Docker container installation

Deploying Pi-hole with Docker extends beyond typical Raspberry Pi usage, but it’s entirely possible. If you have an existing server and want to set up a Pi-hole instance quickly, Docker makes it straightforward.

Using Docker offers several advantages: it simplifies installation by reducing manual setup, enhances portability by enabling deployment on various platforms beyond the Raspberry Pi, and ensures isolation, minimising conflicts with other services. Additionally, updating Pi-hole becomes as easy as pulling a new Docker image and restarting the container. If you already run Docker containers, adding Pi-hole requires minimal additional system resources.

Pi-hole can be deployed with minimal configuration using Docker. Here’s a basic setup using docker-compose:

   services:
     pihole:
       container_name: pihole
       image: pihole/pihole:latest
       ports:
         - "53:53/tcp"
         - "53:53/udp"
         - "80:80/tcp"
       environment:
         TZ: 'America/Chicago'
         # WEBPASSWORD: 'set-a-secure-password'
       volumes:
         - './etc-pihole:/etc/pihole'
         - './etc-dnsmasq.d:/etc/dnsmasq.d'
       restart: unless-stopped

For persistent storage, the configuration files are mapped to local volumes. After saving as docker-compose.yml, run:

   docker compose up -d

Key considerations:

• Set a secure password via WEBPASSWORD environment variable
• Ensure port 53 is available (may require disabling local DNS services)
• Use --net=host instead of port mapping if planning to use DHCP
• Access the web interface at http://pi.hole/admin post-installation

The container automatically restarts unless explicitly stopped, maintaining continuous ad-blocking service across system reboots.