8

There are already very similar Q&A regarding Windows Server 2016, but it remains unclear to me.

We have installed Docker Enterprise in version 18.09.6. We did manage to run Linux containers in experimental mode using LCOW. But experimental mode is disencouraged for production. Particularly we don't know if the issues regarding filesystem operations and databases mentioned at the end of https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/virtualization/windowscontainers/deploy-containers/linux-containers still exist.

So the question is how to run Linux containers in non-experimental mode (using MobyVM). Is this supported at all on Windows Server 2019? Are the answers in Docker Windows Server 2016 switch to linux container still valid?

Redoute
  • 205
  • 2
  • 4
  • I'm in the same boat and also trying to get the same answers. Microsoft nor Docker have been very clear on this. I was also thinking of just starting up a Debian Hyper-V VM running Docker EE inside it and using Swarm to orchestrate everything, but then you have the added VM to take care of yourself. Would be super good if MobyVM was supported in Docker EE. – Karl Morrison Jul 03 '19 at 11:45
  • What did you end up doing? Thanks – costa Dec 13 '19 at 21:05
  • 3
    We gave up on Docker on Windows Server. Wasted time :( – Redoute Dec 19 '19 at 12:03

1 Answers1

5

One could use Docker for CE ie the same installer that works on WIN 10. But remember to use the version 2.1.0.3 instead of the version 2.0.0.3. The previous versions have some issues with Server 2019 and would not work fine.

The only supported way to run linux container on Docker EE is using the Hyper-V isolation method (LCOW) which in itself cumbersome and also there is no official documentation. One could follow the blogs mentioned below to run Linux Container on Windows Server 2019 (Remember the support is experimental and is not recommended for Production environment).

PS:

Windows/Docker are not coming up with a final strategy on how they would support Linux container. The Hyper-V isolation method to run Linux container was an idea proposed long back but still there is no final call on that. Refer to the link

We can use Docker for windows on server 2016 but soon the support for latest Docker version 2.1 will not be available. There has been no concrete documentation from Docker/Windows community about how they would support Linux container. Following the steps mentioned here will just provide Windows container support on Server 2016. Luckily we have a escape with server 2016 and Server 2019 using Docker for Windows Installer (Docker CE) but still its not a full proof solution.

Shubhanshu Rastogi
  • 166
  • 1
  • 5