Docker Known Issues and Restrictions

You should be aware of the following limitations when using COBOL Server with Docker:

Debugging

  • You must be using Visual Studio 2017 or later to be able to debug a managed COBOL application running in a container.

General

  • Java is supported from version 8 update 162 onwards.
  • It is not possible to containerize COBOL applications using lightweight operating systems such as CoreOS Container Linux, SUSE MicroOS and Alpine Linux.
  • It is not possible to run COBOL applications in containers on Linux on PowerPC or S/390 chipsets.
  • Using the Micro Focus SupportLine Support Scan Utility, MFSupportInfo, in a container is not supported on Windows.
  • The microsoft/windowsservercore image only supports the English language so you cannot use any other languages in images based on that image.

    The base images for COBOL Server that are created by the Docker demonstrations are based on the microsoft/dotnet-framework image (which is based on the microsoft/windowsservercore image), so this restriction applies to any images created using the Docker demonstrations.

Operating Systems

COBOL Server is supported for use with Docker on the following operating systems:

  • Windows 10 (Pro or Enterprise editions) with Hyper-V enabled
  • Windows Server 2016
Note: Docker cannot be used on a PC that has VirtualBox or VMware installed.

Use with Micro Focus Products

  • There is no support for building or managing Docker images from the Visual COBOL IDE.