Docker Machine vs boot2docker: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this document, we will discuss the key differences between Docker Machine and boot2docker.

1. 1. Operating System Support: Docker Machine is a tool that creates Docker hosts on virtual machines, and it supports a wide range of operating systems including Linux, Windows, and macOS. On the other hand, boot2docker is a lightweight Linux distribution that is designed specifically for running Docker containers, and it supports only macOS and Windows operating systems.

2. 2. Architecture: Docker Machine uses a client-server architecture where the Docker client communicates with the Docker Machine to control remote Docker hosts. On the other hand, boot2docker provides a single virtual machine that runs both the Docker daemon and the Docker client, making it a simpler setup compared to Docker Machine.

3. 3. Management of Docker hosts: Docker Machine allows you to create and manage multiple Docker hosts easily, as it abstracts the underlying infrastructure and provides a consistent interface to manage different cloud providers or virtualization platforms. On the contrary, boot2docker is restricted to running Docker containers on a single virtual machine, which limits its ability to manage multiple Docker hosts.

4. 4. Resource Requirements: Docker Machine requires more hardware resources as it sets up a virtual machine with its own operating system for each Docker host. This can lead to higher resource consumption in terms of memory and CPU usage. In contrast, boot2docker is a lightweight distribution that has lower resource requirements, making it more efficient for running Docker containers on a single virtual machine.

5. 5. Advanced Networking Features: Docker Machine provides advanced networking features such as integration with different network plugins, enabling the creation of complex networking setups for Docker hosts. On the other hand, boot2docker has limited networking capabilities and does not offer the same level of flexibility as Docker Machine for configuring network setups.

6. 6. Development vs Production Use: Docker Machine is designed to be used in both development and production environments, as it offers a flexible way to create and manage Docker hosts on different infrastructure platforms. On the other hand, boot2docker is primarily targeted towards development and testing purposes, as it provides a simple and lightweight setup for running Docker containers on a local machine.

In Summary, Docker Machine offers support for multiple operating systems, a client-server architecture, advanced networking features, and the ability to create and manage multiple Docker hosts. On the other hand, boot2docker is limited to macOS and Windows operating systems, provides a single virtual machine setup, has lower resource requirements, and is more suitable for development and testing purposes.