Must have
Hard prerequisites
- A working Docker installation and sudo access are required for the documented Linux Portainer CE Server setup.
Application hosting
Hosting Portainer
Portainer provides a web interface for managing container environments such as Docker and Kubernetes. A Portainer deployment uses a Server and may use Agents for remote environments. Its supported Docker, Kubernetes, Podman, and architecture combinations are listed in version-specific requirements tables.
- Min vCPU
- Depends on workload
- Min memory
- Depends on workload
- Min storage
- Depends on workload
Recommended
Documented guidance
No further general recommendations are published for this version.
Capacity depends on your workload
The reviewed installation requirements do not state a universal CPU, memory, or disk minimum. Persistent Portainer data and the managed container workloads require separate capacity planning.
We only compare what providers publish. A RAM figure alone can't confirm compatibility or production capacity.
Deploy with
Supported paths
The host must provide
Runtime
- Container engine
- Docker must be installed and working for the documented standalone setup
- Administrative access
- sudo, root, or administrator access for installation
- Network ports
- TCP 9443 for the UI/API; TCP 8000 is optional for Edge Agent tunnels; Agent access commonly uses TCP 9001
- Persistent data
- A persistent data volume stores Portainer configuration and database information
Storage
Persistent data
Persist Portainer's data volume. The official guide notes that Git-based deployments clone repositories into this volume, so repository size and count can increase disk use. Container images, application volumes, and backups also need their own disk budget.
Step by step
Deploy Portainer CE on Linux
-
Prepare Docker and access
Install a supported Docker Engine and confirm sudo access on the machine that will host Portainer Server.
Official instructions -
Choose a deployment method
Use the documented Docker run or Compose method, create a persistent data volume, and expose the management UI only through a protected network path.
Official instructions -
Check connected environment support
Before connecting Docker, Kubernetes, or Podman hosts, compare their versions and architecture with Portainer's current tested compatibility table.
Official instructions
Security
Before you go public
- Keep the management UI private or behind an authenticated access boundary; the install guide exposes the UI/API on TCP 9443 by default.
- Treat Docker socket access and Portainer administrator accounts as host-level privileges.
- Use only the network ports needed for the selected Server and Agent topology.
Cost
Beyond the server price
- Portainer CE software does not remove the cost of the Docker hosts, persistent volumes, image storage, or network use.
- Business Edition and support/licensing terms are separate; check current Portainer terms for the edition selected.
Matching plans
Plans with published evidence
DigitalOcean
CPU-Optimized Regular Droplet · 2 vCPU / 4 GiB
2vCPU
4 GiBRAM
25 GiBStorage
4 TBTransfer
Compatibility unclear from published plan data
Meeting documented runtime prerequisites does not prove production capacity. Traffic, workloads, software configuration, and shared host limits are not measured here.
- A working Docker installation and sudo access are required for the documented Linux Portainer CE Server setup.This prerequisite has no comparable published plan field.
DigitalOcean
General Purpose Droplet · 2 Dedicated vCPU / 8 GB
2vCPU
8 GBRAM
25 GBStorage
4 TBTransfer
Compatibility unclear from published plan data
Meeting documented runtime prerequisites does not prove production capacity. Traffic, workloads, software configuration, and shared host limits are not measured here.
- A working Docker installation and sudo access are required for the documented Linux Portainer CE Server setup.This prerequisite has no comparable published plan field.
Compatibility unclear from published plan data
Meeting documented runtime prerequisites does not prove production capacity. Traffic, workloads, software configuration, and shared host limits are not measured here.
- A working Docker installation and sudo access are required for the documented Linux Portainer CE Server setup.This prerequisite has no comparable published plan field.
Compatibility unclear from published plan data
Meeting documented runtime prerequisites does not prove production capacity. Traffic, workloads, software configuration, and shared host limits are not measured here.
- A working Docker installation and sudo access are required for the documented Linux Portainer CE Server setup.This prerequisite has no comparable published plan field.
Compatibility unclear from published plan data
Meeting documented runtime prerequisites does not prove production capacity. Traffic, workloads, software configuration, and shared host limits are not measured here.
- A working Docker installation and sudo access are required for the documented Linux Portainer CE Server setup.This prerequisite has no comparable published plan field.
Compatibility unclear from published plan data
Meeting documented runtime prerequisites does not prove production capacity. Traffic, workloads, software configuration, and shared host limits are not measured here.
- A working Docker installation and sudo access are required for the documented Linux Portainer CE Server setup.This prerequisite has no comparable published plan field.
Compatibility unclear from published plan data
Meeting documented runtime prerequisites does not prove production capacity. Traffic, workloads, software configuration, and shared host limits are not measured here.
- A working Docker installation and sudo access are required for the documented Linux Portainer CE Server setup.This prerequisite has no comparable published plan field.
Compatibility unclear from published plan data
Meeting documented runtime prerequisites does not prove production capacity. Traffic, workloads, software configuration, and shared host limits are not measured here.
- A working Docker installation and sudo access are required for the documented Linux Portainer CE Server setup.This prerequisite has no comparable published plan field.
Hetzner Cloud
Hetzner Cloud CCX53 (Germany and Finland)
32vCPU
128 GBRAM
600 GBStorage
50 TBTransfer
Compatibility unclear from published plan data
Meeting documented runtime prerequisites does not prove production capacity. Traffic, workloads, software configuration, and shared host limits are not measured here.
- A working Docker installation and sudo access are required for the documented Linux Portainer CE Server setup.This prerequisite has no comparable published plan field.
Hetzner Cloud
Hetzner Cloud CCX63 (Germany and Finland)
48vCPU
192 GBRAM
960 GBStorage
60 TBTransfer
Compatibility unclear from published plan data
Meeting documented runtime prerequisites does not prove production capacity. Traffic, workloads, software configuration, and shared host limits are not measured here.
- A working Docker installation and sudo access are required for the documented Linux Portainer CE Server setup.This prerequisite has no comparable published plan field.
Compatibility unclear from published plan data
Meeting documented runtime prerequisites does not prove production capacity. Traffic, workloads, software configuration, and shared host limits are not measured here.
- A working Docker installation and sudo access are required for the documented Linux Portainer CE Server setup.This prerequisite has no comparable published plan field.
Compatibility unclear from published plan data
Meeting documented runtime prerequisites does not prove production capacity. Traffic, workloads, software configuration, and shared host limits are not measured here.
- A working Docker installation and sudo access are required for the documented Linux Portainer CE Server setup.This prerequisite has no comparable published plan field.
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