How to Run Windows in a Docker Container: A Step-by-Step Guide

Running Windows in a Docker container might sound like a complex task, but it’s perfectly achievable with the right tools and a clear guide. This blog post will walk you through the entire process, ensuring you have a Windows environment up and running in a Docker container in no time.

Plus, if you’re new to Docker, I’ve got a handy video tutorial covering how to install it on your machine, be it Windows, macOS, or Ubuntu.

Requirements

Before we dive in, ensure Docker is installed and running on your system. If you need help with this, check out my video tutorial or blog post on installing Docker on Ubuntu. If you’re using macOS, the process is slightly different; I’ve covered that in my guide on how to install Docker on macOS, which is essential for this tutorial.

The Project

We’ll utilize a project from GitHub, specifically designed for this purpose. You can find it at https://github.com/dockur/windows. This project uses KVM (a virtual machine) to run Windows inside a Docker container, giving you the full functionality of a Windows environment.

Setting Up Your Environment

First, let’s set up the Docker environment for running Windows. Open your terminal and follow these steps:

1. Create a new directory for your project:

   mkdir windows
   cd windows

2. Create a compose.yaml file to define your Docker environment:

   version: "3"
   services:
     windows:
       image: dockurr/windows
       container_name: windows
       devices:
         - /dev/kvm
       cap_add:
         - NET_ADMIN
       ports:
         - 8006:8006
         - 3390:3389/tcp
         - 3390:3389/udp
       stop_grace_period: 2m
       restart: on-failure
       environment:
         VERSION: "win11"
         RAM_SIZE: "8G"
         CPU_CORES: "4"
         DISK_SIZE: "256G"
       volumes:
         - ./data:/storage

3. With your compose.yaml ready, bring up your Docker container:

   docker compose up -d

Now, your Windows environment should be initialized. You can view the installation process by navigating to localhost:8006 your web browser.

Accessing Your Windows Environment

There are a couple of ways to access your new Windows container:

• Remini: A convenient tool for connecting to your Windows Docker container.
• Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP): Use RDP to connect directly using the server IP where your container is running. The default credentials are user: docker and pass: "".

Monitoring and Management

• To view the resources being used by your Windows container, simply open the Task Manager.
• Network volumes and mounts can be checked to ensure your data is correctly linked.
• Remember, to stop the virtual machine, use:

   docker stop windows

If you don’t want the container to start with your computer, update its settings with:

docker update --restart=no windows

Configuration and Usage

• To inspect your container’s configuration:

docker inspect windows

To start the container:

docker start windows

• While you can’t play 3D games, many software applications and simpler games will run smoothly.

Legality

Concerned about the legality of this project? Fear not. This project comprises entirely open-source code and doesn’t distribute any copyrighted material. Any product keys found within are generic placeholders provided by Microsoft for trial purposes, making this project legal under all applicable laws.

Conclusion

Running Windows in a Docker container is an excellent way to leverage the flexibility of Docker with the familiarity of Windows. Whether for development, testing, or running specific Windows-only applications, this setup provides a robust solution. Remember, for those new to Docker, ensure you’re comfortable with the basics – my video tutorial and other blog posts, like application monitoring with Docker or guide to deploy Kubernetes, can help you get started.

Feel free to share your thoughts, questions, or feedback in the comments section below. Happy Docking!