Hi, all.  I will first admit to being a complete and total newbie when it comes to unRAID.  I've been living on the Windows side of the computing world, and unRAID is my first real foray into a Linux based environment.  There is some very cool stuff here to explore.  There is also a pretty big learning curve for someone like me, but I think this will be worth it.

 

I have read the pdf version of the unRAID manual, looked through numerous forum posts, and watched a number of videos, but I am at a bit of a loss on some initial setup work involved so I can use docker containers for some programs I need that use Windows 10.  Much of my knowledge on what to do with regard to this particular problem is based on SpaceInvaderOne's great video on docker in unRAID (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISJczs06pD8). 

 

I believe I understand the general principles here, but am at a loss on how I would initially setup Windows 10 in unRAID for use by Docker containers.  I have a Windows 10 key and a Windows 10 iso and placed it in a share directory devoted to isos on unRAID.  I have installed squid's community app plugin and can find apps and additional containers available from the dockerhub.  But how am I supposed to install Windows 10 on unRAID in the first place, so that docker containers that involve Windows programs can use Windows 10 as a foundation?  I see videos on how to install Windows 10 as a virtual machine, but based on what I have read and viewed it sounds like running programs within separate docker containers would be much more efficient and conflict free than using virtual machines.  Am I supposed to install Windows 10 as a virtual machine, and then the docker containers would just know to reference the Windows 10 components they need (i.e., thus achieving the efficiency etc. benefits associated with docker containers)?   I am thinking also that once Windows 10 is installed for use by docker containers, that I could then simply install any additional docker containers with other Windows programs as needed. If this is wrong, please let me know.  Any help would be greatly appreciated, including just pointing me to anything I should have read but missed.

 

Additional background info is as follows:

 

My unRAID setup is primarily intended for use as a NAS and media server. At some point I may want to put a  Steam game or two on here for the kids to play with.  I am running unRAID 6.3.5 on an Asus TUF Z270 Mark I motherboard with 16GB of DDR4 SDRAM, 40TB of storage, an 8GB parity drive, a 2TB hybrid SDD cache drive, and an intel i7700k processor (overkill, I know).  

 

Thanks for any and all help with this!

 

Dave

 

You don't use windows 10 for docker containers on unraid. It's run on the unraid server. Docker runs on Linux, so the software you want to run needs to be able to run on Linux. If it's windows only, you must install it on a windows computer.

 

What you need to do is to go in Community Applications and search for the software you want to install and then push the install button. 

 

Which applications do you want?

Dear Saarg,

 

Thanks!  I was looking to run several different applications such as SageTV, Plex, and Homeseer.  Each of these has Linux versions too, but in some cases (e.g., HomeSeer) the license I previously purchased was for the Windows version.  I did see that HomeSeer was available via the Docker Hub, but I think someone was probably posting the Linux version for which I don’t have a license.  I believe there are Linux versions of the remaining two programs I mentioned available through Docker, that I could probably use. In any case, there are options there that I can explore thanks to your guidance.

 

If I understand you correctly, Docker containers are designed only for use in running applications coded for one of the versions of Linux.  I think I got confused when viewing the video I mentioned, and thought that two options were being presented (Docker and Virtual Machines) both of which could be used to run Windows applications on unRAID.  When I take a look at the video again now, I see that the presenter is really just noting the similarities and differences between the two approaches, which I now understand to be targeted towards two separate but similar issues (running Linux based applications on unRAID vs. running Windows applications on unRAID).  Based on your post, it sounds like Docker can’t be used to address the latter option.  My understanding based on what I have seen in other places is that running a Virtual Machine within unRAID would be the option to pursue in that case (SpaceInvader One has the following tutorial video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miYUGWq6l24).  I would likely pursue that option for HomeSeer, and use Docker containers with regard to the other programs I mentioned.

 

If I have misstated or misunderstood anything above please let me know.  Thanks again so much, your help is really appreciated!

 

Dave   

Sounds like you got it now 

6 hours ago, DaveW42 said:

I did see that HomeSeer was available via the Docker Hub, but I think someone was probably posting the Linux version for which I don’t have a license.

https://forums.homeseer.com/showthread.php?t=162813

HS3 for Linux is free with your HS3 license. It does not require a seperate license. Your HS3 standard or PRO license will work.

Thanks, JonathanM!  I wasn't aware of that policy.  That will definitely help in making the transition to unRAID!

 

Dave

8 hours ago, DaveW42 said:

Thanks, JonathanM!  I wasn't aware of that policy.  That will definitely help in making the transition to unRAID!

 

Dave

Keep in mind that not all plugins are linux compatible. I suggest you go through the support threads on any homeseer plugins, especially 3rd party, to ensure compatibility.

 

Most are, since homeseer's main focus for hardware sales seems to have moved to linux based devices, but some of the really old stuff that's been patched through the years isn't compatible.

Thanks again, JonathanM. Looks like I have a mixture of some plugins that are both Linux and Windows, and others that are Windows only (e.g., the Harmony plugin). I will have to factor this in as I make the transition.  

Dave