Docker VS Incus

Apps and Virtualization
1

Hello everyone

I saw that truenas version 25.04 includes Incus. I assume Docker is still part of 25.04. I read that Incus manages containers like Docker and VMs. I have around ten applications that work well in Docker.
Question: When to use Docker and when to use Incus.

2

I can’t speak for VMs, but if you want to have “jails” like Core, then Incus allows you to create and manage Linux “containers” based on a distro of your choice.

A complete filesystem with a package manager. I think it includes a full network stack too?

I personally prefer “jails” over prepackaged Docker solutions for two main reasons:

  • Complete control of the filesystem, including configs, system files, and granular customization. (Other than data storage on your ZFS datasets, you don’t need to fiddle with “host path” or special directories.)
  • You have access to more software, not only because of the package management system, but you can even compile or install software that is only available from the upstream developers, or software that requires patches that the original devs have abandoned.
3

Complete control makes sense with jails until you run into library version conflicts and dependency hell. Which is the biggest reason work switched new dev projects to kube. Also allows for CI/CD with devs being able to run the exact same containers on their workstations.

For home use? Scale lets you choose which option for whatever projects you want to run. I’d rather not need to maintain multiple OSs (jails), so docker works for me. If I had some project that ran better in a full OS, then sure. Nice to have the option!

3 Likes
4

Yes it’s for home use. Thanks to both of you. It’s clearer for me. In a first time I’ll leave my applications on docker since it works well and is efficient. Later I will try Incus/jailmaker.

5

I like the incus/jailmaker approach for my apps better then the buildin apps system because i had problems to get blocky working on port 53
Right now my whole docker stack runs in the jail on a separate ip for the jail.
0 Problems so far since i’ve switched over 8 months ago.

6

I like this sentence very much and it is the sign of humility.
My knowledge is also very limited, in my life in general.