Docker for Windows: Docker is a combination of the platform as a service (PaaS) products that use operating system level virtualization (OS-Level) to deliver software in packages known as containers. The containers are isolated and bundle their software, libraries, and configuration files. They can also communicate with each other via a well-defined channel because containers share the services of a single OS kernel, and they have few resources compared to a virtual machine (VM). Their services have both free and premium trial and the software that host the container is called Docker Engine.
When talking about Docker Desktop installation for Windows, then we are talking about the community version of Docker on Microsoft Windows, which can easily be downloaded from Docker Hub.
You need to do some tasks before installing Docker on your Windows Devices.
System Requirements for Docker Installation
- Windows 10 64-bit: Pro, Enterprise, or Education Build 15063 or later build.
- Hyper-V and Containers Windows features must be enabled.
- The below-listed hardware is required to run the client successfully.
Hyper-V on Windows 10:- 64-bit processor with Second Level Address Translation (SLAT)
- 4GB RAM
- BIOS-level hardware virtualization support must be enabled in the
BIOS settings. For more guidance, see Virtualization.
Docker supports Docker Desktop on Windows based on Microsoft’s support lifecycle for Windows 10 operating systems. For more information, see the Windows lifecycle fact sheet.
Docker Toolbox and Docker Machine users
Microsoft Hyper-V is required to run Docker Desktop. The Docker Desktop Windows installer enables Hyper-V if required and restarts your machine.
When Hyper-V is enabled, VirtualBox will no longer work. However, any existing VirtualBox VM images are retained.
VirtualBox VMs created with docker-machine (including the default one typically created during Toolbox install) no longer start. These VMs cannot be used side-by-side with Docker Desktop. However, you can still use docker-machine to manage remote VMs.
Tools that come with the Installer
The Docker Desktop installation includes Docker Compose, Docker Engine, Docker CLI client, Kitematic, and Docker Machine.
Containers and images created with Docker Desktop are shared between all user accounts on the machines where it is installed. This is because all Windows accounts use the same VM to build and run containers. Nested virtualization scenarios, such as running Docker Desktop on a VMWare or parallels instance, might work, but there are no guarantees.
See Running Docker Desktop in nested virtualization scenarios.
Note: Refer to the Docker compatibility matrix for complete Docker compatibility information with Windows Server.
About Windows Containers
Looking for information on using Windows containers?
- Switch between Windows and Linux
containers
describes how you can toggle between Linux and Windows containers in Docker Desktop and points you to the tutorial mentioned above. - Getting Started with Windows Containers(Lab) provides a tutorial on setting up and running Windows containers on Windows 10, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2019. It shows you how to use a MusicStore application with Windows containers.
- Docker Container Platform for Windows articles and blog
posts on the Docker website.
Install Docker Desktop on Windows
- Double-click Docker Desktop Installer.exe to run the installer. If you haven’t already downloaded the installer (Docker Desktop Installer.exe), you can get it from Docker Hub. It typically downloads to your Downloads folder, or you can run it from the recent downloads bar at the bottom of your web browser.
- Follow the instructions on the installation wizard to accept the license, authorize the installer, and proceed with the installation. When prompted, authorize the Docker Desktop Installer with your system password during the installation process. Please note, that privileged access is needed to install networking components, the links to the Docker apps, and manage the Hyper-V VMs.
- Click Finish on the setup complete dialog and launch the Docker Desktop application.
You may also like: Download Windows 10 Offline ISO Files for Installations
Start Docker Desktop: Docker for Windows
Docker Desktop does not start automatically after installation. To start Docker Desktop, search for Docker, and select Docker Desktop in the search results.
When the whale icon in the status bar stays steady, Docker Desktop is up and running and is accessible from any terminal window.
If the whale icon is hidden in the notifications area, then click the up arrow on the taskbar to show it.
To learn more, see Docker Settings.
After installing the Docker Desktop app, you also get a pop-up success message with suggested next steps and a link to this documentation.
When initialization is complete, click the whale icon in the Notifications area and select About Docker Desktop to verify that you have the latest version.
Congratulations! You are successfully running Docker Desktop on Windows.
Would you like to read more about Dockers-related articles? If so, we invite you to take a look at our other tech topics before you leave!
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