DC/OS vs Elastic Apache Mesos: What are the differences?

## Introduction

Elastic Apache Mesos and DC/OS are both popular platforms for managing containerized workloads. While they both leverage Apache Mesos, there are key differences between them that cater to different needs and preferences of users.

1. **Architecture**: DC/OS is a comprehensive platform that includes a range of services such as Marathon for container orchestration, Metronome for job scheduling, and Universe for package management. On the other hand, Elastic Apache Mesos is a minimalistic framework that focuses solely on Apache Mesos for container orchestration without bundling additional services.

2. **Ease of Use**: DC/OS provides a user-friendly interface that simplifies the management of clusters, applications, and resources through a graphical user interface. In contrast, Elastic Apache Mesos typically requires a higher level of expertise to configure and manage as it offers more flexibility but at the cost of complexity.

3. **Scalability**: DC/OS is designed to scale seamlessly across thousands of nodes, making it suitable for large-scale environments with high resource demands. In comparison, Elastic Apache Mesos can also handle scalability but may require more manual configuration and tuning to achieve the same level of performance as DC/OS.

4. **Vendor Support**: DC/OS is backed by the company D2iQ (formerly Mesosphere), which offers commercial support, training, and consulting services for enterprises using the platform. On the contrary, Elastic Apache Mesos is more community-driven, relying on user contributions and open-source development with limited commercial backing.

5. **Integration Ecosystem**: DC/OS comes with an extensive ecosystem of integrated tools and services that can be easily deployed and managed within the platform, such as databases, messaging systems, and monitoring tools. Elastic Apache Mesos, being more lightweight, may lack the same level of ready-to-use integrations and may require more manual setup and configuration.

6. **Cost**: DC/OS, being a comprehensive platform with commercial support options, typically involves higher costs for enterprise deployments. Elastic Apache Mesos, being more community-driven and minimalist, can be a more cost-effective option for organizations looking to manage containerized workloads on a budget.

In Summary, DC/OS offers a comprehensive platform with integrated services, scalability, and vendor support, while Elastic Apache Mesos provides a more minimalist and customizable approach with a focus on Apache Mesos alone, suitable for users who prioritize flexibility and cost-effectiveness over convenience and additional features.