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Ace Skills Consulting
Mirantis (Docker Certified Associate) logoIntermediate

Docker Containers (DCA-aligned)

Build, ship and run containers with confidence, from your first Dockerfile to a secured multi-node cluster.

  • 24 hours of live, trainer-led sessions
  • Every learner gets a multi-node lab environment
  • Dockerfile best practices and image hardening
  • Networking, volumes and Swarm orchestration
  • Practice questions with review
Aligned to Mirantis (Docker Certified Associate) exam DCA
Duration
3 Days | 24 Hrs
Next batch
Batches on request
Delivery
Live Online · Onsite · Corporate
Level
Intermediate
Exam
DCA
Language
English

Why learn DCA with Ace Skills

  • Containers from first principles

    Understand namespaces, layers and the engine so troubleshooting stops being guesswork.

  • Command-line fluency

    Spend most of each day in a terminal building, running and debugging real containers.

  • Secure by default

    Learn to harden images, manage secrets and scan for vulnerabilities from day one.

  • Networking that makes sense

    See how bridge and overlay networks actually route traffic between containers and hosts.

Course overview

Containers are now the default way to package and ship software, and almost every DevOps, cloud and platform role expects you to use them fluently. This three-day course takes you from container basics to running secure, orchestrated services across several nodes.

Day one covers the container model and the Docker engine: installation and configuration, the image and container lifecycle, writing efficient Dockerfiles with multi-stage builds, and working with registries. You will build and tag images for a sample application and push them to a private registry.

Day two goes deeper into networking and storage. You will compare bridge, host and overlay networks, publish ports, use bind mounts and volumes, and troubleshoot connectivity between containers. Security runs alongside: least-privilege containers, secrets, image scanning, content trust and engine configuration.

Day three introduces orchestration with Docker Swarm — services, stacks, rolling updates, placement and health checks — and Docker Compose for local multi-container development. It closes with logging, troubleshooting and an exam readiness session.

This course is aligned to the Docker Certified Associate (DCA) exam domains. Exam availability and delivery have changed over time, so please confirm the current status with the exam provider before booking; the skills taught apply whether or not you sit the exam.

Key features

  • Multi-node lab environment for every learner
  • Multi-stage builds and image size optimisation
  • Private registry, tagging and image scanning
  • Overlay networking and persistent storage labs
  • Swarm services, stacks and rolling updates
  • Course completion certificate from Ace Skills Consulting
  • Post-training doubt support

Who should attend

  • Developers packaging applications in containers
  • System administrators supporting container platforms
  • DevOps and build engineers
  • Engineers preparing for Kubernetes training

Prerequisites

  • Comfort with the Linux command line
  • Basic networking knowledge (IP, ports, DNS)
  • Some experience deploying or supporting applications

Curriculum

3 Days · 24 Hours · 11 Modules · 8 Labs

  1. Container fundamentals

    • Containers vs virtual machines
    • Namespaces and cgroups
    • Engine architecture
    • Installing and configuring the engine
    • Lab: Install Docker and configure the daemon · 35 min

    Container lifecycle

    • Run, stop, inspect and remove
    • Restart policies
    • Resource limits
    • Logs and exec

    Building images

    • Dockerfile instructions
    • Layer caching
    • Multi-stage builds
    • Image tagging and labels
    • Reducing image size
    • Lab: Build a multi-stage image for a web app · 55 min

    Registries

    • Docker Hub and private registries
    • Pushing and pulling
    • Image digests
    • Lab: Run a private registry and push images · 35 min

  2. Networking

    • Bridge, host and none networks
    • User-defined networks and DNS
    • Port publishing
    • Overlay networks
    • Lab: Connect a three-tier app across networks · 50 min

    Storage

    • Bind mounts vs volumes
    • Volume drivers
    • tmpfs
    • Backing up volume data
    • Lab: Persist database data with volumes · 35 min

    Security

    • Running as non-root
    • Capabilities and read-only filesystems
    • Secrets
    • Image scanning
    • Content trust and signing
    • Lab: Harden and scan an image · 45 min

  3. Docker Compose

    • Compose file structure
    • Multi-container development
    • Environment configuration
    • Lab: Describe an app stack in Compose · 35 min

    Swarm orchestration

    • Managers and workers
    • Services and replicas
    • Stacks
    • Rolling updates and rollback
    • Placement constraints
    • Swarm secrets and configs
    • Lab: Deploy and update a stack on a three-node Swarm · 60 min

    Operations

    • Logging drivers
    • Health checks
    • Troubleshooting failed containers

    Exam readiness

    • Domain review
    • Question styles
    • Practice questions with review
Download full syllabus (PDF)

Skills you will gain

  • Docker Engine
  • Dockerfiles
  • Multi-stage builds
  • Container registries
  • Container networking
  • Volumes
  • Container security
  • Docker Compose
  • Docker Swarm
  • Troubleshooting

Tools & technologies

  • Docker Engine
  • Docker CLI
  • Docker Compose
  • Docker Swarm
  • Container registry
  • Image scanner
  • Linux

Certification exam

Exam details
Exam nameDocker Certified Associate (DCA)
Exam codeDCA
Voucher includedNo — book directly with the vendor

Skill areas measured

  1. Orchestration
  2. Image creation, management and registry
  3. Installation and configuration
  4. Networking
  5. Security
  6. Storage and volumes

Exam details are pending verification. Vendors change exams; confirm on the official vendor page before booking.

Schedule & Pricing

Live Online

Individual

Price on request

  • 24 hours of live, trainer-led sessions
  • 8 hands-on labs
  • Ace Skills course completion certificate

Onsite

At your office or our centre

Pricing depends on location, group size and dates.

  • Delivered at your premises or an Ace centre
  • Same curriculum and labs as live online
  • Dates planned around your team

Corporate / Team

Private batch for your organisation

A private batch with content adapted to your environment and goals.

  • Customised curriculum
  • Private batch, online or onsite
  • Progress and assessment reports
  • GST invoice and PO-based billing

No public batches scheduled — Talk to an Advisor for a private batch.

Projects & labs you will build

  • Day 1 · 55 min

    Build a multi-stage image for a web app

  • Day 2 · 45 min

    Harden and scan an image

  • Day 3 · 60 min

    Deploy and update a stack on a three-node Swarm

Your certificate

Certificate of Completion — Ace Skills Consulting

Awarded on completing the course. It records the course title and training hours, and you can share it on your LinkedIn profile.

The Mirantis (Docker Certified Associate) certification itself is awarded by Mirantis (Docker Certified Associate) when you pass exam DCA.

Frequently asked questions

Is the DCA exam still available?

Availability has changed over the years, so we confirm the current status with you before enrolment. The course is valuable on its own as a foundation for Kubernetes and DevOps work.

Do I need to install anything?

No. Lab machines are provided in the cloud and you connect through a browser or SSH.

Does this course cover Kubernetes?

It focuses on Docker and Swarm. Kubernetes is covered in our CKA and CKAD courses, which this course prepares you for.

Is it suitable for developers?

Yes. Developers get the most from the image-building and Compose sections, and operators from networking, security and Swarm.

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Docker is a trademark of Docker, Inc. Docker Certified Associate is administered by Mirantis, Inc.

Train your team on DCA

Private batches online or at your office in India and the GCC, with a curriculum adapted to your environment.