Installing Matlab on a Windows Docker

Question

Trying to install Matlab run time on a docker image along with the project I'm working on, the project is an engine that will run a variety of measurements based on what is given to it, many of these measurements use Matlab. When I run the docker though I get an error that the "MWArray assembly failed to be initialized" or that a matlab dll is missing.

I'm trying to run this in Docker for Windows due to a company requirement, and have been unable to successfully get the DockerFile to recognize the MCR. Below is the code that I've been playing with to get the MCR onto a docker.

FROM mcr.microsoft.com/dotnet/framework/runtime:4.7.2-windowsservercore-ltsc2019

ADD http://ssd.mathworks.com/supportfiles/downloads/R2017b/deployment_files/R2017b/installers/win64/MCR_R2017b_win64_installer.exe C:\\MCR_R2017b_win64_installer.zip

# Line 3: Use PowerShell
SHELL ["powershell", "-Command", "$ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'; $ProgressPreference = 'SilentlyContinue';"]

# Line 4: Unpack ZIP contents to installation folder
RUN Expand-Archive C:\\MCR_R2017b_win64_installer.zip -DestinationPath C:\\MCR_INSTALLER

# Line 5: Run the setup command for a non-interactive installation of MCR
RUN Start-Process C:\MCR_INSTALLER\bin\win64\setup.exe -ArgumentList '-mode silent', '-agreeToLicense yes' -Wait

# Line 6: Remove ZIP and installation folder after setup is complete
RUN Remove-Item -Force -Recurse C:\\MCR_INSTALLER, C:\\MCR_R2017b_win64_installer.zip

WORKDIR /app
COPY /Project/bin/Debug/*.dll ./
COPY /Project/bin/Debug/Project.exe .
ENTRYPOINT ["C:\\app\\Project.exe"]

Edit: I think I've found a working solution, following the idea from the other anwser about the ltsc2019 not working with Matlab 2017b. The below code has worked with 2017b inside a docker.

FROM mcr.microsoft.com/windows:1809

Answer 1

Windows Server 2019 is not supported by MATLAB R2017b, and support for it was not introduced until MATLAB R2019a.

For MATLAB R2017b you'll need Windows Server 2016.

That's not to say there may not be other issues as well.