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Docker Machine vs Kubernetes: What are the differences?
Introduction
In this task, we will discuss the key differences between Docker Machine and Kubernetes.
1. Docker Machine: Docker Machine is a tool that helps in creating and managing multiple Docker hosts. It enables users to install Docker Engine on various host platforms, including local machines, cloud providers, and virtual machines. Docker Machine simplifies the process of creating and managing Docker environments on different hosts, allowing users to work seamlessly with containers.
2. Kubernetes: Kubernetes, on the other hand, is a powerful container orchestration platform. It is designed to automate the management, scaling, and deployment of containerized applications. Kubernetes provides a container-centric infrastructure that allows developers to manage containers across multiple hosts efficiently. It offers features like high availability, auto-scaling, rolling updates, load balancing, and more.
3. Docker Machine's Purpose: Docker Machine primarily focuses on managing individual Docker hosts and creating Docker environments that can run containers. It provides a simple way to set up and manage Docker on various host platforms, making it easy for developers to deploy containers locally or on remote machines. Docker Machine is suitable for small-scale deployments or when working with a single host.
4. Kubernetes' Purpose: Kubernetes, on the other hand, is designed to manage containerized applications at scale. It abstracts the underlying infrastructure and provides a layer of orchestration and automation. Kubernetes enables users to manage and deploy applications across a cluster of multiple hosts, allowing organizations to scale their containerized applications efficiently.
5. Level of Abstraction: Docker Machine operates at a lower level of abstraction compared to Kubernetes. It focuses on managing individual Docker hosts and their environments. Docker Machine allows developers to create and manage Docker machines using a command-line interface. On the other hand, Kubernetes operates at a higher level of abstraction by providing a platform to manage containerized applications without worrying about the underlying host infrastructure.
6. Scalability and Cluster Management: One of the key differences between Docker Machine and Kubernetes is their approach to scalability and cluster management. Docker Machine is not specifically designed for scaling containerized applications across multiple hosts. It is more suitable for managing individual hosts or small-scale deployments. On the other hand, Kubernetes excels at managing clusters of hosts and scaling applications across them. It provides features like automatic load balancing, self-healing, and horizontal scaling, making it ideal for large-scale deployments.
In summary, Docker Machine is a tool for managing Docker hosts and environments, while Kubernetes is a powerful container orchestration platform designed for scaling and managing containerized applications across clusters of hosts. Docker Machine operates at a lower level of abstraction and is suitable for smaller deployments, while Kubernetes operates at a higher level of abstraction and excels at managing clusters and large-scale deployments.
Advice on Docker Machine and Kubernetes
Pavel Amialiushka
Hello, we have a bunch of local hosts (Linux and Windows) where Docker containers are running with bamboo agents on them. Currently, each container is installed as a system service. Each host is set up manually. I want to improve the system by adding some sort of orchestration software that should install, update and check for consistency in my docker containers. I don't need any clouds, all hosts are local. I'd prefer simple solutions. What orchestration system should I choose?
Replies (1)
Mortie Torabi
DevOps Architect · | 7 upvotes · 165.4K views
If you just want the basic orchestration between a set of defined hosts, go with Docker Swarm. If you want more advanced orchestration + flexibility in terms of resource management and load balancing go with Kubernetes. In both cases, you can make it even more complex while making the whole architecture more understandable and replicable by using Terraform.
Decisions about Docker Machine and Kubernetes
Michael Roberts
CEO at asencis · | 4 upvotes · 254.4K views
We develop rapidly with docker-compose orchestrated services, however, for production - we utilise the very best ideas that Kubernetes has to offer: SCALE! We can scale when needed, setting a maximum and minimum level of nodes for each application layer - scaling only when the load balancer needs it. This allowed us to reduce our devops costs by 40% whilst also maintaining an SLA of 99.87%.
Simon Reymann
Senior Fullstack Developer at QUANTUSflow Software GmbH · | 30 upvotes · 11.1M views
Our whole DevOps stack consists of the following tools:
- GitHub (incl. GitHub Pages/Markdown for Documentation, GettingStarted and HowTo's) for collaborative review and code management tool
- Respectively Git as revision control system
- SourceTree as Git GUI
- Visual Studio Code as IDE
- CircleCI for continuous integration (automatize development process)
- Prettier / TSLint / ESLint as code linter
- SonarQube as quality gate
- Docker as container management (incl. Docker Compose for multi-container application management)
- VirtualBox for operating system simulation tests
- Kubernetes as cluster management for docker containers
- Heroku for deploying in test environments
- nginx as web server (preferably used as facade server in production environment)
- SSLMate (using OpenSSL) for certificate management
- Amazon EC2 (incl. Amazon S3) for deploying in stage (production-like) and production environments
- PostgreSQL as preferred database system
- Redis as preferred in-memory database/store (great for caching)
The main reason we have chosen Kubernetes over Docker Swarm is related to the following artifacts:
- Key features: Easy and flexible installation, Clear dashboard, Great scaling operations, Monitoring is an integral part, Great load balancing concepts, Monitors the condition and ensures compensation in the event of failure.
- Applications: An application can be deployed using a combination of pods, deployments, and services (or micro-services).
- Functionality: Kubernetes as a complex installation and setup process, but it not as limited as Docker Swarm.
- Monitoring: It supports multiple versions of logging and monitoring when the services are deployed within the cluster (Elasticsearch/Kibana (ELK), Heapster/Grafana, Sysdig cloud integration).
- Scalability: All-in-one framework for distributed systems.
- Other Benefits: Kubernetes is backed by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), huge community among container orchestration tools, it is an open source and modular tool that works with any OS.
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Learn MorePros of Docker Machine
Pros of Kubernetes
Pros of Docker Machine
- Easy docker hosts management12
Pros of Kubernetes
- Leading docker container management solution166
- Simple and powerful129
- Open source107
- Backed by google76
- The right abstractions58
- Scale services25
- Replication controller20
- Permission managment11
- Supports autoscaling9
- Simple8
- Cheap8
- Self-healing6
- Open, powerful, stable5
- Reliable5
- No cloud platform lock-in5
- Promotes modern/good infrascture practice5
- Scalable4
- Quick cloud setup4
- Custom and extensibility3
- Captain of Container Ship3
- Cloud Agnostic3
- Backed by Red Hat3
- Runs on azure3
- A self healing environment with rich metadata3
- Everything of CaaS2
- Gke2
- Golang2
- Easy setup2
- Expandable2
- Sfg2
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Cons of Docker Machine
Cons of Kubernetes
Cons of Docker Machine
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Cons of Kubernetes
- Steep learning curve16
- Poor workflow for development15
- Orchestrates only infrastructure8
- High resource requirements for on-prem clusters4
- Too heavy for simple systems2
- Additional vendor lock-in (Docker)1
- More moving parts to secure1
- Additional Technology Overhead1
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- No public GitHub repository available -
What is Docker Machine?
Machine lets you create Docker hosts on your computer, on cloud providers, and inside your own data center. It creates servers, installs Docker on them, then configures the Docker client to talk to them.
What is Kubernetes?
Kubernetes is an open source orchestration system for Docker containers. It handles scheduling onto nodes in a compute cluster and actively manages workloads to ensure that their state matches the users declared intentions.
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What companies use Docker Machine?
What companies use Kubernetes?
What companies use Docker Machine?
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What tools integrate with Docker Machine?
What tools integrate with Kubernetes?
What tools integrate with Docker Machine?
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What are some alternatives to Docker Machine and Kubernetes?
Docker Compose
With Compose, you define a multi-container application in a single file, then spin your application up in a single command which does everything that needs to be done to get it running.
boot2docker
boot2docker is a lightweight Linux distribution based on Tiny Core Linux made specifically to run Docker containers. It runs completely from RAM, weighs ~27MB and boots in ~5s (YMMV).
Docker
The Docker Platform is the industry-leading container platform for continuous, high-velocity innovation, enabling organizations to seamlessly build and share any application — from legacy to what comes next — and securely run them anywhere
Ansible
Ansible is an IT automation tool. It can configure systems, deploy software, and orchestrate more advanced IT tasks such as continuous deployments or zero downtime rolling updates. Ansible’s goals are foremost those of simplicity and maximum ease of use.
Docker Swarm
Swarm serves the standard Docker API, so any tool which already communicates with a Docker daemon can use Swarm to transparently scale to multiple hosts: Dokku, Compose, Krane, Deis, DockerUI, Shipyard, Drone, Jenkins... and, of course, the Docker client itself.