Introduction

The Docker Certified Associate (DCA) certification is a globally recognized credential that demonstrates expertise in Docker containerization, orchestration, and deployment. This 5-day intensive training course is designed for IT professionals who wish to enhance their skills in managing containerized applications and services. The course covers Docker’s core functionality, working with images and containers, orchestration using Docker Swarm and Kubernetes, and container security. It prepares participants to take and pass the DCA exam, helping them advance their careers in DevOps and containerization technologies.

Course Objectives

By the end of this training, participants will:

1. Understand Docker architecture and concepts, including containers, images, and volumes.
2. Gain the ability to deploy, manage, and scale containerized applications.
3. Learn how to use Docker Compose for multi-container environments.
4. Master container networking and storage management in Docker.
5. Be fully prepared to take the Docker Certified Associate exam and gain a recognized credential in container management.

Who Should Attend?

This course is ideal for:

• DevOps engineers, system administrators, and software engineers who want to master Docker and containerization.
• Professionals preparing for the Docker Certified Associate (DCA) exam.
• IT teams looking to implement containerized applications and streamline their deployment pipelines.
• Individuals who want to improve their understanding of Docker and container orchestration in production environments.

Day 1: Introduction to Docker and Core Concepts

• Session 1: Introduction to Docker and Containerization

  • What is Docker? Understanding containers and the Docker ecosystem
  • Differences between traditional virtualization and containerization
  • Overview of Docker components: Docker Engine, Docker CLI, Docker Hub, and Docker Daemon
  • Use cases for Docker: Development, testing, deployment, and CI/CD pipelines

• Session 2: Docker Installation and Configuration

  • Installing Docker on Linux, macOS, and Windows platforms
  • Configuring Docker daemon and Docker client
  • Verifying installation: docker info, docker version, and docker run
  • Working with Docker’s default configuration files: /etc/docker/daemon.json

• Session 3: Docker Containers and Images

  • Understanding Docker containers: Lifecycle, state, and isolation
  • Working with containers: docker run, docker ps, docker stop, and docker rm
  • Introduction to Docker images: Building, pulling, and managing images
  • Understanding Dockerfiles: Syntax, commands, and creating custom images

Day 2: Docker Networking and Storage Management

• Session 4: Docker Networking Concepts

  • Introduction to Docker networking: Bridge, host, and overlay networks
  • Configuring Docker networks and inspecting containers’ network settings
  • Creating custom Docker networks: docker network create and docker network connect
  • Exposing ports and configuring port mapping for containerized applications

• Session 5: Docker Volumes and Persistent Storage

  • Understanding Docker volumes: Types of volumes (local, named, and anonymous)
  • Managing Docker volumes: Creating, mounting, and deleting volumes
  • Best practices for storing data persistently in containers
  • Using bind mounts for container access to local files and directories

• Session 6: Container Security Basics

  • Docker security principles: Image security, container isolation, and user privileges
  • Implementing user namespaces, limiting container capabilities, and Seccomp profiles
  • Best practices for securing Docker containers: Minimizing attack surface and using trusted images
  • Using Docker Content Trust (DCT) to enforce image signing and integrity

Day 3: Docker Compose and Orchestration

• Session 7: Introduction to Docker Compose

  • Overview of Docker Compose: Purpose and use cases for multi-container environments
  • Defining services and networks with docker-compose.yml files
  • Running multi-container applications with docker-compose up and docker-compose down
  • Managing services with Compose: Scaling, logging, and debugging applications

• Session 8: Orchestrating Containers with Docker Swarm

  • Introduction to Docker Swarm: Clustering and orchestrating containers with Swarm mode
  • Creating and managing Swarm clusters: docker swarm init and docker swarm join
  • Deploying services in Swarm mode: Replicas, placement constraints, and rolling updates
  • Networking in Swarm mode: Overlay networks and service discovery

• Session 9: Docker Swarm Advanced Features

  • Managing secret and config management with Docker Swarm
  • Using Docker Stack for deploying multi-service applications
  • Handling scaling and fault tolerance in Swarm mode
  • Monitoring and troubleshooting Docker Swarm clusters

Day 4: Kubernetes Overview and Containerization Best Practices

• Session 10: Introduction to Kubernetes and its Relation to Docker

  • Overview of Kubernetes: The leading container orchestration platform
  • Kubernetes vs. Docker Swarm: Key differences and use cases
  • How Docker and Kubernetes work together in modern application deployment
  • Basic Kubernetes concepts: Pods, deployments, services, and namespaces

• Session 11: Best Practices for Managing Containers

  • Container lifecycle management: Creating, updating, and scaling containers
  • Efficient Dockerfile practices: Optimizing images and building efficient layers
  • Understanding and managing container logs and monitoring
  • CI/CD pipelines with Docker: Automating deployments and integration

• Session 12: Troubleshooting Docker Containers

  • Diagnosing and fixing common container issues: Resource limits, performance problems, and network connectivity
  • Using Docker logs and docker inspect for troubleshooting
  • Best practices for handling container failures and restarting containers
  • Debugging and handling container runtime issues

Day 5: DCA Exam Preparation and Final Review

• Session 13: Exam Review and Key Topic Recap

  • Comprehensive review of key Docker concepts: Containers, images, networking, and storage
  • Overview of Docker Compose, Docker Swarm, and Kubernetes essentials
  • Best practices for securing and optimizing Docker environments

• Session 14: DCA Practice Exam and Hands-On Lab

  • Simulating the Docker Certified Associate exam: Practice exam questions and answers
  • Hands-on troubleshooting: Solving real-world Docker-related issues in a live environment
  • Group-based problem-solving: Working on advanced Docker deployment and configuration challenges

• Session 15: Final Q&A and Exam Preparation Tips

  • Final Q&A session to clarify any lingering questions
  • Tips for tackling the DCA exam: Time management, understanding the exam format, and tackling scenario-based questions
  • Post-exam: How to continue your learning journey and grow your Docker expertise