Install Docker with Ansible on Ubuntu (Official Repo + Docker Compose)

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If you're managing infrastructure with Ansible, installing Docker the right way — using Docker's official apt repository — ensures you're getting the latest stable version.

This post walks you through setting up Docker + Docker Compose on Ubuntu entirely via Ansible.

What This Playbook Does

• Updates APT cache
• Installs required dependencies
• Adds Docker's official GPG key and APT repo
• Installs Docker CE, CLI, Compose, Buildx, and Containerd
• Enables and starts the Docker daemon
• Adds your user (ubuntu) to the docker group so you don’t need sudo for every Docker command

Ansible Playbook: install-docker.yml

---
- name: Install Docker on Ubuntu using official Docker repo
  hosts: all
  become: true

  tasks:
    - name: Update apt cache
      ansible.builtin.apt:
        update_cache: yes

    - name: Ensure dependencies are installed
      ansible.builtin.package:
        name:
          - bc
          - curl
          - expect
          - git
          - ca-certificates
        state: present

    - name: Create Docker GPG key directory
      ansible.builtin.file:
        path: /etc/apt/keyrings
        state: directory
        mode: "0755"

    - name: Download Docker's official GPG key
      ansible.builtin.get_url:
        url: https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu/gpg
        dest: /etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc
        mode: "0644"

    - name: Add Docker repository to Apt sources
      ansible.builtin.apt_repository:
        repo: "deb [arch={{ ansible_architecture }} signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/docker.asc] https://download.docker.com/linux/ubuntu {{ ansible_distribution_release }} stable"
        state: present
        filename: docker

    - name: Update apt cache after adding Docker repository
      ansible.builtin.apt:
        update_cache: yes

    - name: Install Docker and Docker Compose
      ansible.builtin.package:
        name:
          - docker-ce
          - docker-ce-cli
          - containerd.io
          - docker-buildx-plugin
          - docker-compose-plugin
        state: present

    - name: Ensure Docker service is enabled and started
      ansible.builtin.service:
        name: docker
        state: started
        enabled: yes

    - name: Add ubuntu user to docker group
      ansible.builtin.user:
        name: ubuntu
        groups: docker
        append: yes

After Running the Playbook

Once this finishes:

• Logout and log back in to apply the group change.
• Confirm everything works:

docker --version
docker compose version
docker run hello-world

Why Use This Over apt install docker.io?

• You get the latest Docker packages direct from Docker Inc.
• It includes Buildx and Docker Compose v2 (plugin style).
• Cleaner integration with CI/CD, servers, and dev boxes.

How to Run

ansible-playbook -i inventory install-docker.yml

Use your own inventory/host setup as needed.

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