Can Containers be installed on Server 2016 Essentials

Question

I was under the impression Server 2016 essentials would run Containers but I have been unable to figure out how to install containers and I appear to be missing KB4540670. Everything I read implies all version of Server 2016 could run Containers. I got docker installed but the service wont run because it is missing the containers.
I was hoping to run Deepstack for my BlueIris setup and maybe HomeAssistant as a container on it. I switched to Essentials 2016 when home server was discontinued.

Answer 1

Hello @Cyber(Joe)

Please check if Install Docker and configure Docker Engine on Windows can provide you more thoughts.
You could created a PowerShell script to check for common problems.

Best Regards
Karlie

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Answer 2

I followed the install docker link. But the service wont start. Windows events indicates containers are not installed. I have not seen the config docker engine link before so I will explore that one tomorrow. I did not think the ps script for debugging would do me any good since windows reports the service won't run because it is missing the containers feature.
fatal: failed to start daemon: failed to load vmcompute.dll, ensure that the Containers feature is installed
failed to start daemon: failed to load vmcompute.dll, ensure that the Containers feature is installed

Answer 3

Showing output from: docker info
Client:
Context: default
Debug Mode: false
Plugins:
app: Docker Application (Docker Inc., v0.8.0)
cluster: Manage Mirantis Container Cloud clusters (Mirantis Inc., v1.9.0)
registry: Manage Docker registries (Docker Inc., 0.1.0)

Server:
ERROR: error during connect: In the default daemon configuration on Windows, the docker client must be run with elevated
privileges to connect.: Get http://%2F%2F.%2Fpipe%2Fdocker_engine/v1.24/info: open //./pipe/docker_engine: The system c
annot find the file specified.

Showing output from: docker version
Client: Mirantis Container Runtime
Version: 20.10.4
API version: 1.41
Go version: go1.13.15
Git commit: 110e091
Built: 04/12/2021 15:53:12
OS/Arch: windows/amd64
Context: default
Experimental: true

Showing output from: docker network ls

Getting Warnings & errors in the Windows event logs from the last 24 hours

ProviderName: docker

TimeCreated Id LevelDisplayName Message

---

4/29/2021 9:24:51 PM 4 Error fatal: failed to start daemon: failed to load vmcompute.dll, ens...
4/29/2021 8:49:21 PM 4 Error fatal: failed to start daemon: failed to load vmcompute.dll, ens...
4/29/2021 8:49:03 PM 4 Error fatal: failed to start daemon: failed to load vmcompute.dll, ens...
4/29/2021 8:48:50 PM 4 Error fatal: failed to start daemon: failed to load vmcompute.dll, ens...
4/29/2021 8:48:21 PM 4 Error fatal: failed to start daemon: failed to load vmcompute.dll, ens...
4/29/2021 8:47:50 PM 4 Error fatal: failed to start daemon: failed to load vmcompute.dll, ens...
4/29/2021 7:50:41 PM 4 Error fatal: failed to start daemon: failed to load vmcompute.dll, ens...
4/29/2021 7:49:41 PM 4 Error fatal: failed to start daemon: failed to load vmcompute.dll, ens...
4/29/2021 7:48:39 PM 4 Error fatal: failed to start daemon: failed to load vmcompute.dll, ens...

Logs saved to C:\Windows\system32\logs_20210430-115643.csv

Answer 4

It comes back down to the vmcomputer.dll which is why I am thinking my Essentials license wont install containers.

Answer 5

Essentials allows you to install the server, cancel the Essentials config, install the hyper V role, then install Essentials as the VM. But only one operating system environment (or container) is allowed, regardless of how many licenses for other products you own.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server-essentials/install/install-and-configure-windows-server-essentials-or-windows-server-essentials-experience#BKMK_VirtualWSE
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-server-essentials-and/understanding-licensing-for-windows-server-2012-r2-essentials/ba-p/398658

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