Running docker shell on Windows

Question

I've just installed Docker toolbox 1.9.1 (only docker itself plus Kitematic as I already have both VirtualBox and Git for Windows installed). Clicking on Docker Quickstart Terminal icon wasn't working so I had to associate it with C:\Program Files (x86)\Git\bin\bash.exe as suggested. Now it starts fine but I'm unable to run docker command:

Kitematic works just fine but I need the shell. How do I fix it?

Answer 1

Check where docker-machine.exe has been installed (or copy the latest released one in your %PATH%) and use that, instead of the quickstart.
From a regular CMD session:

# find the name of the machine created.
docker-machine ls
docker-machine env --shell cmd <nameOfTheMachine>
docker-machine ssh <nameOfTheMachine>

The shell you are after is the one provided by the Linux TinyCore boot2docker.iso image managed by VirtualBox, not the git-bash installed on your Windows host.

Answer 2

Here is an alternative option. Create the following docker.cmd batch:

cd "%ProgramFiles%\Docker Toolbox"

"%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Git\bin\bash.exe" --login -i "%ProgramFiles%\Docker Toolbox\start.sh"

Now you need to start the default VM in your Oracle VirtualBox Manager (created automatically when you installed Docker for Windows):

and then the batch: