When it comes to creating reproducible and isolated development environments, two leading technologies reign: Docker and Vagrant. Docker facilitates containerization by bundling applications and dependencies together, making the applications platform-independent. On the other hand, Vagrant is a tool for virtual environments, allowing the creation and management of virtual machines (VMs). Running a Vagrant VM, particularly a Windows VM, inside a Docker container creates a unique combination that can offer remarkable benefits, especially in the field of Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Deployment (CD). 🔂 🚀
Today, we'll tap into an existing GitHub repository that demonstrates how to implement a Windows VM within this Docker/Vagrant setup. The repository can be found at the following URL: https://github.com/vaggeliskls/windows-in-docker-container
Prerequisites 📑
Before proceeding, the following tools should be installed on your system:
How to Use It 🛠️
- Create an environmental file .env with VMs specifications
# Vagrant image settings
MEMORY=8000 # 8GB
CPU=4
DISK_SIZE=100
- Create a
docker-compose.ymlfile
version: "3.9"
services:
win10:
image: ghcr.io/vaggeliskls/windows-in-docker-container:latest
env_file: .env
stdin_open: true
tty: true
privileged: true
cap_add:
- NET_ADMIN
- SYS_ADMIN
volumes:
- /sys/fs/cgroup:/sys/fs/cgroup
devices:
- /dev/kvm
- /dev/net/tun
ports:
- 3389:3389
- Run:
docker-compose up -d
Remote Desktop 🖥️
For debugging purposes or testing, you can always connect to the VM with remote desktop software products. Some software that used when developed was:
- Linux: rdesktop IP:3389 or remina
- macOS: Windows remote desktop
- Windows: build in Remote Windows Connection
User login 👤
The default users based on vagrant image are
- Administrator
- Username: Administrator
- Password: vagrant
- User
- Username: vagrant
- Password: vagrant
Conclusion 👋
Running a Vagrant Windows VM inside a Docker container merges the benefits of Docker's platform-independent containerization with Vagrant's controlled, easy-to-manage development environments. Although such a setup won't fulfill every use case, understanding how Docker and Vagrant operate and interact is highly beneficial for DevOps professionals.
Remember, different configurations exist and this setup can be tweaked to suit specific application requirements. Be aware that running a VM inside a Docker container can be resource-intensive, so always check your system's specifications before proceeding. 📝
Happy coding!
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