Running DVB-S2 for many years and SAT>IP (think of it as Satellite decoding to rstp) seems to be the way. I’ve not thought about a smaller PC to host my current card and welcome your suggestion. I’d github’d minisatip a few weeks ago and the penny didn’t drop!
I had planned to go for an Enigma2 based device and go from there.
Docker is a method of virtualization on an application level.
You host a container platform on your computer and this allows you to utilise containers.
Example of Containers are applications such as
Plex Sonarr Pihole
Each container is a ‘complete’ platform with all the dependencies included - your container platform supplies Disk/CPU/Ram and network for the Container to function.
Containers can be based on operating systems that are different to your computer.
Using containers mean you have a very easy way of trying an Application without installing to your native operating system.
Let us know if you have a NAS /PC /Server and we can tailor the answer further.
A Thunderbolt cable will handle the required bandwidth from the dock to the laptop.
Your phone, do you expect to pass data via the phone and your laptop (eg photos/videos?) If you do then a USB 3.2 10 Gbps cable would be the most you would need (€25), costs may stear you towards a simple charging cable something around 60w (€10) would be ample BUT you phone may not fast charge due to Samsung’s charging preference.
HDMI 2.1 would be ample for a your monitor (4k resolution at 120fps) and the cost difference between this (€13) and 2.0 (€10) is minimal nowerdays
Ethernet is easy, CAT5e in the colour/length of your choice would supply the potential max 2.5gb Ethernet port you have (€8 for 10meters). Higher the CAT rating the more costly the cable.
Additional Thunderbolt ports would be best used/reserved for high-speed external storage or even a gaming GPU.
The fact your asking about these items shows you should be pretty much covered for the next few years of ‘fitire proofing’