Kubernetes vs Docker: A Complete Comparison

• New containers are started up mechanically to deal with large loads.
• Self-repair is a feature of this item.
• It updates applications and checks for problems in their functioning.
• The Storage orchestration is fully automated.
• It allows for dynamic volume provisioning.

3.4 Container Orchestration with Kubernetes

With Kubernetes, you can manage a group of virtual machines and make them execute containers depending on the resources each container needs. Kubernetes’ primary functional unit is the pod, which is a collection of containers. You can control the lifetime of these containers and pods to maintain your apps online at any size.

4. How does Kubernetes Work:

Kubernetes cluster is made from the nodes running on containerized apps. At least one work node is present in each cluster and they host the pods. Meanwhile, the control plane handles the pods and worker nodes in the cluster.

5. Kubernetes vs Docker: Key Comparison

In the following tabular comparison, Kubernetes is compared with Docker Swarm. They both are direct competitors when it comes to their functionality.

6. Use Cases of Docker

Let’s have a look into use cases of Docker as compare to Kubernetes.

6.1 Reduce IT/Infrastructure Costs

When working with virtual devices, a full copy of the guest OS must be made. Fortunately, Docker doesn’t have this problem. While using Docker, you can run more applications with less infrastructure, and resource use can be optimized more effectively.

For instance, to save money on data storage, development teams might centralize their operations on a single server. Docker’s great scalability also lets you deploy resources as needed and dynamically grow the underlying infrastructure to meet fluctuating demands.

Simply said, Docker increases production, which implies you may save money by not having to hire dedicated developers as you would in a more conventional setting. 

6.2 Multi-Environment Standardization

Docker gives everyone in the pipeline access to the same settings as those in production. Think of a software development team that is changing over time. Each member of the team is responsible for updating and installing the operating system, databases, node, yarn, etc. for the newest team member. Just getting the machines set up might take a few days.

For instance, you will require to acquire two variants of a library if you utilize multiple variations in multiple apps. In particular, before running these scripts, you should set any necessary custom environment variables. So, what happens if you make some last-minute modifications to dependencies in production but neglect to do it in production?

Docker creates a container with all the necessary tools and guarantees that there will be no clashes between them. In addition, you may keep tabs on previously unnoticed environmental disruptors. Throughout the CI/CD process, Docker ensures that containers perform consistently by standardizing the environment.

6.3 Speed Up Your CI/CD Pipeline Deployments

Containers, being much more compact and more lightweight than monolithic apps, may be activated in a matter of seconds. Containers in CI/CD pipelines allow for lightning-fast code deployment and easy, rapid modifications to codebases and libraries.

However, keep in mind that prolonged build durations might impede CI/CD rollouts. This arises because each time the CI/CD pipeline is run, it must pull all of its dependencies from fresh. Docker’s built-in cache layer, however, makes it simple to work around this build problem. Nevertheless, it is inaccessible from remote runner computers as it only functions on local workstations.

6.4 Isolated App Infrastructure

Docker’s isolated application architecture is a major benefit. You may forget about dependency problems because all prerequisites are included in the container’s deployment. Several applications of varying operating systems, platforms, and versions can be deployed to and run simultaneously on a single or numerous computers. Imagine two servers running incompatible versions of the same program. When these servers are operated in their own containers, dependency problems may be avoided.

Docker also provides an SSH server per container, which may be used for automation and troubleshooting. As each provider runs in its own separate container, it’s simple to track everything happening within that container and spot any problems right away. As a consequence, you may run an immutable infrastructure and reduce the frequency of infrastructure-related breakdowns.

6.5 Multi-Cloud or Hybrid Cloud Applications

Because of Docker’s portability, containers may be moved from one server or cloud to another with minimum reconfiguration.

Teams utilizing multi-cloud or hybrid cloud infrastructures may release their applications to any cloud or hybrid cloud environment by packaging them once leveraging containers. They can also quickly relocate apps across clouds or back onto a company’s own servers.

6.6 Microservices-Based Apps

Docker containers are ideally suited for microservices-architected applications. Because of orchestration technologies like Docker Swarm and Kubernetes, developers may launch each microservice in its own container and then combine the containers to construct an entire application.

Theoretically, you can deploy microservices within VMs or bare-metal servers as well. Nevertheless, containers are more suited to microservices apps due to their minimal resource usage and rapid start times, which allow individual microservices to be deployed and modified independently.

More Interesting Read: Microservices Best Practices

7. Use Cases of Kubernetes

Here are some detailed use cases of Kubernetes where it played a good role.

7.1 Container Orchestration

Orchestration of containers streamlines their rollout, administration, scalability, and networking. Orchestration of containers may be employed in any setting wherein containers are deployed. The same application may be deployed to several settings with this method, saving you time and effort in the designing process. Storage, networking, and protection may all be more easily orchestrated when microservices are deployed in containers.

To launch and control containerized operations, Kubernetes is the go-to container orchestration technology. Kubernetes’s straightforward configuration syntax makes it suitable for managing containerized apps throughout host clusters.

7.2 Large Scale App Development

Kubernetes is capable of managing huge applications because to its declarative setup and automation features. Developers can build up the system with fewer interruptions thanks to functions like horizontal pod scalability and load balancing. Kubernetes keeps things operating smoothly even when unexpected events occur, such spikes in traffic or broken hardware.

Establishing the environment, including IPs, networks, and tools is a difficulty for developers working on large-scale apps. To address this issue, several platforms have begun using Kubernetes, including Glimpse.

Cluster monitoring in Glimpse is handled by a combination of Kubernetes and cloud services including Kube Prometheus Stack, Tiller, and EFK Stack.

7.3 Hybrid and Multi-Cloud Deployments

Several cloud solutions can be integrated during development thanks to hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructure architectures. By utilizing many clouds, businesses may lessen their reliance on any one provider and boost their overall flexibility and application performance.

Application mobility is made easier with Kubernetes in hybrid and multi-cloud setups. Because it works in every setting, it doesn’t require any apps to be written specifically for any one platform.

Services, ingress controllers, and volumes are all Kubernetes ideas that help to hide the underlying system. Kubernetes is an excellent answer to the problem of scalability in a multi-cloud setting because of its in-built auto-healing and fault tolerance.

7.4 CI/CD Software Development

The software development process may be automated with the help of Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery. Automation and rapid iteration are at the heart of the principles around which CI/CD pipelines are built.

The process of CI/CD pipelines involves DevOps technologies. Together with the Jenkins automation server and Docker, Kubernetes has become widely used as the container orchestrator of preference.

The pipeline will be able to make use of Kubernetes’ automation and resources control features, among others, if a CI/CD process is established.

7.5 Lift and Shift from Servers to Cloud

This is a regular phenomenon in the modern world, as more and more programs move from local servers to the cloud. In a traditional data center, we get an application running on physical servers. Because of its impracticality or expense, it has been chosen to host it in the cloud, either on a Virtual Machine or in large pods within Kubernetes. Moving it to large K8s pods isn’t a cloud-native strategy, but it can serve as a temporary solution. 

To begin, a large application running on-premises is migrated to a similar application running in Kubernetes. After that, it’s broken down into its constituent parts and becomes a standard cloud native program. “Lift and shift” describes this approach, and it’s a perfect example of where Kubernetes shines.

7.6 Cloud-Native Network Functions (CNF)

Large telecommunications firms encountered an issue a few years ago. Its network services relied on components from specialist hardware vendors, such firewalls and load balancers. Naturally, this made them reliant on the hardware suppliers and limited their maneuverability. Operators were tasked with upgrading their current devices to provide new features. When a firmware upgrade wasn’t an option, new hardware was required. 

To combat this shortcoming, telecommunications companies have decided to use network function virtualization(NFV) using Virtual Machines and OpenStack.

8. Using Kubernetes with Docker

When you use Kubernetes with Docker, the former assumes the role of an orchestrator of the Docker containers. So, now Kubernetes can create, handle, and schedule Docker containers to run on certain nodes in the cluster.

As per the requirements, Kubernetes can also scale up or down the number of containers automatically. The networking and storage of Docker containers are also handled by Kubernetes. This makes it easy for developers to build and launch complex containerized apps. 

Using Kubernetes with Docker gives you an opportunity to reap the benefits of both tools. On one hand, you have Docker which can enable you to easily create and package containerized apps. On the other hand, you have Kubernetes offering a robust platform that you can leverage to manage and scale those apps. When used together, these tools work like an ultimate solution to handle containerized apps at scale. 

9. Kubernetes vs Docker: The Conclusion

Despite their differences, Kubernetes and Docker are a formidable pair. Docker is the containerization element, allowing programmers to quickly and easily run containers and apps in their own contained environments using the command line. This allows developers to deploy their code throughout their infrastructure without worrying about incompatibilities. As long as the program can be tested on a single node, it should be able to run on any number of nodes in production.

Kubernetes orchestrates Docker containers, launching them remotely within IT settings and arranging them for when they need spikes. Kubernetes is a container orchestration tool that also facilitates load balancing, self-healing, and robotic deployments and rollbacks. Also, it is quite user-friendly due to its graphical user interface.

However, Kubernetes might be a good option for firms that plan to scale their infrastructure down the road. For those already familiar with Docker, Kubernetes simplifies the transition to scale by reusing current containers and workloads.

FAQs:

Can Kubernetes replace Docker?

As long as you have a container run time, Kubernetes can run perfectly and you won’t need Docker. However, it depends on what container runtime you have to orchestrate. So, if you don’t have Docker in the first place, Kubernetes won’t have any containers to orchestrate.

How Docker and Kubernetes work together?

Yes. When used together, they work as a complete solution. While Docker helps you create containers, Kubernetes helps to manage them at run time. You will have Docker to package and ship the app and Kubernetes for deploying and scaling it. 

What is Kubernetes used for?

 Kubernetes is used to automate all the operational tasks of managing containers. It can deploy the app, scale it, and make changes to fulfill the needs, monitor the apps, and make it easier to manage them. 

What is Docker used for?

With the help of Docker we can quickly build, test and deploy the applications. It allows you to package the entire software into small standardized units called containers. From code and libraries to system tools and runtime, the containers possess everything software needs to run.