Docker was launched about 5 years ago by Solomon Hykes as a mechanism for easier interaction with containers. Following the release of Docker version 1.0 in 2014 and an overwhelming response from companies, this technology gained a special standing; even several major banks used it during its initial versions, highlighting its high level of security. Today, tech giants such as Red Hat, Canonical, Oracle, and Microsoft use Docker, and according to Docker’s reports, more than 3.5 million applications have been placed in containers with over 3.7 billion downloads.
What is Docker?
Docker provides a way for processes and software to be launched separately and completely isolated on the Linux kernel, an isolated environment known as a container. Containers allow developers to bundle an application along with all its modules and dependent components (such as libraries, functions, etc.) into a single package so that the generated application can run smoothly across different platforms and systems.
The Difference Between Docker and Virtual Machines (VMs)
- Virtual Machine (VM): Requires building various VMs to run different isolated applications and programs, which incurs processing overhead and a waste of system resources.
- Docker: Installed on a specific VM (running Windows or Linux), where various containers holding different applications are deployed and executed without having access to each other. This isolation eliminates the need to create multiple VMs.
Why is Docker So Popular?
- Hardware Resource Optimization: Unlike hardware virtualization (such as Hyper-V, KVM, and Xen) which requires powerful hardware resources, containers utilize shared operating systems. As a result, they operate more efficiently and run roughly 4 to 6 times more instances on a single piece of hardware than Xen or KVM VMs.
- Portability and High Speed: Developers can place their code inside lightweight, portable containers that can run virtually anywhere, making the process of coding, updating, and optimizing much smoother.
- Simulating Server Environments: Docker provides a local development environment that functions identically to a server, making it extremely useful for CI/CD development methodologies. Teams can run multiple development environments from a specific host with uniform software, OS, and configurations.
- Cloud Computing Cost Savings: Unlike hypervisors that abstract an entire system, containers only abstract the operating system kernel, saving cloud service providers millions of dollars.
Container Monitoring, Management, and Standardization
All IT infrastructures require management and monitoring, and containers must similarly be monitored and kept under control. While DevOps applications can monitor Docker containers, cloud-based management and monitoring tools are typically required for optimization. Tools like Docker Swarm, Kubernetes, and Mesosphere are great options, with Kubernetes proving to be the most popular. Furthermore, Docker has partnered with companies like Canonical, Google, and Red Hat to provide strong container standardization across virtually any operating system.
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