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Comment by treve | Hacker News Reader

On Windows, doesn't this technically mean OP is running Linux inside a Linux VM inside Windows? From what I understand Docker is Linux tech and to use it anywhere else a (small) Linux VM is required. If true, I would just dispense with the extra layer and just run a Linux VM. Not to discourage experimentation though!

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Almost.

For one thing, Docker is not really "Linux inside Linux". It uses Linux kernel features to isolate the processes inside a container from those outside. But there is only one Linux kernel which is shared by both the container and its host (within the Linux VM, in this case).

For another, running Linux containers in a Linux VM on Windows is one (common) way that Docker can work. But it also supports running Windows containers on Windows, and in that case, the Windows kernel is shared just like in the Linux case. So Docker is not exactly "Linux tech".

Can he install Wine in the Docker container to run Windows games from it?

Steam and it's remote play options seem more enticing to set up for me.

I thought docker only supports windows as a host if you enable wsl, in which case you're running on hyper v and Linux kernel as part of wsl2, so absolutely Linux tech on a Linux vm on Windows... Am I wrong?

Docker supports either hyper-v, or wsl2 as a host for the Linux kernel - they generally push people towards wsl2. I vaguely recall wsl2 uses a subset of hyper-v the name of which escapes me atm.

You are. You can run Docker for Windows, and run Windows binaries in reasonably isolated containers, without involving Linux at all [1]. Much like you run Linux containers on Linux without involving Windows.

It's Docker Desktop what assumes WSL; Docker engine does not. Also, you seem to need Windows Server; IDK if it can be made to work on a Pro version.

[1]: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/virtualization/windowscont...

Docker Desktop defaults to WSL2 but it has no assumptions whatsoever. You can run it with HyperV

Windows containers work* on Windows 11 Pro.

That said, work is a strong word; Windows containers in general are pretty jank.

You are. Docker Desktop supports two different container platforms: usual Linux ones and Windows Containers.

With the former a Linux kernel is required. You have two options: using WSL2 and benefiting from all the optimizations and integrations that Microsoft made, or running a full Hyper-V VM that gives absolute control and isolation from rest of the system.

For the latter, you need a Pro license and need to enable Containers feature (deployment requires more expensive Server licenses). Then you can run slimmed down Windows images like "nano server" which doesn't have GUI APIs.

I think GP is likely referring to Docker Desktop, which is probably the most common way to use Docker on Windows.

Running Linux containers using Docker Desktop has a small Linux VM in which the containers are run and then Docker does some mucking about to integrate that better with the Windows host OS.

Isn’t this the case on macOS too?

I desperately wish I could run docker properly (CLI) on the Mac rather than use docker desktop, and while we are making a dream list, can I just run Ubuntu on the Mac mini?

It might not be Ubuntu but Asahi Linux runs Fedora pretty well on M2 Pro and older Apple Silicon Mac Minis: https://asahilinux.org/fedora/#device-support

https://ubuntuasahi.org/

I’ve been using colima for cli docker on my arm mac. It’s pretty straightfirward using homebrew.

Colima is great. However, in the upcoming macOS 26 Tahoe, and mostly in macOS 15 Sequoia, Apple is beginning to provide a first-party solution:

https://github.com/apple/container

I've been experimenting with it in macOS 15, and I was able to replace Colima entirely for my purposes. Running container images right off of Docker Hub, without Docker / Podman / etc.

(And yes, it is using a small Linux VM run under Apple's HyperKit.)

I ran into various issues I think, but my main objective was running a full k3s cluster this way, reckon this is achievable with full networking support now? Also if I already had colima setup, does new apple container provide any benefits beyond just being made by apple?

Try Orb docker. It is fast. It ha a Kubernetes cluster feature.

This thread is amazing - thank you all.

I’m surprised I didn’t stumble into any of these options, I searched and didn’t find.

No, WSL2 does not run "inside Windows", but on the "Virtual Machine Platform", a sort of mini hyper-v.

Sup dawg, I heard you like OSes.

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