Docker volumes on Windows 10

  • 9 months ago
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Docker volumes on Windows 10 work slightly differently compared to other platforms due to the underlying architecture of Docker on Windows. Docker Desktop for Windows uses a Linux-based virtual machine (VM) to run Docker containers, even though you're running Docker on a Windows host. This affects how you use and manage volumes.

Here's how you can work with Docker volumes on Windows 10:

  1. Understanding Bind Mounts:
    On Linux, Docker volumes are native file system entities. However, on Windows, Docker uses a bind mount approach. This means that you can mount a directory from your Windows host machine into the container, effectively sharing files between the host and the container.

  2. Use the -v or --volume Flag:
    When running a container, you can use the -v or --volume flag to create a bind mount. For example:

    bash
    docker run -v /host/path:/container/path image-name

    Replace /host/path with the path on your Windows host, and /container/path with the path inside the container.

  3. Volume Mounts:
    You can also use named volumes with Docker Compose. This will create a named volume that is managed by Docker and can be shared across multiple containers. While named volumes are used for data persistence, they are stored within the Linux VM on Windows.

  4. Performance Considerations:
    Due to the virtualization layer and the fact that Docker Desktop for Windows is running containers within a Linux VM, file system performance might not be as fast as native Linux environments. However, it's generally acceptable for development purposes.

  5. Permissions and Compatibility:
    Keep in mind that there might be some compatibility and permission issues, especially when working with non-Linux containers. File permissions on bind-mounted directories might behave differently.

  6. Configuration:
    You can configure Docker Desktop for Windows to control the behavior of volume mounting and synchronization. Check the settings of Docker Desktop to adjust how it manages volumes.

Remember that the details may vary based on your specific setup and the versions of Docker and Windows you're using. It's always a good idea to refer to the official Docker documentation for the most up-to-date and accurate information on working with volumes on Windows: https://docs.docker.com/storage/bind-mounts/