Docker on Windows Hyper-V

This cluster discusses how Docker runs on Windows, primarily its reliance on Hyper-V for virtualization, including native Windows containers, Linux VMs via WSL2, and comparisons to alternatives like VirtualBox.

➡️ Stable 0.6x DevOps & Infrastructure
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Keywords

MS KubeVirt docker.com UI ESX GP hypervhd.com Modern.IE VM microsoft.com windows docker hyper vm virtualbox linux containers wsl container run

Sample Comments

michaK Mar 24, 2016 View on HN

Docker for Windows relies on Hyper-V

chupasaurus Sep 6, 2018 View on HN

Windows native containers are running on top of Hyper-V.

pixl97 Jul 26, 2025 View on HN

Yep, on Windows you have WSL and Hyper-V

snarfy Oct 18, 2016 View on HN

Microsoft implemented containers in the Windows kernel, so Docker for Windows no longer needs a VM+Linux to run. The container implementation requires Hyper-V.

Zekio Jan 17, 2018 View on HN

Not as far as I know, but docker on windows will spin up a HyperV VM so you still get a pretty good experience

fxfan Mar 10, 2019 View on HN

What are some docker alternatives? And how does Docker on windows work? I know it uses Hyper-V underneath but does MS include a base linux kernel image?

mfatica May 6, 2019 View on HN

Docker for windows currently still runs in a VM though

orf Mar 4, 2016 View on HN

Docker on Windows is just a Hyper-V/VirtualBox VM running Docker.

pjmlp Jan 30, 2020 View on HN

On Windows it plugs into Windows containers and Hyper-V.

user5994461 Jul 2, 2020 View on HN

I thought Windows was starting a Linux VM with HyperV to run the container?