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Discussion on: Run GUI app in linux docker container on windows host

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darksmile92 profile image
Robin Kretzschmar

This should also be possible with Docker Toolbox.
I can't test it with VirtualBox at the moment. But I can imagine that there could be some issues regarding administrative rights, so maybe you need to run everything elevated to get it working.

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filips profile image
Filip Š • Edited

I will try to test this myself this week.

I have concerns about connecting graphics in VirtualBox with the host system.
Docker Toolbox uses seperate virtual system (based on Linux) so maybe graphics will be forwarded only to it not to Windows.

But if graphics can be forwarded directly to Windows, it will probably work.

I will post the solution when I find it.

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darksmile92 profile image
Robin Kretzschmar • Edited

You're right, this could be a problem with forwarding stopping at the virtual system.
I am curious what your results will be!

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filips profile image
Filip Š • Edited

I tested this and it works!

Display variable should be set to address of host (Windows) computer.

When using boot2docker image, new VirtualBox Host-Only Network will be created. In it, host computer will probably have address 192.168.99.1, so DISPLAY should be set to 192.168.99.1:0.0

If that won't work, new bridged network can be added to boot2docker image and DISPLAY should be set to local address of host.

Also, because boot2docker image has very low RAM and GPU memory, GUI apps will often crash. This could probably be fixed with higher RAM and GPU memory settings in VirtualBox.