I'm currently running a Valheim server on my Linux desktop, which also acts as a NAS for my Windows machine. I'm interested in setting up a Jellyfin server since I'm tired of watching media from an external SSD, and I've been hearing a lot about Docker. It seems like everyone recommends it, but I want to know if it's really beneficial for someone like me, who's just running a few things on their Linux desktop.
If I decide to use Docker, can I put my existing Valheim server into a container? Is it more complicated to do this after the server is already set up, compared to starting it fresh in a Docker container?
4 Answers
The cool thing about Docker is that it lets you transfer services easily between machines by copying just the Dockerfile and some specific files. Plus, it adds an extra layer of security since the container only accesses what it needs from your system. This way, you don't have to worry about messing up other applications.
You can't directly move a running service into Docker, but you can set up a new instance easily. Just install Docker and create a new container for your service while stopping the existing one. This lets you keep your current setup intact while transitioning to Docker.
Using Docker helps separate applications from their dependencies. For example, Jellyfin uses specific libraries that could conflict if installed directly on your main system. With Docker, you can keep those in their own space, meaning if something goes wrong, you can simply swap out the container without affecting your main system.
Docker is great for isolating your applications; it's like having a mini Linux environment for each service without the overhead of a virtual machine. Even if you're just running a couple of things, the advantages can be significant, especially when it comes to managing dependencies and potential conflicts between apps on your system.
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