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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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?