3)
  • ✅ Docker Compose (Chapter 3)
  • ✅ Optional: Traefik installed (Chapter 4) for HTTPS with Let's Encrypt
  • ✅ Optional: Domain configured (Chapter 4.5), e.g., portainer.example.com

Installation via Infinity Tools

Menu Installation

📱 APPLICATIONS → Portainer → Install

CLI Installation

sudo bash /opt/InfinityTools/Solutions/setup-portainer.sh --install

# With domain (Traefik mode)
export PORTAINER_DOMAIN="portainer.example.com"
sudo -E bash /opt/InfinityTools/Solutions/setup-portainer.sh --install

Deployment Modes

Traefik Mode (Recommended)

Uses Traefik for SSL termination and domain routing:

  • Automatic Let's Encrypt certificate provisioning
  • Domain-based access: https://portainer.example.com
  • Security headers configured via Traefik middleware
  • Requires: Traefik running, DNS A record configured

Standalone Mode

Direct HTTPS access with self-signed certificate:

  • Access via: https://SERVER_IP:9443
  • Self-signed SSL (browser warning on first access)
  • No domain required
  • Suitable for internal/development use

Installation Process

Configuration Steps

  1. SSL Mode Selection: Choose Traefik or Standalone
  2. If Traefik: Provide domain name (e.g., portainer.example.com)
  3. If Standalone: Specify HTTPS port (default: 9443)
  4. Network Detection: Automatically detects Traefik network if available

What Gets Created

  • Directory: /opt/speedbits/portainer
  • Container: portainer (portainer/portainer-ce:2.21.4)
  • Data Volume: /opt/speedbits/portainer/data
  • Docker Compose: /opt/speedbits/portainer/docker-compose.yml
  • Network: Joins Traefik network (Traefik mode) or creates internal network (Standalone)

First-Time Setup

Admin Account Creation

⚠️ CRITICAL: Portainer requires admin credential creation on first access. No default credentials exist.

  1. Access Portainer via the provided URL
  2. Create administrator account:
    • Username: Any (typically "admin")
    • Password: Minimum 12 characters (enforced)
  3. Select Docker environment
  4. Connect to local Docker socket

Password Recovery

If admin password is lost, reset requires:

cd /opt/speedbits/portainer
docker compose down
rm -rf data/
docker compose up -d

Note: This resets all Portainer configuration (users, settings, RBAC). Docker containers are unaffected.

Service Endpoints

  • Traefik mode: https://portainer.example.com
  • Standalone mode: https://SERVER_IP:9443
  • Internal API: Portainer exposes port 9000 internally (mapped via Traefik or directly)

Key Features

Container Management

  • Lifecycle operations (start/stop/restart/remove)
  • Log viewing and streaming
  • Container inspection (env vars, mounts, networks)
  • Console access (exec into containers)
  • Resource limits and constraints

Stack Deployment

  • Deploy docker-compose stacks via web UI
  • Edit stack configurations
  • Update and rollback stacks
  • Environment variable management

Image Management

  • Browse local images
  • Pull from registries (Docker Hub, private registries)
  • Remove unused images
  • Image tagging and management

Volume and Network Management

  • Create/manage Docker volumes
  • Network configuration and inspection
  • Volume backup considerations

Monitoring and Statistics

  • Real-time resource usage (CPU, memory, network)
  • Container health status
  • Historical performance data
  • Event logs

Security Configuration

Initial Security

  • ✅ Strong admin password (20+ characters recommended)
  • ✅ Enable 2FA: Settings → Users → Two-Factor Authentication
  • ✅ Use Traefik mode for production (Let's Encrypt SSL)
  • ✅ Security headers configured via Traefik middleware (Traefik mode)

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

  • Create team members with restricted access
  • Assign roles (admin, operator, viewer)
  • Environment-level permissions
  • Audit logging

Backup Configuration

  • Export Portainer settings: Settings → Backup Configuration
  • Regular backups recommended
  • Backup includes: users, roles, settings, stack definitions
  • Does NOT include: Docker container data (managed separately via Borgmatic)

Integration with Infinity Tools

Portainer complements Infinity Tools by providing:

  • Visual management of Infinity Tools containers
  • Log access for troubleshooting
  • Resource monitoring for capacity planning
  • Stack deployment for custom applications

Note: Infinity Tools applications are managed via their respective setup scripts. Portainer provides visibility and operational control, but configuration changes should be made through Infinity Tools scripts to maintain consistency.

Troubleshooting

Container Not Starting

docker logs portainer
docker ps -a | grep portainer

Traefik Routing Issues

  • Verify Traefik is running: docker ps | grep traefik
  • Check Traefik logs: docker logs traefik
  • Verify DNS resolution: dig portainer.example.com
  • Confirm SSL certificate: Check Traefik dashboard or logs

Docker Socket Access

Portainer requires read-only access to /var/run/docker.sock. The setup script configures this automatically. If issues occur:

ls -l /var/run/docker.sock
docker ps  # Verify Docker is accessible

Production Considerations

  • High Availability: Portainer CE is single-instance. For HA, consider Portainer Business Edition
  • Backup Strategy: Regular Portainer config exports + Borgmatic for container data
  • Access Control: Implement RBAC for team members
  • Network Security: Use Traefik with firewall rules restricting access
  • Monitoring: Integrate with monitoring solutions (Netdata, Uptime Kuma)

Next Steps

Portainer is now operational. Use it to:

  • Monitor Infinity Tools containers
  • Deploy additional Docker applications
  • Manage Docker resources
  • Troubleshoot container issues

For advanced Portainer features, team management, and enterprise capabilities, refer to the official Portainer documentation.

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