When attempting to run a basic Docker container after upgrading from Debian Wheezy to Jessie, many users encounter this network-related error:

Error response from daemon: Cannot start container 4145d0fccd96b904e4ab4413735f1129b8765429bad5be71dc8d5f4c0760666d:
failed to create endpoint high_saha on network bridge:
failed to add the host (veth7f6f907) <=> sandbox (veth788d9dc) pair interfaces: operation not supported

The error typically occurs due to:

• Kernel version mismatch with Docker requirements
• Missing or incorrect veth kernel module
• Network namespace support issues
• Incomplete upgrade artifacts

First check your current kernel version:

uname -r

Then verify veth module availability:

lsmod | grep veth

Option 1: Kernel Upgrade

Install the latest backported kernel:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -t jessie-backports linux-image-amd64

Option 2: Manual Module Loading

Try manually loading the required modules:

sudo modprobe veth
sudo modprobe bridge

Option 3: Docker Clean Reinstall

Completely remove and reinstall Docker:

sudo apt-get purge docker-engine
sudo rm -rf /var/lib/docker
sudo apt-get install docker-engine

For persistent issues, modify Docker's network configuration:

sudo nano /etc/docker/daemon.json

Add these experimental network settings:

{
  "experimental": true,
  "ipv6": false,
  "iptables": true,
  "bridge": "none"
}

After applying fixes, verify Docker networking with:

docker network inspect bridge
docker run --rm hello-world

---

After upgrading from Debian Wheezy to Jessie, many users encounter this specific Docker networking error when attempting to run containers. The full error message typically appears as:

Error response from daemon: Cannot start container [CONTAINER_ID]:
failed to create endpoint [ENDPOINT_NAME] on network bridge:
failed to add the host (vethXXXXXX) <=> sandbox (vethXXXXXX) pair interfaces: operation not supported

This error occurs because the upgraded system lacks proper kernel support for Docker's network bridge functionality. Jessie's default kernel (3.16) may not include all necessary modules, especially when running in virtualization environments.

Key missing components:

• veth kernel module not loaded
• Bridge networking features disabled
• Potential AppArmor/SELinux conflicts

First, check your current kernel version:

uname -r
lsmod | grep veth

If no output appears for veth, the module isn't loaded.

As root, execute:

modprobe veth
modprobe bridge

To make these changes persistent:

echo "veth" >> /etc/modules
echo "bridge" >> /etc/modules

For Jessie systems, consider upgrading to a newer kernel:

apt-get update
apt-get install -y linux-image-amd64
reboot

Edit/create /etc/docker/daemon.json:

{
  "iptables": false,
  "bridge": "none"
}

Then restart Docker:

systemctl restart docker

After applying any solution, verify with:

docker run --rm hello-world

If issues persist, examine Docker's debug output:

dockerd --debug
journalctl -u docker -f

Check network interfaces:

ip link show
brctl show