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To install Podman on AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux 9 or 10, run sudo dnf install podman (or sudo dnf install container-tools for Podman, Buildah and Skopeo together). On Ubuntu and Debian, run sudo apt install podman. Podman needs no background service: run podman run as a normal user for rootless containers, and use Quadlet files to start them at boot with systemd.

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Before you start

  • Podman runs containers like Docker and uses the same images and mostly the same commands (podman run, podman ps, podman logs). It has no central daemon, and each user can run their own containers without root.
  • Red Hat removed Docker from RHEL 8 and later and ships Podman instead, so Podman is the native choice on AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux.
  • Don’t install Podman and Docker on the same server unless you have a reason. They don’t share images or containers.
  • Root users can leave out sudo.

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How to install Podman

For the full Red Hat container toolset (Podman, Buildah, Skopeo and related tools):
Check the version:
That is the version in Ubuntu 24.04; AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux and Fedora ship newer releases.

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How to run your first container

As your normal user (for example alex), without sudo:
Write images with their full registry name, such as docker.io/louislam/uptime-kuma:2. Podman can search several registries for short names, and the full name avoids a prompt or the wrong image. Rootless containers are safer: if something escapes the container, it only has your user’s rights. They can’t publish ports below 1024 by default, so run web apps on high ports behind a reverse proxy, or run the proxy rootful. On AlmaLinux and Rocky Linux, open the port in firewalld:
See set up a firewall with firewalld.

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How to start a container at boot with Quadlet

Podman has no daemon to restart containers, so systemd does it. Quadlet (Podman 4.4 and later) turns a short .container file into a systemd service.
1

Remove the test container

The volume and its data stay.
2

Create the Quadlet file

For a rootless container, create ~/.config/containers/systemd/uptime-kuma.container:
For a rootful container, put the file in /etc/containers/systemd/ instead.
3

Load and start the service

For rootful files, use sudo systemctl daemon-reload and sudo systemctl start uptime-kuma.service. You don’t run enable: the [Install] section does that.
4

Keep it running after you log out

Without lingering, a user’s services stop when they log out and don’t start at boot.

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How to check it worked

The service shows active (running) and podman ps lists uptime-kuma with 0.0.0.0:3001->3001/tcp. If systemctl says Unit uptime-kuma.service not found, check the file for mistakes with:

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How to update containers automatically

AutoUpdate=registry marks the container for updates. Preview, then apply:
Podman also ships podman-auto-update.timer, which runs daily at midnight. Turn it on with systemctl --user enable --now podman-auto-update.timer (or sudo systemctl enable --now podman-auto-update.timer for rootful containers).

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Can Podman run docker compose files?

Yes. podman compose passes your compose.yaml to a compose provider, either docker-compose or podman-compose. Install podman-compose:
podman-compose comes from the EPEL repository.
Then run podman compose up -d in the project folder. For long-running services, Quadlet files are more reliable at boot than Compose under Podman.

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Frequently asked questions

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Can I type docker instead of podman?

Install the podman-docker package. It adds a docker command that runs Podman, so scripts and habits keep working.

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Should I use Podman or Docker?

Use Podman on AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux if you want rootless containers and systemd integration without a daemon. Use Docker if an app’s instructions assume Docker, such as Coolify or Dokploy, which talk to the Docker socket.

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Why does podman pull ask me to choose a registry?

You used a short name such as nginx. Use the full name, for example docker.io/library/nginx, to skip the question.

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Where are rootless volumes stored?

Under ~/.local/share/containers/storage/volumes/ for that user. Run podman volume inspect uptime-kuma to see the exact path.

VPS and dedicated server guides

Every guide in this section.

Install Docker

The Docker Engine alternative.

Secure Docker on a VPS

Container security on any engine.

Use SELinux on AlmaLinux and Rocky

Volume labels and container policy.

Manage services with systemctl

Control the services Quadlet creates.
Checked against the official Podman installation guide, Quadlet documentation, podman auto-update and Red Hat’s Building, running, and managing containers guide on 4 November 2026; installation, rootful and rootless podman run, and the Quadlet file (generator dry run) tested on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS with Podman 4.9.3. Commands can differ on other distributions or releases.

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Last Updated: November 2026