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36 changes: 36 additions & 0 deletions content/manuals/admin/organization/manage-products.md
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ product, including how to set up and configure them, see the following manuals:
- [Docker Build Cloud](../../build-cloud/_index.md)
- [Docker Scout](../../scout/_index.md)
- [Testcontainers Cloud](https://testcontainers.com/cloud/docs/#getting-started)
- [Docker Offload](../../offload/_index.md)

## Manage product access for your organization

Expand Down Expand Up @@ -98,6 +99,39 @@ To manage access to Testcontainers Cloud:
select **Account**.
1. Select **Settings**, then **Lock access to Testcontainers Cloud**.

{{< /tab >}}
{{< tab name="Docker Offload" >}}

### Manage Docker Offload access

> [!NOTE]
>
> Docker Offload isn't included in the core Docker subscription plans. To make Docker Offload available, you must [sign
> up](https://www.docker.com/products/docker-offload/) and subscribe.

To manage Docker Offload access for your organization, use [Settings
Management](/manuals/enterprise/security/hardened-desktop/settings-management/_index.md):

1. Sign in to [Docker Home](https://app.docker.com/) as an organization owner.
1. Select **Admin Console** > **Desktop Settings Management**.
1. Configure the **Enable Docker Offload** setting to control whether Docker Offload features are available in Docker
Desktop. You can configure this setting in five states:
- **Always enabled**: Docker Offload is always enabled and users cannot disable it. The Offload
toggle is always visible in Docker Desktop header. Recommended for VDI environments where local Docker execution is
not possible.
- **Enabled**: Docker Offload is enabled by default but users can disable it in Docker Desktop
settings. Suitable for hybrid environments.
- **Disabled**: Docker Offload is disabled by default but users can enable it in Docker Desktop
settings.
- **Always disabled**: Docker Offload is disabled and users cannot enable it. The option is
visible but locked. Use when Docker Offload is not approved for organizational use.
- **User defined**: No enforced default. Users choose whether to enable or disable Docker Offload in their
Docker Desktop settings.
1. Select **Save**.

For more details on Settings Management, see the [Settings
reference](/manuals/enterprise/security/hardened-desktop/settings-management/settings-reference.md#enable-docker-offload).

{{< /tab >}}
{{< /tabs >}}

Expand All @@ -110,6 +144,8 @@ To view usage for Docker products:
- Docker Build Cloud: View the **Build minutes** page in [Docker Build Cloud](http://app.docker.com/build).
- Docker Scout: View the [**Repository settings** page](https://scout.docker.com/settings/repos) in Docker Scout.
- Testcontainers Cloud: View the [**Billing** page](https://app.testcontainers.cloud/dashboard/billing) in Testcontainers Cloud.
- Docker Offload: View the **Offload** > **Offload overview** page in [Docker Home](https://app.docker.com/). For more details, see
[Docker Offload usage and billing](/offload/usage/).

If your usage or seat count exceeds your subscription amount, you can
[scale your subscription](../../subscription/scale.md) to meet your needs.
12 changes: 12 additions & 0 deletions content/manuals/desktop/settings-and-maintenance/settings.md
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Expand Up @@ -519,3 +519,15 @@ On Mac, you can reconfigure your initial installation settings on the **Advance
- **Allow privileged port mapping (Requires password)**. Starts the privileged helper process which binds the ports that are between 1 and 1024. For more information, see [permission requirements for macOS](/manuals/desktop/setup/install/mac-permission-requirements.md#binding-privileged-ports).

For more information on each configuration and use case, see [Permission requirements](/manuals/desktop/setup/install/mac-permission-requirements.md).

## Docker Offload

When signed in with a Docker account that has access to [Docker Offload](../../offload/_index.md), you can manage your
Offload settings from the **Docker Offload** tab.

Use the **Docker Offload** tab to:

- Toggle **Enable Docker Offload**. When enabled, you can start Offload sessions.
- Select **Idle timeout**. This is the duration of time between no activity and Docker Offload entering idle mode.For
details about idle timeout, see [Active and idle states](../../offload/configuration.md#understand-active-and-idle-states)
- Check **Enable GPU support**. When enabled, workloads can use cloud GPU if available.
14 changes: 6 additions & 8 deletions content/manuals/desktop/setup/vm-vdi.md
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Expand Up @@ -16,18 +16,16 @@ depending on whether nested virtualization is supported:

- If your environment supports nested virtualization, you can run Docker Desktop
with its default local Linux VM.
- If nested virtualization is not supported, Docker recommends using [Docker
Offload](/offload/).
- If nested virtualization is not supported, Docker recommends subscribing to and using Docker Offload.

## Use Docker Offload

Docker Offload lets you offload container workloads to a high-performance, fully
hosted cloud environment, enabling a seamless hybrid experience.
[Docker Offload](/offload/) lets you offload container workloads to a high-performance, fully hosted cloud environment,
enabling a seamless hybrid experience.

Docker Offload is useful in virtual desktop environments where nested
virtualization isn't supported. In these environments, Docker Desktop defaults
to using Docker Offload to ensure you can still build and run containers without
relying on local virtualization.
Docker Offload is useful in virtual desktop environments where nested virtualization isn't supported. In these
environments, Docker Desktop can use Docker Offload to ensure you can still build and run containers without relying on
local virtualization.

Docker Offload decouples the Docker Desktop client from the Docker Engine,
allowing the Docker CLI and Docker Desktop Dashboard to interact with
Expand Down
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Expand Up @@ -906,13 +906,18 @@ deployment of AI features in security-conscious organizations.
|---------------|-----------------|----------|
| `false` | `true`, `false` | Boolean |

- **Description:** Enable [Docker Offload](/offload/) in Docker Desktop.
- **Description:** Enable Docker Offload integration features and functionality. When enabled, users see the Docker Offload toggle in the Docker Desktop header.
- **OS:** {{< badge color=blue text="All" >}}
- **Use case:** Offload building and running containers to the cloud.
- **Use case:** Control Docker Offload availability and whether users can change the setting.
- **Configure this setting with:**
- **Beta** settings in [Docker Desktop GUI](/manuals/desktop/settings-and-maintenance/settings.md)
- **Docker Offload** settings in [Docker Desktop GUI](/manuals/desktop/settings-and-maintenance/settings.md)
- Settings Management: `enableCloud` setting in the [`admin-settings.json` file](/manuals/enterprise/security/hardened-desktop/settings-management/configure-json-file.md)
- Settings Management: **Enable Docker Cloud** setting in the [Admin Console](/manuals/enterprise/security/hardened-desktop/settings-management/configure-admin-console.md)
- Settings Management: **Enable Docker Offload** setting in the [Admin Console](/manuals/enterprise/security/hardened-desktop/settings-management/configure-admin-console.md)

> [!NOTE]
>
> This setting is only available when Docker Offload capability is enabled for
> the organization.

### Enable Wasm

Expand Down Expand Up @@ -1046,17 +1051,6 @@ you relax this in a controlled way. See ECI Configuration for more info.

The following settings aren’t shown in the Docker Desktop GUI. You can only configure them using Settings Management with the Admin Console or the `admin-settings.json` file.

### Enable Docker Cloud GPU Support

| Default value | Accepted values | Format |
|---------------|-----------------|----------|
| `true` | `true`, `false` | Boolean |

- **Description:** Enable GPU support for Docker Cloud features.
- **OS:** {{< badge color=blue text="All" >}}
- **Configure this setting with:**
- Settings Management: **Enable Docker Cloud GPU Support** setting in the [Admin Console](/manuals/enterprise/security/hardened-desktop/settings-management/configure-admin-console.md

### Block `docker load`

| Default value | Accepted values | Format |
Expand Down
14 changes: 8 additions & 6 deletions content/manuals/offload/_index.md
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Expand Up @@ -7,8 +7,8 @@ params:
sidebar:
group: Products
badge:
color: blue
text: Beta
color: violet
text: Early Access

grid:

Expand All @@ -27,13 +27,13 @@ grid:
icon: tune
link: /offload/configuration/

- title: Usage
description: Learn about Docker Offload usage and how to monitor your cloud resources.
- title: Usage and billing
description: Learn about Docker Offload usage and billing, and how to monitor your cloud resources.
icon: monitor_heart
link: /offload/usage/

- title: Optimize
description: Improve performance, caching, and cost efficiency in Docker Offload.
description: Improve performance and cost efficiency in Docker Offload.
icon: speed
link: /offload/optimize/

Expand All @@ -55,7 +55,9 @@ aliases:

Docker Offload is a fully managed service that lets you offload building and
running containers to the cloud using the Docker tools you already know. It
provides cloud infrastructure for fast, consistent builds and compute-heavy
enables developers to work efficiently in virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)
environments or systems that don't support nested virtualization, while also
providing cloud infrastructure for fast, consistent builds and compute-heavy
workloads like running LLMs or machine learning pipelines.

Choose a reason for hiding this comment

The reason will be displayed to describe this comment to others. Learn more.

We decide to deprioritise the GPU / AI workloads for the moment.
Please remove any mention here and elsewhere about this use case.
Thank you.


In the following topics, learn about Docker Offload, how to set it up, use it
Expand Down
65 changes: 13 additions & 52 deletions content/manuals/offload/about.md
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Expand Up @@ -3,39 +3,32 @@ title: About Docker Offload
linktitle: About
weight: 15
description: Learn about Docker Offload, its features, and how it works.
keywords: cloud, build, remote builder
keywords: cloud, offload, vdi
---

Docker Offload is a fully managed service for building and running containers in
the cloud using the Docker tools you already know, including Docker Desktop, the
Docker CLI, and Docker Compose. It extends your local development workflow into a
scalable, cloud-powered environment, so you can offload compute-heavy tasks,
accelerate builds, and securely manage container workloads across the software
lifecycle.
scalable, cloud-powered environment, enabling developers to work efficiently even
in virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) environments or systems that don't support
nested virtualization.


Docker Offload also supports GPU-accelerated instances, allowing you to
containerize and run compute-intensive workloads such as Docker Model Runner and
other machine learning or data processing tasks that benefit from GPU.

## Key features

Docker Offload includes the following capabilities to support modern container
workflows:

- Cloud-based builds: Execute builds on remote, fully managed BuildKit instances
- GPU acceleration: Use NVIDIA L4 GPU-backed environments for machine learning,
media processing, and other compute-intensive workloads.
- Ephemeral cloud runners: Automatically provision and tear down cloud
environments for each container session.
- Shared build cache: Speed up build times across machines and teammates with a
smart, shared cache layer.
- Hybrid workflows: Seamlessly transition between local and remote execution
using Docker Desktop or CLI.
- Secure communication: Use encrypted tunnels between Docker Desktop and cloud
environments with support for secure secrets and image pulling.
- Port forwarding and bind mounts: Retain a local development experience even
when running containers in the cloud.
- VDI-friendly: Use Docker Offload in virtual desktop environments or systems that
- VDI-friendly: [Use Docker Desktop](../desktop/setup/vm-vdi.md) in virtual desktop environments or systems that
don't support nested virtualization.

## Why use Docker Offload?
Expand All @@ -44,9 +37,7 @@ Docker Offload is designed to support modern development teams working across
local and cloud environments. It helps you:

- Offload heavy builds and runs to fast, scalable infrastructure
- Accelerate feedback loops in development and testing
- Run containers that require more resources than your local setup can provide
- Build and run AI apps with instant access to GPU-powered environments
- Use Docker Compose to manage complex, multi-service apps that need cloud
resources
- Maintain consistent environments without managing custom infrastructure
Expand All @@ -61,39 +52,16 @@ local tools.
Docker Offload replaces the need to build or run containers locally by connecting
Docker Desktop to secure, dedicated cloud resources.

### Building with Docker Offload

When you use Docker Offload for builds, the `docker buildx build` command sends
the build request to a remote BuildKit instance in the cloud, instead of
executing it locally. Your workflow stays the same, only the execution
environment changes.

The build runs on infrastructure provisioned and managed by Docker:

- Each cloud builder is an isolated Amazon EC2 instance with its own EBS volume
- Remote builders use a shared cache to speed up builds across machines and
teammates
- Build results are encrypted in transit and sent to your specified destination
(such as a registry or local image store)

Docker Offload manages the lifecycle of builders automatically. There's no need to
provision or maintain infrastructure.

> [!NOTE]
>
> Docker Offload builders are currently hosted in the United States East region. Users in
> other regions may experience increased latency.

### Running containers with Docker Offload

When you use Docker Offload to run containers, a Docker Desktop creates a secure
When you use Docker Offload to build or run containers, a Docker Desktop creates a secure
SSH tunnel to a Docker daemon running in the cloud. Your containers are started
and managed entirely in that remote environment.

Here's what happens:

1. Docker Desktop connects to the cloud and triggers container creation.
2. Docker Offload pulls the required images and starts containers in the cloud.
2. Docker Offload builds or pulls the required images and starts containers in the cloud.
3. The connection stays open while the containers run.
4. When the containers stop running, the environment shuts down and is cleaned
up automatically.
Expand All @@ -104,22 +72,15 @@ support nested virtualization. This makes Docker Offload ideal for developers
using environments such as virtual desktops, cloud-hosted development machines,
or older hardware.

Docker Offload also supports GPU-accelerated workloads. Containers that require
GPU access can run on cloud instances provisioned with NVIDIA L4 GPUs for
efficient AI inferencing, media processing, and general-purpose GPU
acceleration. This enables compute-heavy workflows such as model evaluation,
image processing, and hardware-accelerated CI tests to run seamlessly in the
cloud.

Despite running remotely, features like bind mounts and port forwarding continue
to work seamlessly, providing a local-like experience from within Docker Desktop
and the CLI.

Docker Offload provisions an ephemeral cloud environment for each session. The
environment remains active while you are interacting with Docker Desktop or
actively using containers. If no activity is detected for about 5 minutes, the
session shuts down automatically. This includes any containers, images, or
volumes in that environment, which are deleted when the session ends.
Docker Offload automatically transitions between active and idle states based on
usage. You're only charged when actively building or running containers. When
idle for more than 5 minutes, the session ends and resources are cleaned up. For
details about how this works and how to configure idle timeout, see [Active and
idle states](configuration.md#understand-active-and-idle-states).

## What's next

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