Step-By-Step: Docker Client Setup for Windows

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DevOps, while not entirely new, provides a new opportunity for both IT professionals and developers alike. The ability for the two roles to develop, ship, and run applications in collaboration can increase the agility of the supported organization to become more nimble in addressing it’s customer needs. Enter Docker, which provides the ability to quickly assemble applications and eliminating tensions between IT administrators and developers when deploying code.

The recently announced Docker Client for Windows has the ability to enable to simultaneous management of Docker hosts running Linux containers and manage Windows Server Containers. This Step-By-Step will detail the process required to enable this.

Prerequisites

The Docker Engine utilizes Linux-specific kernel features. The following prerequisites are required to successfully run a lightweight virtual machine (VM):

  1. Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 Professional / Enterprise
     
  2. 64 bit processor with Second Level Address Translation (SLAT)
     
  3. 4GB system RAM at minimum
     
  4. BIOS-level Hardware Virtualization support
     

Step 1: Installation

  1. Download the Docker for Windows Installer
     

  2. Run the installer and click next
     

  3. Select the Destination Location for Boot2Docker for Windows and click Next

    NOTE: Boot2Docker creates a Linux VM on Windows enabling Docker to run on Linux
     

  4. Ensure all components are selected for installation and click next
     

    NOTE: This will install the Docker Client, Boot2Docker management tool and ISO,  VirtualBox, and MSYS-git Unix tools
     

  5. Click Next to create a program shortcut in the Start Menu folder
     

  6. Ensure Add docker.exe/boot2docker.exe to PATH is selected and click next

    NOTE: Creating a desktop icon is not required, however, it is advised to Reboot Windows at the end of the installation

  7. Click Install to begin the installation
     

  8. When the installation completes, click Finish
     

Step 2: Verifying the installation

  1. Run Boot2Docker Start
     

  2. Allow VirtualBox to setup the required VM by selecting Yes when prompted
     
    NOTE: The installation then create the Boot2Docker VM to be run in VirtualBox
     

  3. In the Unix Shell, type and run the following command:
     
    docker version

    The response should be the following: