DOCKER - 4 Options for Windows

This lesson is dedicated to Windows users who want to run Docker. We will first look at the two types of containers you can run on Windows, then at which Docker edition to install depending on your Windows version, and finally at the differences between Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016, which handle Docker slightly differently.

On Windows you can run two types of containers: Linux containers (the historical option) and Windows containers (newer). Throughout this course we focus on Linux containers by default, since they are the most widespread and the underlying concepts are identical regardless of the host. The recommended edition is Docker for Windows, available on store.docker.com, which only works on Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise.

Which edition for which Windows

  • Windows 10 Pro / Enterprise — use Docker for Windows. It relies on Hyper-V, which spins up a small Linux VM to host the Linux containers. Native PowerShell experience.
  • Windows 10 Home / older Windows — use Docker Toolbox. It runs a small Linux VM inside VirtualBox, managed through the docker-machine CLI. Comes with a "Docker Quickstart Terminal" providing a Bash shell.
  • Windows Server 2016+ — natively supports Windows containers without Hyper-V. Docker for Windows also works there but is mostly used for local development and testing.
  • Older Windows Servers — no native support; the workaround is to run a Linux VM under Hyper-V and run Docker inside it.

Note that Docker for Windows and VirtualBox/VMware sometimes conflict with Hyper-V; if you need both, expect some manual tuning. Toolbox-based hosts only support Linux containers, not Windows containers. See you in the next video.

Summary

This lesson covers the different options for running Docker on Windows systems, explaining Docker for Windows (for Pro/Enterprise editions), Docker Toolbox (for older or Home editions), and the underlying virtualization technologies. It also discusses Linux versus Windows container types and how Docker support varies across different Windows versions including Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016.

Key points

  • Docker for Windows is available only for Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise editions, using Hyper-V to run a small Linux VM in the background
  • Docker Toolbox is the alternative for older Windows versions and Windows 10 Home edition, using VirtualBox instead of Hyper-V
  • Two types of containers exist on Windows: Linux containers (traditional, cross-platform) and Windows containers (native to Windows)
  • Docker for Windows provides more features and better performance than Docker Toolbox for development and testing
  • Hyper-V used by Docker for Windows may conflict with VirtualBox or VMware, requiring manual configuration
  • Windows Server 2016 natively supports Windows containers without Hyper-V and can run Docker for Windows

FAQ

Which Windows versions can run Docker for Windows?

Docker for Windows requires Windows 10 Pro or Enterprise editions. If you have Windows 10 Home or an older Windows 7 version, you must use Docker Toolbox instead.

What's the difference between Linux and Windows containers on Windows?

Linux containers are the traditional, cross-platform option based on Linux technology and the most widely supported. Windows containers are native to Windows but are less universally supported and not covered extensively in this lesson.

Can Docker for Windows run alongside VirtualBox or VMware?

No, Docker for Windows uses Hyper-V which may conflict with VirtualBox or VMware. You'll need to find a manual solution online or fully migrate to Hyper-V if you want to use both.