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So I have Windows Server 2016 TP5 and I'm playing around with the containers. I am able to do basic docker tasks fine. I'm trying to figure out how to containerize some of our IIS-hosted web applications.

Thing is, we usually use integrated authentication for the DB and use domain service accounts for the app pool. I currently don't have a test VM (that is in a domain) so I can't test if this will work inside a container.

If the host is joined to an AD domain, are its containers also part of the domain? Can I still run processes using domain accounts?

EDIT: Also, if I specify the "USER" in the dockerfile, does this mean that my app pool will run using that (instead of the app pool identity)?

Mel
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3 Answers3

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There are at least some scenarios where AD-integration in Docker container actually works:

  1. You need to access network resources with AD credentials.
    1. Run cmdkey /add:<network-resource-uri>[:port] /user:<ad-user> /pass:<pass> under local identity that needs this access
    2. To apply the same trick to IIS apps without modifying AppPoolIdentity you'll need a simplest .ashx wrapper around cmdkey (Note: you'll have to call this wrapper in run-time, e.g.: during ENTRYPOINT, otherwise network credentials will be mapped to different local identity)
  2. You need to run code under AD user
    1. Impersonate using ADVAPI32 function LogonUser with LOGON32_LOGON_NEW_CREDENTIALS and LOGON32_PROVIDER_DEFAULT as suggested
  3. You need transport layer network security, like when making RPC calls (e.g.: MSDTC) to an AD-based resources.
    1. Set up gMSA by using any guide that suites you best. Note however, that gMSA requires Docker host to be in the domain.
Community
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Taras Strypko
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Update: this answer is no longer relevant - was for 2016 TP5. AD support has been added in later releases

Original answer Quick answer - no, containers are not supported as part of AD so you can't use AD accounts to run processes within a container or authenticate with it

This used to be mentioned on the MS Containers site but the original link now redirects.

Original wording (CTP 3 or 4?): "Containers cannot join Active Directory domains, and cannot run services or applications as domain users, service accounts, or machine accounts."

I don't know if that will change in a later release.

Someone tried to hack around it but with no joy.

Will
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    [Active Directory Service Accounts for Windows Containers](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/virtualization/windowscontainers/manage-containers/manage-serviceaccounts) has this information now: "Although Windows Containers cannot be domain-joined, ..." – sschoof Feb 06 '17 at 09:03
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You can't join containers to a domain but if your app needs to authenticate then you can use managed service accounts. Saves you the hassle of having to deal with packaging passwords.

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/virtualization/windowscontainers/management/manage_serviceaccounts

JustSomeQuickGuy
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