AZ-800 Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core Infrastructure Exam

Configure Container Features and Runtime on Windows Server

Containerization on Windows Server involves running applications in isolated environments called containers. This approach boosts resource utilization, simplifies deployment, and makes apps easier to move between environments. Windows Server supports both process isolation and Hyper-V isolation to meet different security and compatibility needs. By preparing your server correctly, you ensure stable and predictable container performance. Getting started means enabling the right Windows features and installing a container runtime.

To enable container support, install the Containers and Hyper-V Windows features using PowerShell. Run as an administrator to avoid permission issues. For example:

• Install the Containers feature:

  Install-WindowsFeature -Name Containers
  

• Install Hyper-V for isolation:

  Install-WindowsFeature -Name Hyper-V -IncludeManagementTools
  

Underline that the server may require a restart after these features are added to complete the setup.

Next, deploy a container runtime such as Docker or Moby with PowerShell. First, install the Docker provider module and then the Docker package:

• Install the DockerMsftProvider module:

  Install-Module -Name DockerMsftProvider -Repository PSGallery -Force
  

• Install Docker itself:

  Install-Package -Name docker -ProviderName DockerMsftProvider
  Restart-Computer -Force
  

This step ensures the container engine is available for pulling and running images.

After the runtime is installed, register and configure the Docker service so it starts automatically. Use these PowerShell commands:

• Start the Docker service:

  Start-Service docker
  

• Set service startup to automatic:

  Set-Service -Name docker -StartupType Automatic
  

These commands guarantee your containers start reliably after reboots and your environment stays ready for workloads.

Finally, integrate Windows Server with Azure Container Registry (ACR) for secure image storage. Use the Azure CLI to authenticate and manage your registry:

• Log in and set up Azure CLI:

  az login
  

• Create a resource group and ACR instance:

  az group create --name myResourceGroup --location eastus
  az acr create --resource-group myResourceGroup --name myRegistry --sku Basic
  

• Log in to ACR:

  az acr login --name myRegistry
  

This integration provides a secure and centralized repository for your container images.

Conclusion

Preparing Windows Server as a container host requires installing the Containers and Hyper-V features, deploying a container runtime like Docker, and ensuring the container service runs automatically. Integrating with Azure Container Registry seals the process by giving you a secure image repository and easy image management. With these steps, your server is ready to host, update, and scale containerized applications in a hybrid environment. This setup lays the groundwork for efficient and portable workloads across on-premises and Azure platforms.