Overview
In this unit, we dive into the modern world of containerization, focusing on Podman—an open-source, daemon-less container engine. As Linux administrators, understanding containerization is crucial for supporting developers, managing production systems, and deploying services efficiently.
We’ll explore what containers are, how to manage them, and how to build container images.
Relevance & Context
Containerization is a critical part of modern IT, powering development pipelines (CI/CD), cloud deployments, and microservices. As Linux system administrators, we are expected to support and troubleshoot containers, manage container infrastructure, and ensure smooth operations across development and production environments.
This unit focuses on Podman, a secure, rootless, and daemon-less alternative to Docker, widely used in enterprise environments like Red Hat and Rocky Linux. Whether you work in a NOC, DevOps, or traditional SysAdmin role, understanding containerization is essential to being an effective part of any IT team.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this unit, you will be able to:
- Explain what containers are and how they fit into modern Linux system administration
- Run and manage Podman containers, including starting, stopping, and inspecting containers
- Build custom container images using Dockerfiles and Podman
- Analyze container processes, logs, and network interactions for troubleshooting
Prerequisites
Before starting Unit 9, you should have:
- Basic understanding of Linux command line and shell operations
- Familiarity with package management and system services on RHEL-based systems (Rocky/Red Hat)
- Root or sudo access to a Linux system (Rocky 9 or equivalent)
- Completed previous units on system administration fundamentals (file permissions, processes, networking)
- Optional but recommended: Initial exposure to virtualization or application deployment concepts
Key Terms and Definitions
Containers
Virtual Machines
Podman
Images
Dockerfiles
Virtualization
Daemon-less