msjpq/kvm-windows repository overview

⁠Much better project here

https://github.com/ms-jpq/windows-in-docker⁠

⁠The thingy below is depreciated

⁠Almost done, Work in Progress

⁠WIND - Windows in Docker⁠

Browser > Docker > KVM > Windows

Thank you Redhat, very legal & very cool.

⁠WHY?

QEMU + KVM has a relatively involved setup, not very user friendly.

This image is vastly more user friendly, it comes with:

1. Browser UI

2. Networking out of the box

3. Literally copy paste install

4. Built-in Windows drivers

5. Crazy easy customizations, ie. --cpus=9 --memory=6024 --size=120

⁠Preview

⁠Instructions

⁠Prerequisites

You hardware must be able to run KVM. (Most computer can run at least 1 layer of virtualization now days.)

⁠Install

Run the command below, and head to Firefox at port 8080 to finish installation

docker -it --rm \
  --privileged \
  -v /lib/modules:/lib/modules:ro \
  -p 8080:65080 \
  -v /vm_image_dir:/config \
  -v /iso_dir:/install \
  msjpq/kvm-windows new <windows.iso> --bios

Add --bios, if your windows version is old, or else it will load UEFI

<windows.iso> will eject after first poweroff, you will find the generated libvirt manifest under /config.

Run the command below to finish installation, and for future usage.

docker -it --rm \
  --privileged \
  -v /lib/modules:/lib/modules:ro \
  -p 8080:65080 \
  -v /vm_image_dir:/config \
  msjpq/kvm-windows

⁠Drivers

You will need to manually install some of drivers, (VirtIO is annoying like that).

⁠Essential

1. The harddrive drivers will need to be installed before first reboot.

2. The ethernet drivers will need to be installed after first login under Device Manager.

⁠Whatever

Things like qxl can also be installed under Device Manager. Not really important though.

All drivers are included with the default install, under D:/ or E:/ drive.

⁠Customization

Additional flags to pass onto new <image name> <flag> <flag> ...

⁠Networking

All ports from VM are forwarded to container except:

53, 67-68, 65001-65535

NOT recommended to run with --net=host.

⁠Environmental Variables

⁠Browser UI

• -e PATH_PREFIX=/
• -e VNC_RESIZE=scale|off
• -e RECON_DELAY=250 reconnection delay (ms)

⁠Virtualization

Libvirt look for VM_NAME.xml to boot.

new will create VM_NAME.xml and VM_NAME.img.

• -e VM_NAME=wind

⁠Ports

• -p 8080:65080 noVNC web UI

• -p 5900:65059 VNC

⁠Volumes

Libvirt manifests are stored in/config, along with VM images.

• -v ./vm_data/:/config

You need to supply your own windows.iso, for obvious reasons.

• -v ./install_media/:/install

⁠Disclaimer

Works on my machine ™.