Virtualbox working with Hyper-V: more freedom with Docker!

Jean-Michel Chopin

2020-05-02 17:00

Also available in:

A major problem in virtualization on MS Windows machine was the incompatibility between Oracle Virtualbox and MS Hyper-V.
They refused to work together.
I used to run Docker in an Ubuntu Virtualbox VM, for instance.
And I did not want to spend any time for a similar installation in Hyper-V.
And Docker on Windows, through the MS WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) or through the older Docker Toolbox, was not easy to use

Check this pages:

👓 Install Docker Desktop on Windows [Ref_Docker_Desktop]
- System Requirements: Windows 10 64-bit Pro, Enterprise, or Education and Hyper-V and Containers Windows features must be enabled.
👓 Install Docker Toolbox on Windows [Ref_Docker_Toolbox]
- Legacy desktop solution. Docker Toolbox is for older Mac and Windows systems that do not meet the requirements of Docker Desktop for Mac and Docker Desktop for Windows. We recommend updating to the newer applications, if possible.
👓 Learn about the Windows Subsystem for Linux (07/11/2016) [Ref_MS_WSL_about]
👓 WSL 2 Frequently Asked Questions [Ref_MS_WSL2_FAQ]
- The newest version of WSL uses Hyper-V architecture to enable its virtualization

So I had to stick to Virtualbox.
Then MS "opened" the Hyper-V API so that any other virtualization systems could work together with Hyper-V.
Virtualbox had therefore to work a little bit.

And the Virtualbox development team did it:

👓 Changelog – Oracle VM VirtualBox - www.virtualbox.org/ [Ref_Virtualbox_change]
- VirtualBox 6.1.4 (released February 19 2020)
  - Windows host: Restore the ability to run VMs through Hyper-V, at the expense of performance
👓 Oracle1® VM VirtualBox1® User Manual - UserManual.pdf (PDF) [Ref_Virtualbox_manual]
- 9.32 Using Hyper-V with Oracle VM VirtualBoxOracle VM VirtualBox can be used on a Windows host where Hyper-V is running. This is an experimental feature.No configuration is required. Oracle VM VirtualBox detects Hyper-V automatically and usesHyper-V as the virtualization engine for the host system. The CPU icon in the VM window statusbar indicates that Hyper-V is being used.Note:When using this feature, some host systems might experience significant OracleVM VirtualBox performance degradation.

I tested Virtualbox with Hyper-V

👓 Enable Hyper-V on Windows 10 [Ref_Hyper-V_on]

Everything was blocked at the beginning but after a few tries...
it works! No more problems!
Docker should work now through Docker Desktop and through any Virtualbox VM with a Linux Guest!