Windows in Docker

Windows in a docker container.

Features

• Multi-platform
• ISO downloader
• KVM acceleration
• Web-based viewer

Usage

Via docker-compose.yml

version: "3"
services:
  windows:
    image: dockurr/windows
    container_name: windows
    devices:
      - /dev/kvm
    cap_add:
      - NET_ADMIN
    ports:
      - 8006:8006
    stop_grace_period: 2m
    restart: unless-stopped

Via docker run

docker run -it --rm -p 8006:8006 --device=/dev/kvm --cap-add NET_ADMIN dockurr/windows

FAQ

• How do I use it?

  Very simple! These are the steps:

  • Start the container and get some coffee, it will begin downloading the ISO file.

  • Connect to port 8006 of the container in your web browser and wait until you see the screen.

  • Sit back and relax while the magic happens, the whole installation will be performed fully automatic.

  • Once you see the desktop, your Windows installation is ready for use. Enjoy it, and don't forget to star this repo!

• How do I specify another Windows version?

  By default, Windows 11 will be installed. But you can add the VERSION environment variable to your compose file, in order to specify an alternative Windows version to download:

  environment:
    VERSION: "win11x64"
  

  Select from the values below:

  • win11x64 (Windows 11)
  • win10x64 (Windows 10)
  • win81x64 (Windows 8.1)
  • win2022-eval (Windows Server 2022)
  • win2019-eval (Windows Server 2019)
  • win2016-eval (Windows Server 2016)

• How do I install a custom ISO file?

  You can supply your own ISO file by naming it custom.iso and placing it in the /storage folder.

  Make sure to delete any other files in this folder, so that there are no leftovers from previous installations. Then follow the same steps as for manual installation.

• How do I increase the amount of CPU or RAM?

  By default, 2 CPU cores and 4 GB of RAM are allocated to the container, as those are the minimum requirements of Windows 11.

  To increase this, add the following environment variables:

  environment:
    RAM_SIZE: "8G"
    CPU_CORES: "4"
  

• How do I change the size of the data disk?

  To expand the default size of 64 GB, add the DISK_SIZE setting to your compose file and set it to your preferred capacity:

  environment:
    DISK_SIZE: "128G"
  

  This can also be used to resize the existing disk to a larger capacity without any data loss.

• How do I change the location of the data disk?

  To change the location of the data disk, include the following bind mount in your compose file:

  volumes:
    - /var/win:/storage
  

  Replace the example path /var/win with the desired storage folder.

• How do I verify if my system supports KVM?

  To verify if your system supports KVM, run the following commands:

  sudo apt install cpu-checker
  sudo kvm-ok
  

  If you receive an error from kvm-ok indicating that KVM acceleration can't be used, check the virtualization settings in the BIOS.

• How do I view the screen?

  The container includes a web-based viewer, so you can visit http://localhost:8006/ using any web browser to view the screen and interact with Windows via the keyboard or mouse.

  This is mainly for use during installation, as afterwards you can use Remote Desktop, TeamViewer or any other software you prefer.

• How do I perform a manual installation?

  If you prefer to perform the installation manually in order to customize some options, add the following environment variable:

  environment:
    ATTENDED: "Y"
  

  Then follow these steps:

  • Start the container and wait until the ISO download is finished. If needed, you can view the progress in the Docker log.

  • Connect to port 8006 of the container in your web browser, you will see the Windows installation screen.

  • Start the installation by clicking Install now. On the next screen, press 'OK' when prompted to Load driver and select the VirtIO SCSI driver from the list that matches your Windows version. So for Windows 11, select D:\amd64\w11\vioscsi.inf and click 'Next'.

  • Accept the license agreement and select your preferred Windows edition, like Home or Pro.

  • Choose Custom: Install Windows only (advanced), and click Load driver on the next screen. Select 'Browse' and navigate to the D:\NetKVM\w11\amd64 folder, and click 'OK'. Select the VirtIO Ethernet Adapter from the list and click 'Next'.

  • Select 'Drive 0' and click 'Next'.

  • Wait until Windows finishes copying files and completes the installation.

  • Once you see the desktop, open File Explorer and navigate to the CD-ROM drive (E:). Double-click on virtio-win-gt-x64.msi and proceed to install the VirtIO drivers.

  • Now your Windows installation is ready for use. Enjoy it, and don't forget to star this repo!

• Is this project legal?

  Yes, this project contains only open-source code and does not distribute any copyrighted material. Neither does it try to circumvent any copyright protection measures. So under all applicable laws, this project would be considered legal.

Disclaimer

The product names, logos, brands, and other trademarks referred to within this project are the property of their respective trademark holders. This project is not affiliated, sponsored, or endorsed by Microsoft Corporation.