Yes! ProVide Server is available as a Docker container, bringing the full power of the platform to any Linux-based infrastructure. From a Raspberry Pi at a branch office to an enterprise Kubernetes cluster in the cloud, the same container image runs identically everywhere.
What is Docker and why does it matter? #
Docker is the industry-standard way to package and deploy server software. Instead of installing an application directly onto an operating system – managing dependencies, library versions, and configuration drift – Docker wraps everything into a self-contained container that runs identically on any compatible host.
Container adoption has become the default for modern IT infrastructure. Over 92% of IT professionals use Docker, and more than 90% of public cloud workloads run on Linux. By supporting Docker, ProVide Server meets customers where their infrastructure already is.
How ProVide runs on Linux via Docker #
ProVide Server is a native Windows application. The Docker container runs it on Linux using Wine, a mature compatibility layer that translates Windows API calls into Linux system calls.
This means customers receive the full, unmodified ProVide Server binary – not a separate Linux port with a reduced feature set or a different release schedule. Every update released for Windows is immediately available on Docker.
Key technical characteristics of the container:
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Base image | Ubuntu with Wine pre-installed |
| Operation mode | Headless- all configuration via web interface |
| Graceful shutdown | Sends SHUTDOWN via API before stopping; 90-second grace period for in-flight transfers |
| Health checks | Monitors API port (3145) and HTTPS port (8443) |
| Restart policy | unless-stopped– automatic recovery from failures |
| Upgrades | Re-run setup script; data and config in mounted volume, never in the image |
Supported platforms and environments #
ProVide Server on Docker runs on any Linux host with Docker and Docker Compose installed:
| Environment | Examples |
|---|---|
| Public cloud | AWS EC2, Azure VM, Google Compute Engine |
| Container orchestration | Kubernetes, Amazon ECS, Azure Container Instances |
| Enterprise Linux | RHEL, Ubuntu Server, Debian, SUSE, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux |
| On-premises | VMware, Proxmox, Hyper-V (Linux guest), bare metal |
| Edge and small devices | Raspberry Pi, Synology NAS, QNAP, TrueNAS, Intel NUC |
| Developer machines | Apple Silicon Macs via Docker Desktop (x86 emulation automatic) |
Full feature parity with Windows #
Because the Docker container runs the same binary, all ProVide features are available except Active Directory Integration, this is not a limitation in ProVide but by the way it runs on Linux.
- All protocols: SFTP, FTPS, HTTPS, FTP, WebDAV
- Web administration interface
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and Single Sign-On (SSO)
- Virtual filesystem, virtual users, and group management
- Event triggers, scripting, and API access
- Clustering and ProVide Gateway support
- Full audit logging and anti-hammering
Deployment guides #
The following guides cover the full Docker deployment lifecycle and are available in the Advanced Guides section:
