¶ Pre-Requisites
- At least 4 GB of RAM
- At least 2 CPU cores
- Virtualization enabled in the BIOS
- Docker and Docker Compose
- FreeRDP
¶ How to enable virtualization in the BIOS
During startup, press the designated key for your motherboard brand to enter the BIOS (consult your motherboard manual if unsure):
Delete, F10, F1, F2, etc.
Common BIOS Setting Names for Intel:
- Intel Virtualization Technology
- Intel VT-x / Intel VT
- Intel (VMX) Virtualization Technology
Common BIOS Setting Names for AMD:
- SVM Mode (Secure Virtual Machine)
- AMD Virtualization
- AMD-V
| Brand | Navigation Path in BIOS | Setting Name |
|---|---|---|
| ASUS | Advanced Mode (F7) > Advanced > CPU Configuration | Intel Virtualization Technology / SVM Mode |
| MSI | Overclocking / OC > CPU Features / Advanced CPU Configuration | Intel Virtualization Tech / SVM Mode |
| Gigabyte | Tweaker / M.I.T. > Advanced CPU Core Settings | Intel Virtualization Technology / SVM Mode |
| HP | Configuration / System Configuration | Virtualization Technology |
| Dell | Settings > Virtualization Support | Virtualization |
| Lenovo | Security > Virtualization | Intel Virtualization Technology / AMD-V |
¶ Install and Setup Docker
Install Docker from the PikaOS Repository.
pikman i docker.io docker-compose
Add your user to the "docker" group.
sudo groupadd docker
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
Enable the Docker service at boot.
sudo systemctl enable --now docker
¶ Install FreeRDP
Install Stable via Flatpak.
flatpak install com.freerdp.FreeRDP
Install Experimental via Nightly FreeRDP Repository
Follow the FreeRDP instructions on how to add the repository and installation.
¶ Download and Install Winboat
Download the .deb file from the official Winboat website.
https://winboat.app/
¶ Install the package
Run the installer (adapt the filename below to match your downloaded version):
pikman i ~/Downloads/winboat-0.9.0-amd64.deb
¶ Final Step: Reboot
You must log out and log back in (or restart your PC) before launching Winboat.
This applies the changes to your user groups so Winboat can communicate with Docker without permission issues.
¶ System Performance Impact:
Please note that Docker and Winboat are configured to start automatically when your system boots.
Because Winboat runs a virtualized environment inside a background container, this autostart behavior can increase system boot times and consume notable CPU and RAM resources right after startup.
If you experience performance degradation on lower-end systems, consider disabling the Docker service at boot or configuring Winboat to run only on demand.
¶ Disable Winboat Container Autostart
To prevent the Windows environment itself from launching automatically in the background when Docker starts, change the toggle inside the application settings:
- Open Winboat.
- Go to the Configuration menu on the left side.
- Turn off the Auto Start Container toggle.
¶ Disable Docker Service Autostart
To prevent Docker from running automatically when you boot your computer, run this command in your terminal:
sudo systemctl disable docker
Note: After disabling autostart, you must manually start the Docker background service every time you want to use Winboat by running:
sudo systemctl start docker