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Installing Docker on Windows

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David Anderson edited this page Jul 9, 2025 · 1 revision

Note: Docker and VirtualBox are incompatible on Windows. If you're using VirtualBox for something other than BOINC, do not install Docker.

On Windows, Docker needs something called Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). Windows 11 has WSL already enabled. On Windows 10 you first need to enable WSL:

  • click in the Windows search bar (lower left corner)
  • click 'Control Panel'
  • click 'Programs and Features'
  • click 'Turn Windows features on or off'
  • check the box for 'Windows Subsystem for Linux'
  • click OK
  • Restart the computer

Install the latest version of WSL: https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/releases/download/2.4.13/wsl.2.4.13.0.x64.msi

BOINC provides a WSL 'image' that contains Docker. Download it from https://github.com/BOINC/boinc-buda-runner-wsl and open it.

Open a terminal window (type 'cmd' in the Windows search box). In this window, type

wsl -d boinc-buda-runner

Run the BOINC client. You should see something like

3/25/2025 3:15:16 PM |  | Usable WSL distros:
3/25/2025 3:15:16 PM |  | -   boinc-buda-runner (WSL 2) (default)
3/25/2025 3:15:16 PM |  | -      OS: Alpine Linux (Alpine Linux v3.21)
3/25/2025 3:15:16 PM |  | -      Docker version 5.3.2 (podman)

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