---
title: "Installing Docker Engine"
description: "Install Docker Engine on the host system"
source_url: https://ai-ops.com/docs/installation/installing-docker
---

# Installing Docker Engine

Koios runs as a Docker container, so Docker Engine must be installed on the host machine. This page covers the essentials.

> [!NOTE] Docker Engine, Not Docker Desktop
> Docker Desktop is not required. Docker Engine (the CLI-based runtime) is all you need for a server deployment.

## Install Docker Engine

Follow the official Docker documentation to install Docker Engine on Ubuntu:

1. Set up Docker's `apt` repository
2. Install the `docker-ce` package
3. Verify the installation

Refer to the official Docker Engine installation guide for Ubuntu for detailed, up-to-date instructions.

## Post-Install: Add Your User to the Docker Group

By default, Docker commands require `sudo`. To run Docker as your regular user:

```bash
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
```

Log out and back in for the group change to take effect.

## Verify the Installation

```bash
docker --version
```

```bash
docker run hello-world
```

If both commands succeed, Docker is ready.

## What's Next

- [Pulling Koios Image](https://ai-ops.com/docs/installation/pulling-koios-image.md) — download the Koios Docker image