There is a specific way in which developers make codes these days, but usually the outcome is that they end up having bugs and numerous errors. Containerization enables developers to deploy and create better application quickly and safely.

What is Containerization?

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For those looking for an alternative to virtualization, containerization is the answer. The general idea or concept of this technique involves packaging or encapsulating the code along with all dependencies, to ensure that it runs smoothly on any infrastructure or platform without issues.

This new technique is showing great potential and maturing quickly. The effectiveness it offers is making is very popular among developers. It also offers numerous benefits. It also helps prevent these issues by bundling the software code with related dependencies, libraries, and files that support it to run smoothly. This approach enables developers to pack everything into a “container” that can run over the cloud or any other platform, without bugs and errors. One important thing to keep in mind is that it depends on stored data.

Importance of Using Containers

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Containers are an important and advanced technology that is necessary for cloud computing. Most companies worldwide, small or large, are using containers to improve their software that enables better management. This approach offers continuous integration and delivery, which is beneficial for companies to operate smoothly.

It is right to say that containers are the backbone of private cloud storage systems. In the early days, cloud computing was a major game changer in terms of better control on data storage and sharing, and security. It simultaneously supported the use of multiple cloud-based services. This proved an important development in companies that require uploading new applications and existing applications to the cloud for operation and access.

There are three major reasons why containers are important:

1. They are a modern approach to using applications
2. They create cloud-native applications for enterprises to use at a large scale
3. They support opening a data center that works via the cloud

History and Future of Containerization

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This technique has been around for decades, but is gaining traction only recently. The reason for this new development is the emergence of Docker Engine, which was developed in 2013. Docker Engine is an open-source software.

Gartner, a well-known research firm, projected that as many as 50% of companies would turn to Containerization by 2020. This is happening.

Moreover, results from a survey conducted by IBM in 2017 show that this adoption has happened even faster than predicted. The research suggested that 59% of companies had already adopted containerization to reduce the defects in the new apps developed to facilitate businesses.

Benefits of Containerization

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Portability      

Containerization offers a container, in which all executable files are tied together to ensure that the software launches on OS (operating system). Rather, it is more portable and can run across any cloud or platform there is. Developers will not have a problem building new code for every platform to avoid bugs and errors. Rather they would use containerization and solve all their problems.

Speed

Containerized containers are also known as “lightweight.” They can share the operating system of the machine without causing other technical glitches. This results in the servers being more efficient and productive. Moreover, it is cost effective in terms of licensing and server management. It also increases the speed of operations.

Fault isolation

Each container is not dependent upon any other container in containerization. If one container were having a problem, it would not disturb the other containers. The developers can work on a specific part of an application while not ruining the whole application at the same time. This is great for developer teams, as they do not have the hassle of rewriting code, repeatedly, a thousand times.

Efficiency

As we already know, containers can share the OS of the machine. Containers can share information with other containers, which can result in a faster and efficient time to carry out a specific task. This will make sure that fewer numbers of containers are bought, resulting in less amount of licensing and server expenses.

Easy management

There are special platforms that support the execution of containerized files. This enables easy management of the containerized apps, and rolling out of the apps. Generally, this provides ease in debugging, monitoring, and debugging.

One such platform that is quite popular for orchestration of container systems is Kubernetes. It is an open-source platform or technology, which Google owned previously. It originally automated Linux containerized functions. Now it works with other container engines like Docker and others that comply with the OCI (Open Container Initiative) standards.

Security

As data is stored in containers and is isolated, this prevents any mischievous code from entering the application and resulting in shutting down the whole process. Containerization security may be compromised. When people have applications that contain sensitive information or data, it becomes mandatory to use robust and additional security measures. IT professionals can integrate these measures into the containers for effective security of data. Many security measures can be taken such as any unwanted code entering the containers that can be automatically blocked and not allowed to enter the containers.

Drawbacks of Containerization

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Site constraints

As containers require loads of space, most sites do not have that much server space to allocate to containers. This is why many sites are hesitant in this new technology. If they implement this new technology, they would have to buy loads of server space so more server cost.

Limitations in running on bare-metal speed

Generally, compared to virtualization, containers tend to consume more resources and that too efficiently. However, it is common for containers to lack in performance due to the lack of networking infrastructure, and poor interfacing between the host system and the containers. Other similar issues tend to exist. To achieve 100% bare-metal speed, you must use bare metal.

Fractured container ecosystem

Due to a huge competition between container companies, some container products do not work on every other container. For example, containers by Red Hat like OpenShift only work on Kubernetes Orchestrators, and not on other platforms.

Complicated data storage

Superficially, once the container shuts down, all the data inside the container vanishes; unless you have, a backup stored somewhere. You can save data persistently in Docker Data Volumes, which is a complicated thing to do, and most people are not yet familiar with it.

Poor performance of graphical applications

You may be aware that some character systems organize server applications. They do not need a graphic interface. Likewise, some creative strategies like X11 video forwarding allow you to run GUI apps inside the container. These solutions are difficult to use, and seldom work.

Containers do not benefit all apps

Although containers seem to be a great development, and tend to make things better for most IT professionals, they may not always be useful. Applications designed to operate as microservices tend to benefit from containers. The main benefit of using containers is that the applications provide an easy packaging mechanism.

Types of popular Containerization technologies

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Container runtimes

·         Docker Enterprise

·         CRI-O

·         rktlet

·         containerd

·         Microsoft Containers

Cluster management and deployment

·         Kubernetes

·         Istio and Envoy

·         Apache Mesos

·         Docker Swarm

·         Docker Datacenter

Storage containers

·         BlockBridge

·         EMC / libstorage

Container security

·         Twistlock

·         Aqua Container Security

·         StackRox

·         Aporeto

 

Operating systems 

·         Alpine Linux

·         RancherOS

·         CoreOS Container Linux

·         Ubuntu Core

·         Red Hat Atomic Host

·         Microsoft Nano Server

·         VMware Photon

A Comparison of Virtualization & Containerization

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Many people compare both of these techniques because they are similar in the types of software they allow to run. However, the containerization approach is proving more beneficial than the other and becoming a favorite among IT professionals.

Compared to Virtualization, Containerization uses less resources, and enables better use of computing resources.

The use of virtualization allows IT Professionals to use multiple OS and Software at the same time, and even share the available resources on a single computer. This means that IT companies can run Linux, Windows, and multiple versions on OS and multiple apps on a single server.

The entire data (the OS, libraries, related files, dependencies) are packed into a container forming a virtual machine. Having multiple virtual machines running on a single server increases savings by reducing operational, energy, and other costs.

On the other hand, containerization uses the resources in a more efficient manner. It creates a single package of the entire application, bundling it into a code. It configures all related dependencies, files, and libraries that are necessary for the application to run smoothly.

Unlike Virtualization, containers do not bundle a copy of the operating system, but rather, it installs the runtime engine on the operating system of the host system or server. Thereby making it a shared server system for all containers.

Some improvements which can be made to Containerization

• Designing and maintaining templates for the containers

• Adapting/expanding existing governance models and practices

• Conforming to security policies and standards

• Integrating with the existing DevOps environment

• Selecting the right open-source tools from the hundreds available

• New skills or knowledge to manage the new containerized environment

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