VMware Cloud Community
CHelpdesk
Contributor
Contributor

is it possible to run Docker on a VM running on an ESXi?

Hello,

I would like your help on the following:

I was tasked with implementing Docker on a VM (Windows) and make sure the Docker runs linux containers.

I tried installing docker for windows on a VM running Windows Server 2016 R2 later to find out it is not supported so i tried the following:

- Installing docker on a Windows 10 VM but it failed, so i tried installing docker toolbox but it failed too.

I'm running an ESXi 6.0 U3

can you shed some light please?

Tags (1)
9 Replies
daphnissov
Immortal
Immortal

Firstly, this isn't a VMware-related question or issue as there is no blocking of Docker that occurs just because it's running on a VM. Second, have you read some of the basic resources like this​ or blogs like this?

Reply
0 Kudos
DaveMitchell201
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Yes, we are running docker on esxi 6

Reply
0 Kudos
CHelpdesk
Contributor
Contributor

what docker are you running on what os?

Reply
0 Kudos
StephenMoll
Expert
Expert

In case it isn't obvious from Daphnissov's post and the links he gave:

Windows Docker engine runs under Hyper-V, so this results in nested-virtualisation which requires some extra tinkering.

If you run a Linux hosted Docker engine, it runs natively and the nested-virtualisation issue doesn't exist.

Reading Daphnissov's links, Windows Server 2019 would appear to be adopting a native Docker Engine and will also not result in nested-virtualisation.

Reply
0 Kudos
Roberter66
Contributor
Contributor

Your content helped me a lot to take my doubts, thank you very much.


moderator edit: removed spam link

CHelpdesk
Contributor
Contributor

Yes it was very helpful to me as well Thank you very much!

This configuration helped me run docker on my windows 10 pro VM (1809)

pastedImage_0.png

please notice that:

- Hardware Virtualization is checked

- CPU/MMU Virtualization: hardware CPU and MMU

avedere
Contributor
Contributor

I configured as shown above - installer Hyper-v - but docker start times out with the below error - any ideas

Timed out waiting for the lifecycle-server to start.

This may be the result of a slow environment or there may be a real problem.

This timeout can be increased by editing settings.json, value 'lifecycleTimeoutSeconds'.

This file is usually in C:\Users\(your username)\AppData\Roaming\Docker

   at Docker.Core.Pipe.NamedPipeClient.<TrySendAsync>d__5.MoveNext()

--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---

   at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()

   at Docker.Core.Pipe.NamedPipeClient.Send(String action, Object[] parameters)

   at Docker.Actions.DoStart(SynchronizationContext syncCtx, Boolean showWelcomeWindow, Boolean executeAfterStartCleanup)

   at Docker.Actions.<>c__DisplayClass24_0.<Start>b__0()

   at Docker.ApiServices.TaskQueuing.TaskQueue.<>c__DisplayClass17_0.<.ctor>b__1()

~                                                                                   

Any suggestions ?

Reply
0 Kudos
msripada
Virtuoso
Virtuoso

you can run...

Reply
0 Kudos
ted_bunny
Contributor
Contributor

Reply
0 Kudos