I'm new to Docker and am setting up Immich to manage and back up my photos on a Windows PC. I'd like the photo files and database storage to live on a separate drive from the operating system. Could installing Docker itself on another drive cause problems, and are there any Windows-specific considerations I should know about?
2 Answers
Installing Docker on a separate drive should not be a problem. The important part is configuring the container volume mounts so Immich’s library, uploads, and database storage point to the drive where you want the data kept. That said, running Docker workloads on Windows can be less straightforward. A Linux environment through WSL is generally a better option than relying entirely on the Windows setup, especially for a service you want running reliably.
Keep in mind that Immich is primarily a full photo-management library with a Google Photos-style interface. Its backup feature is useful, but it shouldn’t be your only copy of important photos. Make sure you also have a separate backup or sync process, ideally on another drive or device, in case the PC fails or files are accidentally deleted.
That’s what I’m looking for—the photo-library experience and interface, rather than just copying files with a basic backup tool.
I mainly need it to store and access my photos on this PC since I can’t use a NAS, but I appreciate the advice.