Docker on Oracle Linux 10
Containerization has streamlined deployments and now simplifies managing workload transitions
What is our primary use case?
My main use case for Docker on CentOS is specific to my line of work. If there are any platforms that we have to commission, we prefer to containerize them, which makes them very lightweight and easier to manage. I know that their dependencies are all packaged into the container, so they are not dependent on the bare metal or the host operating systems' dependencies.
I'm leveraging Docker on CentOS in that anything we have to do, we always look at the strategy and ask if it can be containerized. Then we look at containerizing it.
What is most valuable?
The best features Docker on CentOS offers include the fact that it is OS agnostic and works with its own prerequisites bundled into the container, which makes it flexible to deploy whichever application I'm looking at, so I am no longer held to my system's binaries.
In terms of scalability, I really love how easy it is to spin up another container in order for me to manage workloads, which also makes the management of all workloads easier.
Since adopting Docker on CentOS with a DevOps model, it has positively impacted my organization by making deployments faster, scaling up has become much easier, and the management of services has become more streamlined.
What needs improvement?
I wish Docker on CentOS's scalability could reach the level of what something like Kubernetes does, as it can scale to the heights of where Kubernetes gets to, and the integrations are much more widespread.
I'm fairly satisfied with Docker on CentOS, but I hope that out of the box, especially with the community editions as well as the enterprise edition, it comes with a graphical user interface.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using Docker on CentOS for roughly a year and a half, and we are still transitioning from monolithic architectures to containerized ones.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Docker on CentOS is stable in my experience, as it has been stable so far.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability of Docker on CentOS in my environment is pretty flexible. As long as I deploy on the right infrastructure, I am able to scale as much as I want.
What other advice do I have?
My advice to others looking into using Docker on CentOS is that they should adopt it, as it's an enjoyable platform to work with. I would rate this product an 8 out of 10.
Docker workflows have accelerated web deployments and testing but still need stronger security and monitoring
What is our primary use case?
My main use case for Docker on CentOS is running containers for different application webs. For example, I run a Moodle or different APIs and microservices that are developed in Docker on CentOS.
Before Docker was very complicated. Doing the testing with the developer, and with Docker it is very fast to deploy the different changes.
What is most valuable?
I find working with APIs and microservices in Docker on CentOS to be very useful and very practical. Docker is fast, lightweight, and makes apps run the same everywhere without problems.
On CentOS, Docker provides the same core features as other Linux systems, which is not very special, but I can run containers, manage images, store data, and deploy apps.
I mainly rely on container images and volumes every day in Docker on CentOS, plus networking when apps need to connect. For example, volumes are essential when I need to keep data persistent, like databases or logs.
Docker on CentOS has positively impacted my organization by helping us deploy faster, avoid environment problems, and make the system more reliable and easier to manage.
With Docker deploying faster, we save approximately 30% of the time on production issues or in the pipelines, which are specific outcomes I have observed.
What needs improvement?
Docker on CentOS can be improved with better security, easier storage management, and smoother integration with CI/CD and orchestration tools.
I think better monitoring, easier debugging, and more standard behavior across environments will make Docker on CentOS even better.
Other improvements needed for Docker on CentOS include improving compatibility, security scanning, easier default setup, and clear enterprise documentation, for example.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Docker on CentOS for about four years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Docker on CentOS is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Docker on CentOS has super scalability with Kubernetes, but it also has scalability without Kubernetes.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I previously tried containers on Ubuntu, but I quickly changed to Docker on CentOS.
What was our ROI?
I have only seen a return on investment in terms of time saved because I save my time, but in economic terms, no, because it was free.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for Docker on CentOS is that it is free. The licensing is free, so it is very good.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Before choosing Docker on CentOS, I evaluated other options such as Docker on Ubuntu or virtual machines.
What other advice do I have?
My advice for others looking into using Docker on CentOS is to start simple, use trusted images, which is very important, learn networking and volumes, and focus on security and monitoring. I would rate this product a 7.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Containerization has accelerated medical data pipelines and supports secure orchestration
What is our primary use case?
Our main use case for Docker on CentOS is to run separate data pipelines to ensure that we isolate multiple processings to avoid conflicts, to accelerate our pipelines and make sure that it's properly processed down the road.
For example, we have a huge amount of datasets, and when it comes to running some specific queries or running data parallelly, we use Docker on CentOS sometimes on top of Google Cloud.
Docker on CentOS has been useful to us because we are also a medical device company, so it has helped us accelerate things and deliver them faster on our medical device.
What is most valuable?
The best features Docker on CentOS offers for our team are easy deployment, containerization, and Docker Compose orchestration. We also value the data volume persistency.
The orchestration using the YAML file is something we really appreciate on a daily basis and it's straightforward.
Docker on CentOS has positively impacted our organization with deployment, easy orchestration, and the learning curve is also good for our teams.
What needs improvement?
We would improve Docker on CentOS because we never use it for image processing, for example. We would like to be able to use it efficiently for image processing since we have a couple of projects coming up, and if that can be accelerated, that would be beneficial.
Regarding Docker on CentOS's AI capabilities, we have a lot of challenges because of the bubble of AI. The security on Docker on CentOS needs to be highly improved to avoid threats around it and also help us protect better our stakeholders' data, more specifically patient data.
While we don't use conversational AI, regarding Docker on CentOS's AI capabilities, we do deploy machine learning algorithms and use them, but we don't use conversational AI.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've been using Docker on CentOS for a while now, and we use it for orchestration.
What other advice do I have?
Our team, since we are still a startup, doesn't have a lot of senior members, so most of them are intermediate and entry-level. Something we've noticed is it doesn't take a lot of time for them to understand how Docker on CentOS works, and it doesn't take them a lot of time to quickly start deploying solutions and data pipelines on the infrastructure. We really appreciate that because it cuts down our delivery time. I would rate this product an 8 out of 10.
Container isolation has improved availability while resource tuning still needs attention
What is our primary use case?
I have been using Docker on CentOS for five years.
I do not have a main use case for Docker on CentOS, just support tickets regarding the application on Linux.
An example of a support ticket I have handled involves pods that stop responding on an application and operational system impacted by Docker uses regarding CPU or memory resources.
Most of the time, I support Docker on CentOS, not the pods or applications that run inside these pods. I am responsible for the full high availability of servers that support or host Docker. Therefore, I have to ensure that everything is running fine and quickly on the host side.
What is most valuable?
The best features Docker on CentOS offers, from my perspective as someone responsible for high availability and server health, are the ability to work with containers and pods to run applications and set the best resources for the pods. I can isolate and ensure that everything is running as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Docker on CentOS is the main available solution on the market and is highly used all over the world. It is especially great for hosting applications and also for maintaining and developing these applications in isolated environments. For example, everything that will run in a pod will be handled in any of these pods in the replication and creation of these pods in any of the environments, making the whole infrastructure not only more secure but providing indescribable high availability for applications and customers based on Docker appliances.
Docker on CentOS has positively impacted my organization by helping to change and modify anything regarding applications that have to be available for the customer quickly, and it is also for those that have to be created in the fastest way. For example, Docker can create different specifications for different applications using only one host. It assures that we will not have high costs and will be great especially for the team responsible for the infrastructure as well as for the developers.
What needs improvement?
Docker on CentOS can be improved by ensuring that we are using the right image available around the world and choosing only the specific needs for applications, the right amount of CPUs and memory, and the isolation of the problems that we can have on production. We can use one host to have different scenarios in a fast and easier way than we would use in the old world or with on-premises virtual machines or physical hosts, which helps us to decrease the cost.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Docker on CentOS for five years.
What other advice do I have?
I do not see any improvements needed for Docker on CentOS, aside from what I have already mentioned.
My advice for others looking into using Docker on CentOS is to always use a Linux version that has a support team or a community who supports the version regarding the kernel and especially the CVE features regarding vulnerabilities.
I do not have any additional thoughts about Docker on CentOS before we wrap up.
I would rate this review a 7.
Containerization has streamlined deployment and management of web apps and AI workloads
What is our primary use case?
My main use case for Docker on CentOS is deploying applications. A quick specific example of an application I have deployed using Docker on CentOS includes web apps and LLMs. I chose Docker on CentOS for deploying WebEx and those other applications because it is easy to use, manage, and deploy.
What is most valuable?
The best features Docker on CentOS offers include ease of management and Docker capabilities. Docker images, Docker containers, and everything related to them help me significantly, and Docker's management on CentOS stands out for its efficiency. Docker on CentOS has positively impacted my organization by making management easier. Management became easier because of integration with CI/CD, and I noticed both specific outcomes and metrics such as time saved and fewer errors.
What needs improvement?
Docker on CentOS is good, so there are no significant improvements needed.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Docker on CentOS for more than three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Docker on CentOS is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Its scalability is good.
How are customer service and support?
I have never used customer support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
What other advice do I have?
The advice I would give to others looking into using Docker on CentOS is that it is a good tool with a lot of open-source support available. Regarding Docker on CentOS's AI capabilities, I think its governance and security are an open debate, and enterprises have their own doubts. I have not used its AI capabilities extensively, so I cannot comment on its accuracy and reliability of output. Docker on CentOS is performing well, and I would rate this review an 8.
Containerization has streamlined microservices delivery and ensures consistent hybrid deployments
What is our primary use case?
I have been working as a senior middleware engineer and DevOps engineer for the last 17 years, where I have used Docker on CentOS in various multi-level, multi-cloud platforms like AWS and Azure, and for Fortune 500 companies such as Charter, Mastercard, Cardinal Health, and Dell. Currently, I'm involved in the containerization of Spring 3.x, Java-based applications, and building microservices for distributed applications using Docker on CentOS. The containerization we are doing was initially using ECR, which has now migrated to EKS, and I am creating the CI/CD pipeline with GitLab, Docker builds and Argo CD deployments. Our architecture includes an 80-plus pods cluster, scaling from 2 to 85, with a target of zero downtime and 140 TPS. Docker on CentOS, being lightweight and stable, integrates well with the Linux kernel, providing minimum overhead and cost efficiency, which is crucial for resource-constrained environments.
What is most valuable?
The capabilities of Docker on CentOS that I have found the most valuable include its use for Spring-based applications, which significantly enhance the value I derive from it. Docker on CentOS is particularly effective for building distributed applications and microservices. Deployments are smooth and easy, and the integration with Kubernetes is seamless. I have successfully managed 80-plus pods clusters, scaling from 80 to 85 with 140 TPS without encountering any issues. Docker on CentOS's lightweight nature allows for flawless development across environments such as dev, stage, and prod.
From my perspective, the experience with the deployment of Docker on CentOS is quite positive, especially for the CI/CD pipeline. The architecture overview includes the use of a Git repository and GitLab CI, which facilitates the Docker build for our Spring 3.x Java applications.
What needs improvement?
I have faced challenges with the end-of-life cycle of CentOS since 2021-2022, security updates, network complexity with multi-node DNS issues, storage persistence pain points with EBS and EFS, and resource management before the Kubernetes abstraction.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with Docker on CentOS for a very long time, starting with Docker Swarm and Docker, specifically for this current project itself.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
While the end-of-life for CentOS was noted, the overall persistence and network performance, including firewall functionality, were commendable. Earlier issues with out-of-memory crashes were resolved with proper sizing adjustments, and overall, I experienced no conflicts during updates, maintaining the 140 TPS targets effectively.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Regarding the scalability of Docker on CentOS, I initially built the Docker containers and moved them to Kubernetes, where my scaling efforts were focused.
Once Docker on CentOS is dockerized and deployed in Kubernetes, it scales effectively by meeting the target of 140 TPS with an SLA of one second for three REST endpoints.
How are customer service and support?
I do not often communicate with the technical support of Docker on CentOS, as I haven't found the need; the documentation has been sufficient.
The documentation for Docker on CentOS is excellent; I find answers to my questions regarding the Docker daemon and network configuration issues quickly and efficiently. The information available for storage and security has been helpful, despite some challenges in those areas along with conducting DR exercises.
How was the initial setup?
The steps I needed to take when setting the solution up involved starting with dockerizing the application on CentOS, primarily with versions 7/8. I pulled the Docker image after setting up CentOS and created user groups to prevent overwriting. Using the daemon setup, I configured the firewall and created the Docker file. My workflow continued with using Maven version 3.8 and integrating it with Eclipse to enhance several endpoints. This included updating PL/SQL procedures and aiming for an SLA of less than one second, with a multi-stage deployment reflecting the expanding functionality of our application.
From my perspective, the experience with the deployment of Docker on CentOS is quite positive, especially for the CI/CD pipeline. The installation is straightforward with easy updates and configurations, including starting Docker groups and handling the daemon without challenges. I utilized a JSON-based setup, firewall setups were simple, and the multi-stage deployments were effective. My integration efforts with Maven and Eclipse were also seamless, leading to a flawless push to ECR.
What other advice do I have?
Docker on CentOS is utilized in a hybrid setup within my organization; starting on-premises with CentOS, our architecture evolved to the cloud. I began with building everything locally, then transitioned to development environments, eventually versioning the applications and pushing to ECR, allowing flexibility whether on local or cloud resources.
In terms of reliability and stability, I find Docker on CentOS to be dependable, with good kernel support and daemon stability. I would rate this solution an 8 out of 10.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Rapid containers have transformed how I test microservices and reset databases on demand
What is our primary use case?
My main use case for Docker on CentOS is for microservices, and I have been using Docker mainly for development and testing environments.
The most common use case for me with Docker on CentOS is to spin up a SQL container, as it is much faster than installing and configuring the database, and it keeps the environment clean.
A typical scenario with Docker on CentOS is when I use a container locally for testing. I usually create a new MySQL container for that.
What is most valuable?
I think that the container Docker on CentOS is the most beneficial because I am able to create a new container locally very easily.
I believe that the ease of container creation with Docker on CentOS helps my workflow, as it allows me to create testing environments locally.
It is especially useful when you need to test different database versions or reset the state quickly without affecting anything else on the system with Docker on CentOS.
Docker on CentOS has positively impacted my organization by being much faster than installing and configuring the database directly on the machine.
What needs improvement?
So far, I do not have problems with Docker on CentOS.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working in my current field for 20 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I am satisfied with Docker on CentOS in this aspect.
How was the initial setup?
I am able to create a database container with Docker on CentOS in minutes. If I want to create a testing environment, the time is approximately one day.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I recommend searching on the internet for the best practices for setting Docker on CentOS containers.
What other advice do I have?
Docker on CentOS deserves a perfect score of 10 out of 10. It is more efficient nowadays than in the past, which makes Docker on CentOS deserve a perfect score for me. Docker on CentOS is easy to use. Regarding Docker on CentOS's AI capabilities, I think security is important. When using Docker on CentOS's AI capabilities, I find it very accurate and reliable. I would rate this review a 10.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Consistent containers have transformed QA workflows and make performance testing more reliable
What is our primary use case?
I decided to use Docker on CentOS for my testing environments because, from a performance perspective, Docker helps reduce setup time and improve test execution consistency. For example, we can run tests in parallel containers, isolate services, and compare results more reliably between local, staging, and CI environments. However, it is important to monitor CPU, memory, network usage, container startup time, and disk input and output because poor configuration can create false performance issues that are not related to the application itself.
What is most valuable?
Automation and performance control specifically have helped my team mainly by making execution more predictable, repeatable, and easier to scale. For example, in a recent project, we needed to run automated regression tests against multiple environments. Before using Docker on CentOS, every machine or server had small differences, such as different node versions, browser versions, drivers, dependencies, or missing packages. That created false failures, wasting time debugging the environment instead of the application. By moving the test execution into Docker containers and CentOS, we packaged the full test environment: framework, dependencies, browser configuration, test script, reporting tool, and environment variables. This made the automation much more stable, so every execution used the same baseline. An example of a challenge it solved was an unstable regression execution where tests were failing randomly because the host machine was under heavy load, especially when several suites were running at the same time. After containerizing the execution, separating services, and monitoring resource usage, we gained better visibility into bottlenecks, enabling us to identify when a container needed more memory, when parallel execution was too aggressive, or when the application response time was actually slow. The main benefit was that Docker on CentOS gave us a controlled testing layer. Automation became easier to maintain, performance results became more trustworthy, and at the end of the day, the team spent less time fixing environment issues and more time improving test coverage and product quality.
Docker on CentOS has positively impacted my organization because I know that many projects are using Docker on CentOS. The impact is positive because it provides us with a more stable and repeatable way to run automation, testing, and supporting services. One of the biggest benefits has been environment consistency. Before using Docker on CentOS, different servers or local machines could have various versions of Node.js, Java, browsers, drivers, or system packages, causing false test failures and making debugging slow. With Docker on CentOS, we were able to package the required dependencies into images, so our execution was the same.
What needs improvement?
Some needed improvements include clearer installation and version compatibility. Docker's official documentation currently lists maintained CentOS Stream 9 and 10 as supported for Docker Engine. Teams using older CentOS versions need to be careful with compatibility and support planning, so clearer migration guidance for older CentOS versions would be beneficial. Another area is in troubleshooting; it could be made easier. When Docker fails due to networking permissions, CI, Linux storage driver, or daemon configuration, the error messages can be too technical. A guided diagnostic tool for CentOS would be very useful, checking repositories, kernel compatibility, firewall rules, the overlay, Docker daemon status, and container resource usage. Additionally, performance visibility could be improved as Docker already provides resource control, but for QA and performance testing, better built-in dashboards for CPU, memory, disk, input/output, network latency, container startup time, and test execution would help in understanding performance issues. Security defaults could be stronger and easier to apply because features like rootless mode are available, but clearer recommendations and simpler setup flows for running containers with least privilege, managing secrets, scanning images, and avoiding risky volume permissions are needed. Lastly, container integration and delivery in QA could be better documented, as Docker works well with automation pipelines, but more official examples for CentOS-based Jenkins, GitHub Actions, self-hosted runners, GitLab, browser testing, API testing, and performance testing documentation would help QA teams adopt it faster.
For how long have I used the solution?
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
How are customer service and support?
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Other options we evaluated included Jenkins, manually configured CI/CD agents, and manual Kubernetes.
How was the initial setup?
What about the implementation team?
What was our ROI?
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Other options we evaluated included Jenkins, manually configured CI/CD agents, and manual Kubernetes.
What other advice do I have?
I have one suggestion for teams implementing Docker on CentOS. It may be best to start with a simple Docker image for the test framework, then add Docker Compose if multiple services are needed. After that, I recommend defining the CPU and memory limits, collecting logs and reports from each container, and integrating the execution into the CI/CD pipeline because that workflow creates a clean and scalable foundation for both automation and performance.
My advice for others looking into using Docker on CentOS is to start simply but implement it with good governance from day one. Docker can bring significant value, but only if the team standardizes how images contain logs, resources, and security are managed. The most important recommendation is to use a supported CentOS version, standardize your images, integrate with CI/CD early, control CPU and memory usage, monitor container metrics, and think about security from the beginning.
Regarding Docker on CentOS's AI capabilities, I think governance and security are critical. Docker on CentOS can serve as a strong foundation for AI workloads because it provides isolated, repeatable, and scalable environments. However, AI use cases usually involve sensitive data, dependency models, credentials, and automated decision-making, so organizations need strong controls around image creation, access permissions, secrets, and vulnerability scanning. From a governance perspective, I recommend clear standards for approved base images, image versioning, access control, and audit logs. From a security perspective, I suggest running containers with less privilege, avoiding root execution when possible, scanning images, generating S-BOMs, and keeping the CentOS host updated. Docker supports rootless mode to reduce risks from the Docker daemon and container runtime, while Docker Scout can analyze images using S-BOMs and vulnerability data. It is also essential to be cautious with CentOS version support, as Docker Engine documentation currently lists maintained CentOS Stream 9 and 10 as supported. Using outdated CentOS versions creates governance and security risks. Overall, I view Docker on CentOS as a positive foundation for AI and automation workloads, provided it is implemented with strong governance, controlled images, secure measures, vulnerability scanning, resource limits, and clear ownership of the container.
Regarding Docker on CentOS's AI capabilities, I see accuracy and reliability as different aspects. Docker on CentOS itself does not make an AI model more accurate; accuracy depends on the model, training data, prompts, configuration, and validation process. However, Docker on CentOS can strongly improve the reliability and repeatability of the output by providing a controlled environment where the same model, dependencies, libraries, and resource limits are used each time. In an AI testing or automation scenario, Docker on CentOS can help ensure that the same model version, Python libraries, CUDA, or CPU configuration, and environment variables are used across local, staging, and CI environments, reducing inconsistent behavior caused by dependency differences. Additionally, the Docker model runner also supports managing and running AI models locally, configuring model parameters, and displaying prompt response details, which can help with traceability and repeatable validation. From a QA perspective, I would not trust AI output solely because it runs in Docker on CentOS. I would still recommend automation, automated validation, expected output checks, prompt versioning, model versioning, logs, and human review for critical cases, along with monitoring for hallucination or unstable responses. Overall, I would say that Docker on CentOS is reliable as an execution platform for AI workloads, especially when properly configured, but the accuracy of the AI output must be measured separately through testing benchmarks and business validation. Since Docker Engine officially supports maintained CentOS Stream 9 and 10, I would also avoid outdated CentOS versions for AI workloads that require strong reliability and security.
Building secure multi-tier projects has boosted learning but still needs stronger protection
What is our primary use case?
My main use case for Docker on CentOS is building a four-tier project on my PC.
I use Docker on CentOS by installing Docker to manage the Docker files and also to manage my applications, websites, and MySQL from CentOS.
What is most valuable?
The best features Docker on CentOS offers in my experience are its speed and smooth operation, along with the fact that there is no need to add a repository, and it is free. I can use the repository to download any repository, which is why I use those features. CentOS is free, and I have used it to practice for my exams and to build my four-tier project.
What needs improvement?
I chose a seven out of ten because Docker on CentOS is very fast and smooth. However, it also needs to improve its security, upgrade the packages, and fix bugs, which is why I deducted three points. It should also provide more updatable features.
Regarding Docker on CentOS's AI capabilities, if I am using it for a banking project, I think we need higher security to prevent hacking and direct attacks on servers. That is why we need to upgrade security on CentOS 9 and develop CentOS 10, an upgraded version, for more feature support and ease of use.
I think it would be very helpful to bring in AI to know more about CentOS 9 and the hidden features it offers.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Docker on CentOS for the past two years.
What other advice do I have?
Docker on CentOS has positively impacted me by allowing me to upgrade to CentOS 9 to build more security and also manage subscriptions, which sometimes are free but not for organizations. I need to keep the subscription to access more packages and features in the subscription manager, as they do not always provide everything for free.
Docker on CentOS is deployed in my organization using both private and public clouds, as we normally use CentOS 9 for the UAT servers and proxy servers. We are using AWS and Azure for our public and private cloud deployments. I purchased Docker on CentOS through the AWS Marketplace.
I recommend that others looking into using Docker on CentOS consider that I have also recommended CentOS 9 to my colleagues for learning for their exams at no cost to build their skills.
It is important to build on CentOS and to bring in new versions, such as CentOS 9 and CentOS 10, for higher capabilities and features. I would rate Docker on CentOS overall as a seven out of ten.
Containerization has accelerated deployments and now exposes networking and storage issues clearly
What is our primary use case?
My main use case for Docker on CentOS is containerizing microservices in local environments on CentOS and then deploying them to the cloud. I essentially use Docker to package the application with all its dependencies, ensuring that what works locally works the same in production without the typical environment differences.
One of the most concrete cases of how I containerized an application with Docker on CentOS was the containerization of the client controller scenery that I developed at NT Comunicaciones. It was an application built in React on the front-end, Node.js on the back-end, and MySQL and Firebase as the database.
Complementing the above, another relevant case was in the context of CapRover on a CentOS VPS at Saltamontes Records Creative, where I used Docker Swarm to orchestrate multiple application containers from different clients.
How has it helped my organization?
I can share concrete results I experienced directly in the projects. I reduced deployment times at NT Comunicaciones. Before containerization, a manual deployment including environment preparation, dependency installations, and validations could take between two and three hours. With Docker and the automated pipeline using Jenkins and GitHub Actions, that time drops to minutes. The image is already built and validated. Deployment was simply a matter of downloading the image and starting the container.
Another outcome is infrastructure consolidation and cost reductions. With Docker Swarm and CentOS, I consolidated multiple client applications onto a single VPS that previously required separate servers, resulting in a direct reduction in monthly infrastructure costs because we went from paying for multiple instances to optimizing resource usage on a single, well-sized server. Additionally, there was a reduction of post-deployment incidents and on-team adoptions.
The most concrete impacts regarding the reduction in post-deployment incidents are three. First, deployment times dropped from two to three hours to minutes by eliminating manual preparation of the environment. Second, I consolidated multiple applications on a single VPS with Docker Swarm, directly reducing the monthly infrastructure costs. Third, incidents due to environment differences between development and production practically disappeared, which reduced my post-deployment troubleshooting time and allowed me to focus on pipeline improvements.
What is most valuable?
The best features Docker on CentOS offers are true portability between environments, process insulation, resource efficiencies compared to VMs, and seamless pipeline integrations in the foundation for scaling.
I can be quite specific on both points because I experienced them firsthand. On portability, it accelerates deployments. On efficiency, it reduces infrastructure costs. The clearest example was at CapRover on CentOS VPS. Before containerization, each client application required its own server or at least its own VM, which multiplied costs. With Docker Swarm, I consolidated several applications onto the same VPS. The impact on the team was that the development team gained confidence in deployments because the environment was no longer a variable. There were no more surprises in production due to configuration differences. This reduced the time I spent troubleshooting post-deployment and allowed me to focus on pipeline improvements instead of putting out fires.
What needs improvement?
From my experience, there are a few areas where things got tricky working with Docker on CentOS: SE Linux conflicts, other networking configurations, storage driver compatibility, and deployment tools.
I can go deeper on both. On networking, a concrete case at NT Comunicaciones involved a situation where after installing Docker on CentOS, the containers could communicate internally but could not reach external services. The issue was that Docker creates its own iptables and rules, but firewalld was overwriting them on every reload. Every time firewalld restarted, container connectivity broke silently. The fix was to configure Docker to work alongside firewalld properly and set specific zones to allow Docker bridge traffic.
It took me a while to diagnose because the error was not obvious; containers appeared to be running fine, but network calls were just timing out. On storage, a concrete case with device-mapper on an older CentOS setup had me hit a situation where the storage pool ran out of space silently. Docker did not throw a clear error. Containers just started behaving unexpectedly, some failing to write logs, others crashing on startups.
The diagnostic was not straightforward because on the surface, it looked like an application issue. Once I identified it was the device-mapper thin pool hitting its limit, I had to extend it manually, which required stopping services temporarily. After that, I migrated to overlay2 with a kernel update, and the storage management became much more transparent and easier to monitor. The common pattern in both cases is that on CentOS, Docker does not fail loudly. Issues with networking and storage tend to manifest as application misbehavior rather than clear infrastructure errors, which makes the troubleshooting cycle longer if you do not know where to look first.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working in my current field for one year.
What other advice do I have?
There are two additional points that I think are relevant to mention based on practical experience. First is container-level security management. In CentOS, especially the integration of Docker on CentOS with SE Linux caught my attention because it adds an extra layer of security at the operating system level. SE Linux controls what each container can do at the kernel level, limiting the impact if a container is compromised. Initially, it created conflicts that had to be resolved with specific policies, but once configured correctly, it gave me greater peace of mind in production environments. The second point is volumes and data persistence.
Docker on CentOS itself does not produce AI output; it is the runtime environment. What I can speak to is how the container environment impacts the accuracy and reliability of the AI workloads running inside it. On reliability, in my experience at Pacifico Seguros running custom agents with a Copilot inside containerized environments, the big gain is consistency. The model or agent always runs in the exact same environment regardless of where the container is deployed. That eliminates a whole category of reliability issues caused by dependency drift or environment differences that could affect how the AI component behaves.
On accuracy being affected by the container, I did notice a challenge around resource constraints. If the container running an AI workload had tight memory or CPU limits, inference times, and in some cases, responses were incomplete or timed out. Tuning the resource limits in the deployment manifest was critical to ensure the AI component had enough headroom to produce reliable output consistently. On observability, another challenge was monitoring what was happening inside the container when the AI agents are executing. I addressed this by integrating Azure Monitor and Application Insights to capture logs and metrics from inside the container, which gave me visibility into response times, failure rates, and resource consumption patterns of the AI workload.
Based on my experience, I would give three concrete pieces of advice. First, understand CentOS before Docker on CentOS. Second, invest in your pipeline from day one. Third, plan for observability before you hit production. One final thought is that if you are starting fresh today, evaluate whether CentOS is still the right choice given its end-of-life situation. I give this review a rating of seven out of ten.