How to install TeamSpeak with Docker

With Docker, you can create TeamSpeak server instances and perform updates quickly and easily. Our instructions contain all the necessary installation steps that you need.

What is the advantage of using TeamSpeak in Docker?

TeamSpeak is a popular voice-over-IP platform (VoIP for short) used for real-time communication. If you want to run TeamSpeak on Linux, Docker is an optimal way to install and manage your own TeamSpeak server. Container technology offers isolation, portability, rapid deployment, resource efficiency, versioning and security, simplifying server management and increasing flexibility.

How to install a TeamSpeak server on Linux with Docker

Before installing the TeamSpeak server, you should check that Docker is available on your Linux system. Docker is a containerisation technology that makes it possible to run applications and their dependencies in isolated containers. If Docker is not installed on your system, you can download it from the official Docker website.

Step 1: Update system and install curl

First you should update your system. If you want to access the Docker installation script, you’ll also need the curl method.

apt update
apt upgrade
apt install curl

Step 2: Install Docker

To install and run Docker on a Linux server, open a terminal and enter the following commands:

curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com -o get-docker.sh
sudo sh get-docker.sh

Once installed, you can start the Docker service and set it to activate automatically every time the system starts up:

sudo systemctl start docker
sudo systemctl enable docker

Step 3: Install Docker Compose

Docker Compose is a helpful tool for organising Docker containers, especially when multiple containers interact with each other. To install Docker Compose, use the following command:

sudo curl -L "https://github.com/docker/compose/releases/latest/download/docker-compose-$(uname -s)-$(uname -m)" -o /usr/local/bin/docker-compose

You can also find detailed information on installing Docker Compose on Ubuntu in our Digital Guide.

Step 4: Create a working directory

Now, create a working directory for your TeamSpeak server and then switch to this directory. The folder serves as a central storage location for all project data and configurations, facilitating administration later on. You can choose the name for the directory.

mkdir teamspeak-server
cd teamspeak-server

Step 5: Configure Docker Compose

Next, create a file named docker-compose.yml in your working directory. This file will contain the configuration for your TeamSpeak Docker container. Use a text editor of your choice to create the docker-compose.yml file and add the following content:

version: '3.1'
services:
    teamspeak:
        image: teamspeak
        restart: always
        ports:
            - 9987:9987/udp
            - 10011:10011
            - 30033:30033
        environment:
            TS3SERVER_LICENSE: accept
        volumes:
            - ./teamspeak-server:/var/ts3server/

This Docker Compose configuration defines a TeamSpeak server container as well as several important settings:

• image: This defines the TeamSpeak Docker image that is used to create the container.
• ports: Here is where the ports are configured that are used to access the TeamSpeak server. TeamSpeak uses the ports 9987/UDP, 10011 and 30033 by default.
• environment: Environment variables have been set up, including the acceptance of the TeamSpeak license via TS3SERVER_LICENSE: accept.
• volumes: A volume has been created to store the TeamSpeak server data.

Step 6: Start the TeamSpeak Docker container

In your working directory, use the following command to start the TeamSpeak server container:

docker-compose up -d

The -d parameter means the container is executed in the background.

Step 7: Retrieve TeamSpeak Server database password

To configure your TeamSpeak server, you need the server admin password. You can retrieve it from the container logs.

docker-compose logs | grep "ServerAdmin privilege key created"

Make a note of the password, as you’ll need it to log in as a server admin.

Step 8: Configure TeamSpeak server

Open your web browser and enter the IP address of your server followed by Port 9987 in the address bar (e.g. http://your_IP:9987). You will be prompted to enter the server admin password. Use the password you received in step 7.

Now you can configure your TeamSpeak server according to your requirements and add users.

Step 9: Secure your data

You should back up your TeamSpeak server data regularly to prevent data loss. You can create a backup of the TeamSpeak Docker volume by entering the following command:

docker run --rm --volumes-from teamspeak-server -v $(pwd):/backup ubuntu tar cvf /backup/teamspeak-backup.tar /var/ts3server

This command creates a backup of the TeamSpeak data directory and saves it as teamspeak-backup.tar in your current directory.

Step 10: Update the TeamSpeak server

TeamSpeak regularly releases updates to improve security and functionality. To keep your TeamSpeak server up to date, you need to update the TeamSpeak Docker image and rebuild the container. Follow the TeamSpeak image release notes to ensure optimal server performance.

Step 11: Configure the firewall

For your TeamSpeak server to work properly, you need to adjust the firewall rules on your Linux server. Open the necessary ports defined in the Docker Compose configuration. This may vary depending on the firewall software you are using, but normally these are ports 9987/UDP, 10011 and 30033.

Summary

Installing a TeamSpeak server with Docker on Linux provides an efficient and well-isolated communication platform for your team. By following the steps above, you can set up and configure your own TeamSpeak server quickly and easily.

Make sure you perform regular backups to protect your data, and keep your TeamSpeak server up to date to benefit from the latest features and security updates. With Docker, managing your TeamSpeak server on Linux is a simple task.