Fabio vs Traefik: What are the differences?

Introduction

In the world of container orchestration, Fabio and Traefik are both popular solutions that provide load balancing and proxy functionalities. However, they differ in several key aspects. In this article, we will explore the key differences between Fabio and Traefik.

1. Configuration Approach: Fabio follows a declarative configuration approach, where users define the desired state of their services in a configuration file. Traefik, on the other hand, adopts a dynamic configuration approach, allowing users to modify the configuration at runtime.

2. Built-in Service Registry: Fabio does not come with a built-in service registry. Instead, it relies on external service registries like Consul or etcd to discover available services. In contrast, Traefik includes an integrated service registry, allowing it to discover services automatically without depending on external registries.

3. Routing and Discovery: Fabio uses path-based routing to direct incoming requests to appropriate services. It relies on service discovery mechanisms provided by external registries to locate backend instances. In comparison, Traefik supports various routing methods, including host-based, path-based, and even header-based routing. It also includes its own service discovery mechanism, making it more self-contained.

4. TLS Termination: Fabio lacks built-in support for TLS termination. If TLS termination is required, users need to set up an external reverse proxy for handling TLS and forwarding HTTP traffic to Fabio. In contrast, Traefik supports TLS termination out of the box, simplifying the setup process for secure communication.

5. Web Dashboard and API: Fabio does not provide a dedicated web dashboard or API for configuration and monitoring. It primarily relies on the configuration file for setup and requires manual changes for configuration updates. Traefik, however, offers a web dashboard and API that allows users to dynamically modify the configuration, monitor metrics, and view real-time information about the services.

6. Plugins and Extensions: Fabio has a limited number of plugins and extensions available. While it does support middleware functionality, the options are relatively less extensive compared to Traefik. Traefik boasts a wide range of plugins and extensions, allowing users to customize and extend its functionality based on their specific requirements.

In summary, Fabio and Traefik differ in their configuration approach, built-in service registry, routing capabilities, TLS termination support, web dashboard and API functionality, as well as the availability of plugins and extensions.