Docker CE vs EE on RHEL Server
Hello everyone,
My team is planning to deploy an application onto a system hosted on RHEL 7. We are planning to package the application as Docker containers. Our question is that whether can we run Docker for free or do we have to pay the license of Docker EE. The cause of confusion is the following:
https://docs.docker.com/engine/installation/linux/docker-ee/rhel/
https://www.docker.com/docker-red-hat-enterprise-linux-rhel
The documents on the above URLs clearly state that only Docker EE is supported on RHEL systems and an enrollment is required. However the following URL is a perfectly working step-by-step guide provided by redhat.com to install Docker on RHEL 7 and Atomic Host:
https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-us/red_hat_enterprise_linux_atomic_host/7/html-single/getting_started_with_containers/#get_started_with_docker_formatted_container_images
Can someone please help what are the exact license conditions for Docker on RHEL - can we use it just by installing it from the rhel-7-*-rpms repos or is it mandatory to obtain a Docker EE license? Thanks for all the help.
Responses
Guru
6222 points
Hi Gabor,
If the Docker functionality provided by RHEL or Atomic suites your needs, you do not have to buy a license from Docker. You paid the subscription for RHEL or Atomic and that is all.
Kind regards,
Jan Gerrit
Hello Gabor,
The documents from Docker Inc. refer to support coming from Docker Inc, not support provided by Red Hat.
In order to receive support from Red Hat, you would need to use the 'docker' or 'docker-latest' packages shipped and maintained by Red Hat, not the docker-ee package. Support for running either of the docker packages from the RHEL Extras repo is included with any RHEL Server subscription.
There is more information on this in the following articles:
What is the difference between the docker, docker-latest, and the upstream packages?
Red Hat Container Support Policy
If you have any further questions regarding docker support on RHEL, please feel free to please open a case and we'll be more than happy to address any questions or concerns you have.
Welcome! Check out the Getting Started with Red Hat page for quick tours and guides for common tasks.