How to Check if Docker Daemon or Service is Running on Ubuntu

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Summary: Learn the proper methods to check if the Docker daemon or service is running on your Ubuntu system. Ensure your Docker setup is functioning correctly by following these steps.
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How to Check if Docker Daemon or Service is Running on Ubuntu

Ensuring that Docker is running correctly on your Ubuntu system is crucial for a seamless DevOps experience. In this post, we will guide you through the steps to check if the Docker daemon or the Docker service is running on an Ubuntu system.

Checking Docker Status Using systemctl

Ubuntu systems use systemd for managing services. You can easily verify if the Docker service is running with the systemctl command.

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This command will present output indicating whether the Docker service is active or inactive. You should see something like:

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If the status shows "active (running)" then your Docker daemon is up and running. If it shows any other status, you might need to start the service.

Starting the Docker Service

In case the Docker service is not running, you can start it with the following command:

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To ensure the service starts automatically at boot, enable it using:

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Checking Docker Process

Another method to verify if Docker is running is by checking the Docker processes directly. You can do this using the ps command.

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This will list Docker-related processes if they are running.

Using Docker CLI Commands

You can also use Docker CLI commands to check the status of the Docker daemon. The most straightforward command is:

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If the Docker daemon is running, this command will provide a detailed output about your Docker setup. If the daemon is not running, you will likely see an error message.

Conclusion

Checking whether the Docker daemon or service is running on Ubuntu can be done using several methods including systemctl, process inspection, or Docker CLI commands. Ensuring that Docker is active helps maintain a smooth workflow and prevents potential disruptions in your containerized applications. If you encounter any issues, restarting the service and checking logs can often provide insight into resolving the problem.

Remember, maintaining a healthy Docker environment is key to leveraging the full potential of containers in your development and deployment workflows.