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Docker vs OpenShift: What are the differences?
Introduction
Docker and OpenShift are both containerization platforms that enable developers to package and deploy applications. While they share some similarities, there are several key differences between the two. In this article, we will explore these differences in detail.
Docker: Docker is an open-source containerization platform that allows developers to build, package, and distribute applications within containers. It provides a lightweight and portable runtime environment for applications, ensuring consistency across different environments. Docker enables efficient resource utilization and scalability, making it popular among developers for its ease of use and flexibility.
OpenShift: OpenShift, on the other hand, is a containerization platform that is built on top of Docker. It is a Kubernetes-based platform developed by Red Hat that provides a complete container management solution. OpenShift offers additional features and tools that enhance Docker's capabilities, such as advanced orchestration, automated scaling, and integrated DevOps tools. OpenShift also provides a more streamlined and user-friendly interface for managing containerized applications.
Orchestration and Scaling: Docker provides basic container orchestration capabilities through tools like Docker Compose and Docker Swarm. However, OpenShift offers more advanced orchestration features through its integration with Kubernetes. OpenShift allows for automated scaling of applications based on demand, load balancing, and easy deployment of multiple containers across a cluster. This makes OpenShift a preferred choice for large-scale applications that require robust orchestration and scaling capabilities.
Security and Access Control: Docker provides basic security measures, such as namespace isolation and resource limitations, to ensure the security of containers. However, OpenShift offers additional security features, such as Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), that allow for fine-grained access control and authentication mechanisms. OpenShift also provides built-in support for implementing secure container registries and image signing, making it a more secure option for enterprise-grade applications.
Integrated CI/CD Pipeline: OpenShift provides built-in integration with Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) tools, such as Jenkins, making it easier to set up automated build, test, and deployment pipelines for containerized applications. Docker, on the other hand, does not have built-in support for CI/CD pipelines and requires additional tooling and configuration to set up a similar workflow.
Platform and Infrastructure Management: Docker is primarily focused on providing a container runtime environment, while OpenShift aims to provide a complete container management platform. OpenShift offers features for managing underlying infrastructure, such as monitoring, logging, and resource allocation. It also provides a centralized dashboard for managing clusters, applications, and components. This makes OpenShift a more comprehensive solution for organizations that require a platform for managing both their containers and infrastructure.
In summary, Docker is a lightweight and flexible containerization platform, while OpenShift builds on top of Docker to provide advanced orchestration, security, integrated CI/CD, and platform management capabilities. OpenShift is a more holistic solution for organizations that require a complete container management platform.
lxd/lxc and Docker aren't congruent so this comparison needs a more detailed look; but in short I can say: the lxd-integrated administration of storage including zfs with its snapshot capabilities as well as the system container (multi-process) approach of lxc vs. the limited single-process container approach of Docker is the main reason I chose lxd over Docker.
Pros of Docker
- Rapid integration and build up823
- Isolation692
- Open source521
- Testability and reproducibility505
- Lightweight460
- Standardization218
- Scalable185
- Upgrading / downgrading / application versions106
- Security88
- Private paas environments85
- Portability34
- Limit resource usage26
- Game changer17
- I love the way docker has changed virtualization16
- Fast14
- Concurrency12
- Docker's Compose tools8
- Fast and Portable6
- Easy setup6
- Because its fun5
- Makes shipping to production very simple4
- It's dope3
- Highly useful3
- Does a nice job hogging memory2
- Open source and highly configurable2
- Simplicity, isolation, resource effective2
- MacOS support FAKE2
- Its cool2
- Docker hub for the FTW2
- HIgh Throughput2
- Very easy to setup integrate and build2
- Package the environment with the application2
- Super2
- Asdfd0
Pros of Red Hat OpenShift
- Good free plan99
- Open Source63
- Easy setup47
- Nodejs support43
- Well documented42
- Custom domains32
- Mongodb support28
- Clean and simple architecture27
- PHP support25
- Customizable environments21
- Ability to run CRON jobs11
- Easier than Heroku for a WordPress blog9
- Easy deployment8
- PostgreSQL support7
- Autoscaling7
- Good balance between Heroku and AWS for flexibility7
- Free, Easy Setup, Lot of Gear or D.I.Y Gear5
- Shell access to gears4
- Great Support3
- High Security3
- Logging & Metrics3
- Cloud Agnostic2
- Runs Anywhere - AWS, GCP, Azure2
- No credit card needed2
- Because it is easy to manage2
- Secure2
- Meteor support2
- Overly complicated and over engineered in majority of e2
- Golang support2
- Its free and offer custom domain usage2
- Autoscaling at a good price point1
- Easy setup and great customer support1
- MultiCloud1
- Great free plan with excellent support1
- This is the only free one among the three as of today1
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Cons of Docker
- New versions == broken features8
- Unreliable networking6
- Documentation not always in sync6
- Moves quickly4
- Not Secure3
Cons of Red Hat OpenShift
- Decisions are made for you, limiting your options2
- License cost2
- Behind, sometimes severely, the upstreams1
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What is Docker?
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