--- title: "How to install Portainer to manage Docker on a VPS | StreetHosting" description: "Manage Docker from a web panel with Portainer: install it, secure it with HTTPS and a strong password, and handle images, volumes and networks without the CLI." url: "https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-portainer-docker-vps" type: "page" language: "en-US" --- VPS · 3 min · Intermediate Published on Jun 17, 2026 · Updated on Jun 17, 2026 # Portainer for managing Docker on a VPS Memorizing Docker commands gets tiring. Portainer gives you a web panel to start, stop and inspect containers, read logs and manage volumes. Here is how to install it securely. By [Equipe StreetHosting](https://streethosting.com.br/en/autores#equipe-streethosting) · StreetHosting infrastructure and support team [Containers and Docker](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/topics/docker) Summarize with: [](https://chat.openai.com/?q=Summarize%20the%20key%20points%20of%20this%20StreetHosting%20guide%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fvps%2Finstall-portainer-docker-vps.%20Highlight%20the%20step-by-step%20instructions%2C%20the%20prerequisites%20and%20the%20most%20common%20mistakes. "ChatGPT") [](https://claude.ai/new?q=Summarize%20the%20key%20points%20of%20this%20StreetHosting%20guide%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fvps%2Finstall-portainer-docker-vps.%20Highlight%20the%20step-by-step%20instructions%2C%20the%20prerequisites%20and%20the%20most%20common%20mistakes. "Claude") [](https://www.google.com/search?udm=50&aep=11&q=Summarize%20the%20key%20points%20of%20this%20StreetHosting%20guide%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fvps%2Finstall-portainer-docker-vps.%20Highlight%20the%20step-by-step%20instructions%2C%20the%20prerequisites%20and%20the%20most%20common%20mistakes. "Google AI Mode") [](https://x.com/i/grok?text=Summarize%20the%20key%20points%20of%20this%20StreetHosting%20guide%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fvps%2Finstall-portainer-docker-vps.%20Highlight%20the%20step-by-step%20instructions%2C%20the%20prerequisites%20and%20the%20most%20common%20mistakes. "Grok") [](https://www.perplexity.ai/search/new?q=Summarize%20the%20key%20points%20of%20this%20StreetHosting%20guide%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fvps%2Finstall-portainer-docker-vps.%20Highlight%20the%20step-by-step%20instructions%2C%20the%20prerequisites%20and%20the%20most%20common%20mistakes. "Perplexity") Share: [](https://x.com/intent/tweet?text=How%20to%20install%20Portainer%20to%20manage%20Docker%20on%20a%20VPS&url=https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fvps%2Finstall-portainer-docker-vps "Share on X") [](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fvps%2Finstall-portainer-docker-vps "Share on Facebook") [](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fvps%2Finstall-portainer-docker-vps "Share on LinkedIn") [](https://wa.me/?text=How%20to%20install%20Portainer%20to%20manage%20Docker%20on%20a%20VPS%20https%3A%2F%2Fstreethosting.com.br%2Fen%2Fguides%2Fvps%2Finstall-portainer-docker-vps "Share on WhatsApp") For agents: Copy as Markdown [.md](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-portainer-docker-vps.md) In this guide 5 sections * [What Portainer is](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-portainer-docker-vps#o-que-e) * [Prerequisites](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-portainer-docker-vps#pre-requisitos) * [Install](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-portainer-docker-vps#instalar) * [Panel security](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-portainer-docker-vps#seguranca) * [Daily use](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-portainer-docker-vps#uso-diario) Quick answer To install **Portainer**, get Docker running, start Portainer as a container with a data volume and, on the first login, create an administrator with a strong password. Protect the panel with HTTPS and restricted access, because it controls all your containers. From there, you manage everything from the browser. ## What Portainer is[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-portainer-docker-vps#o-que-e) Portainer is a web panel for Docker. Instead of memorizing commands, you start, stop and inspect containers from the browser, watch logs in real time and manage images, volumes and networks. It is the natural complement for anyone who already knows [Docker on Ubuntu](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-docker-ubuntu-vps) and wants speed in daily work. ## Prerequisites[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-portainer-docker-vps#pre-requisitos) * Docker installed and active on the VPS * Domain pointed at the VPS if you will use HTTPS * Firewall allowing only the necessary ports * Strong password ready for the administrator ## Install[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-portainer-docker-vps#instalar) 1. Create a volume for the Portainer data. 2. Start Portainer as a container pointing at that volume. 3. Open the panel in the browser on the port you defined. 4. Create the administrator with a strong password on the first login. Set the administrator right on the first login. If the initial screen stays open too long, anyone on the network can create the administrator account before you do. ## Panel security[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-portainer-docker-vps#seguranca) Whoever gets into Portainer controls every container and can reach data and secrets. Treat access as critical: HTTPS, a strong password and access only for trusted IPs. Put the panel behind an [Nginx reverse proxy with HTTPS](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/nginx-reverse-proxy-vps) instead of exposing the port directly. This adds encryption and a layer of control. ## Daily use[](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-portainer-docker-vps#uso-diario) Day to day, Portainer speeds up starting and updating services, checking logs and inspecting what each container consumes. Pair it with [resource monitoring](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/monitor-vps-resources-htop-netdata) to see the machine's overall usage. To run many containers with room to spare, check out the [Ryzen VPS](https://streethosting.com.br/en/vps/ryzen). In this guide * [What Portainer is](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-portainer-docker-vps#o-que-e) * [Prerequisites](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-portainer-docker-vps#pre-requisitos) * [Install](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-portainer-docker-vps#instalar) * [Panel security](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-portainer-docker-vps#seguranca) * [Daily use](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-portainer-docker-vps#uso-diario) ## Frequently asked questions Does Portainer replace the Docker command line? For day-to-day work, largely yes. It covers starting, stopping, inspecting and reading container logs from the browser. For advanced tasks the command line is still useful, but the panel removes a lot of friction. Is it safe to leave Portainer exposed? Not without protection. It controls all your containers, so it requires HTTPS, a strong password and restricted access. Exposed carelessly, it becomes a direct path to compromising the whole VPS. Do I need to know Docker to use Portainer? It helps a lot to understand the concepts of container, image and volume. Portainer makes the actions easier, but you still need to know what you are doing so you do not create insecure containers. Can Portainer manage multiple servers? Yes. It can manage more than one Docker environment from a single panel, which is useful when you have several VPS running containers and want to centralize operations. Next step See VPS plans Root VPS in Brazil with NVMe and Anti-DDoS. [See VPS plans](https://streethosting.com.br/en/vps) [See Ryzen VPS Ryzen 9 9950X VPS in São Paulo with root access, NVMe and gamer Anti-DDoS.](https://streethosting.com.br/en/vps/ryzen) [See Xeon VPS Xeon VPS for steady workloads, automation and long-running projects.](https://streethosting.com.br/en/vps/xeon) ## Related guides [VPS Intermediate How to install Docker on Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04 on a VPS (straight to the point) A stable Docker install on an Ubuntu VPS depends on the right package source and step by step validation. In this guide you set up the official repository, install Engine and Compose, test the daemon and apply basic security measures before deploying applications. 3 min Read guide](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/install-docker-ubuntu-vps) [VPS Intermediate How to set up Nginx as a reverse proxy on a VPS Your app runs on an internal port and you want to serve it on a domain with HTTPS. Nginx as a reverse proxy solves that and also brings several apps together in one place. 3 min Read guide](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/nginx-reverse-proxy-vps) [VPS Intermediate How to monitor VPS resources with htop and Netdata You only know you need a bigger plan once you can see the numbers. htop gives you a quick snapshot in the terminal, and Netdata gives you a full dashboard with CPU, RAM and disk history. 3 min Read guide](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides/vps/monitor-vps-resources-htop-netdata) [← Back to the Guide Center](https://streethosting.com.br/en/guides)