Can we create multiple windows containers which can be used as VSTS build agents from individual Windows Server VM?

Question

Problem: To reduce maintenance of overgrowing VM's which we are currently using as build agents in VSTS.

Idea to resolve : We are thinking of using multiple docker windows containers created from indivdual windows server VM's as VSTS build agents.Therefore we want these containers to be part of VSTS Build Agent pool .

Can we create multiple windows containers which can be used as VSTS build agents from individual Windows Server VM ?

Answer 1

I can see some windows images in the VSTS Agent Docker repo. You can try them out.

https://github.com/Microsoft/vsts-agent-docker/blob/windows/windows/servercore/10.0.14393/Dockerfile

Answer 2

Yes, it’s possible to install build agents in docker windows containers. The main steps as:

• Set up a Docker host

• Create a Docker image with the Visual Studio Build Agent inside

• Run the Docker container and automatically start the agent

For details you can refer Running a VS Team Services (VSO) Build Agent in a Windows Docker Container.