HowTo: Install Docker on Windows

You can do many things with docker. Install software that doesn't natively run on Windows for one. I use it to test Discourse a popular forum software. 

To install Docker on Windows, follow these steps:

Prerequisites

• Windows 10 64-bit: Pro, Enterprise, or Education (Build 15063 or later) or Windows 11.
• WSL 2: Windows Subsystem for Linux version 2 must be enabled.

Installation Steps

1. Download Docker Desktop:

   • Go to the Docker Desktop for Windows page.
   • Click on Download for Windows.

2. Install Docker Desktop:

   • Run the downloaded installer.
   • Follow the installation wizard's instructions.
   • During installation, ensure that the option to enable WSL 2 is selected.

3. Enable WSL 2 (if not already enabled):

   • Open PowerShell as an administrator and run:
     wsl --set-default-version 2
   • Install a Linux distribution from the Microsoft Store (e.g., Ubuntu).

4. Start Docker Desktop:

   • After installation, launch Docker Desktop from the Start menu.
   • You may need to log in or create a Docker account.

5. Verify Installation:

   • Open PowerShell or Command Prompt and run:
     docker --version
   • This command should return the installed Docker version.

6. Run a Test Container:

   • To ensure everything is working, run:
     docker run hello-world
   • This command downloads a test image and runs it, displaying a confirmation message.

Additional Configuration

• You may want to configure Docker settings such as resource allocation (CPU, memory) via the Docker Desktop settings menu.

Troubleshooting

• If you encounter issues, ensure that virtualization is enabled in your BIOS settings and that your Windows version meets the requirements.

If you have any questions post them and I will try to answer them.

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