This script setup a fresh Ubuntu 16.04 server (Linode Image) with Custom Kernel compiled specially for Docker. It was hassle because you need special kernel modules to have a valid Docker installation.

To check the needed kernel modules run:

wget -q https://raw.githubusercontent.com/docker/docker/master/contrib/check-config.sh -O - | bash

Create stackscript with Ubuntu 16.04 LTS & this script:

#!/bin/bash

#<UDF name="hostname" label="The hostname for the new Linode.">
# HOSTNAME=
#<UDF name="fqdn" label="The new Linode's Fully Qualified Domain Name">
# FQDN=
#<UDF name="sudo_user" Label="User with sudo" />
# SUDO_USER=
#<UDF name="sudo_user_pass" Label="Sudo user password" />
# SUDO_USER_PASS=
#<UDF name="sudo_user_pubkey" Label="Sudo user public key" />
# SUDO_USER_PUBKEY=

set -e
set -x

wget -q https://raw.githubusercontent.com/laithshadeed/linode-stackscripts/master/setup-docker-server.sh -O - | /bin/bash
touch /tmp/provisioned-successfully

You could also run directly inside your server shell:

HOSTNAME=your_host
FQDN=your_fqdn
SUDO_USER=your_user
SUDO_USER_PASS=your_pass
SUDO_USER_PUBKEY='your_pub_key'
wget -q https://raw.githubusercontent.com/laithshadeed/linode-stackscripts/master/setup-docker-server.sh -O - | /bin/bash

• Create 'Linode 81920' (Yes I know, it is expensive, but will we just need it for 10-15 min ~ 1 $) Compiling the Kernal will talk long time. I suggest the following
• Set profile label: 'Ubuntu 16.04-4.9.12 Docker 1.12.3'
• Click 'Rebuild' with your Stackscript or with Ubuntu 16.04. Make sure to choose small disk size ~ 10GB
• It will take 2-3 min to setup (including Kernel compilation). Rename the Disk to 'Ubuntu 16.04-4.9.12 Docker 1.12.3'
• Go back and edit your profile. Now set 'Kernel' dropdown menu to 'Grub2' & Disable 'Network Helper'
• Save & Reboot. Now your Linode should reboot into the newly compiled kernel, 4.9.12.
• To verify. Login and run: uname -a. Confirm your docker is running: ps aux | grep docker
• Now your disk is ready. Shutdown your Linode.
• Go to your Disk. Click 'Create Image'
• Now you can resize your linode to smaller size or delete it and create new one with that new image.
• When you create new linode. You need to always choose 'Grub2' for kernel and your newly create disk or image.
• Enjoy!

Check this page for some visual explanation.

• This script is only tested with Ubuntu 16.04 + Upstream Kernel 4.9.12
  • Docker 1.12.3
• You can try different version by modifying DOCKER_VERSION & KERNEL_VERSION in setup-docker-server.sh
• The script do an apt-mark hold to freeze linux-image-generic, linux-headers-generic, grub-pc, console-setup, docker-engine versions from being upgraded.
• It is not designed to run many times. It assumed to be run only one time.

• Check out Ubuntu Build Kernel Wiki for possibly better way to build the Kernel.