Benefits And Applications Of Containerization

Containerization is the isolation and packing of software code. Unlike virtual machines, containers contain the necessary operating system, libraries, and dependencies required to run the required program. Containers are becoming immensely popular among developers due to their numerous benefits. They are portable, resource-efficient and they save developers from the hassle of encountering bugs and errors. According to Statista, Containers allow the software to run reliably in different computing environments because they comprise an entire runtime environment. Read on more to find out about the benefits and applications of containerization

Applications

Application containerization is an OS-level virtualization method that is used to distribute apps without needing to launch a virtual machine. Containerized applications are becoming increasingly popular as the solution to the limitations of virtual machines. They are enticing and valuable because of being isolated and have an open-source runtime engine. This becomes the conduit for containers to share an operating system with other containers on the same computing system.

There are various types of application containerization technologies and registries, like Docker registry by JFrog, Apache Mesos, Google Kubernetes Engine, Amazon Elastic Container Registry, and Azure Kubernetes Service. There are a plethora of platforms from where developers can get applications containerized. Information technology professionals should consider certain factors before choosing the desired platform. The following factors should be considered:

Architectural Needs

The developer should ensure that the platform meets the architectural needs of the application and check if the storage is adequate.

Legacy App Migration

The platform in question should support the desirable legacy application that has to be migrated

Application Architecture

When selecting a platform it should be considered whether the applications are monolithic, microservices, stateless, or stateful.

Packaging

Consider the application code, dependencies, containers, and their dependents in terms of format and tools.

Monitoring/Logging

Ensure that the monitoring and logging options available match application needs and are compatible with platform development workflows. Failure to do so can lead to adverse circumstances and even hacking.

Benefits Of Containerization

There are numerous benefits to containerization, these reasons are the factor that makes them this popular. Some of them are as follows:

Portability & Efficiency

Containerized applications are portable as they can run in any suitable environment without needing anything additional. All of their requirements like binaries, configuration files, and dependencies are already encapsulated in the container. Applications can be deployed with minimal hassle. Efficiency also gets a boost because the overhead is minimized and the resource usage is increased.

Security & Updates

Containerized applications are relatively more secure than their virtual machine counterparts. Upgrades for these applications are rolled out and implemented easily because they are compartmentalized. They are stable and safe because a fault in one pathway or section won’t affect the entire containerized app. They provide a simpler and more convenient way to package and deploy modern applications. As there is a recent surge in people valuing their privacy, this technology can prove fruitful. People looking for secure social media apps can open a new pathway for containerization.

Agility & Flexibility

Containerized applications streamline DevOps workflows, Containers can be created and deployed rapidly to solve any upcoming DevOps challenges. In the time of need, a container can be deployed and after usage, it can automatically shut down until needed again. A third-party application like Kubernetes automates the process of containerization.

Containerization allows developers the luxury of operating their code in either virtualized or bare-metal environments. Containerization can be adjusted to meet the demands of deployment.

Instant Startup

Compared to virtual machines, containers are extremely lightweight which leads to instant startup. This is made possible with the absence of a hypervisor or virtualized OS. This speed and rapid startup mean that containers can be frequently updated and improved according to application requirements. There is no overhead to wait for and the only limitation is the application code itself.

Containerization vs Virtualization

1. Containerization allows you to deploy numerous applications using the common Operating system on a single server. In contrast to this, virtualization enables us to run several operating systems on the hardware of a single physical server.
2. Virtual Machines are generally the choice when we have a wide variety of operating systems to manage. Containers, on the other hand, are the choice when you have to limit the number of servers or have to carry out tasks with a short lifecycle and are short-lived. Virtual Machines are slow to set up and start but they offer longevity.

Conclusion

Containerization is a very diverse technology that can be deployed in cases where virtual machines reach their capacity. If applied correctly, they can increase DeOps efficiency, accelerate deployment and streamline workflows. They have a huge benefit over virtualization as they eliminate the need for an operating system. They are portable, agile, flexible, and are considered a key component of an open hybrid cloud strategy. They offer instantaneous startup speeds, easier deployment, and greater security. In a nutshell, they are precious to developers and they can revolutionize IT.