Docker Hub vs Kubernetes

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Docker Hub vs Kubernetes: What are the differences?

Introduction

Docker Hub and Kubernetes are two popular technologies used in the world of containerization and deployment. While they both serve their own purposes, they differ in several key areas. Let's explore these key differences.

  1. Architecture and Purpose: Docker Hub is a cloud-based service that provides a central repository for Docker images, allowing developers to store and share their container images. It focuses on the container image-building process and is primarily used for building and distributing containers. On the other hand, Kubernetes is an open-source container orchestration platform that automates the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. It focuses on the runtime and operational aspects of running containers in production.

  2. Scope of Control: Docker Hub provides control over the container images and their distribution. Developers can push, pull, and manage images using Docker Hub's easy-to-use interface. Kubernetes, on the other hand, provides control over the containerized applications and their infrastructure. It manages the deployment, scaling, and monitoring of applications across multiple containers and hosts.

  3. Networking and Load Balancing: Docker Hub does not provide native networking and load balancing capabilities. It relies on external tools or manual configuration for networking between containers. Kubernetes, on the other hand, has built-in networking and load balancing features. It automatically handles network routing between containers and provides a scalable load balancing solution for distributing traffic.

  4. Application Scalability and Availability: Docker Hub lacks built-in tools for scaling and ensuring high availability of applications. It primarily focuses on the containerization aspect of applications. Kubernetes, on the other hand, excels in application scalability and availability. It allows you to easily scale your application horizontally by adding more replicas and ensures high availability through automatic restarts and replication.

  5. Health Monitoring and Self-Healing: Docker Hub does not have built-in health monitoring and self-healing capabilities. Monitoring and ensuring the health of containers and applications must be handled by external tools or scripts. Kubernetes, on the other hand, monitors the health of containers and applications and provides self-healing capabilities. It automatically restarts failed containers and replaces unhealthy ones to maintain the desired state.

  6. Management and Extensibility: Docker Hub provides a user-friendly interface for managing container images and repositories. However, it is limited to Docker-related tasks and lacks extensive management capabilities. Kubernetes, on the other hand, offers a powerful management interface and API that allows you to manage and monitor your entire cluster. It also supports extensibility through custom resources and controllers, allowing you to extend its functionality as per your requirements.

In summary, Docker Hub focuses on container image building and distribution, while Kubernetes is a comprehensive container orchestration platform that handles the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. Kubernetes provides native networking, load balancing, scalability, high availability, health monitoring, and extensive management capabilities that Docker Hub lacks.

Decisions about Docker Hub and Kubernetes
Simon Reymann
Senior Fullstack Developer at QUANTUSflow Software GmbH · | 30 upvotes · 8.9M views

Our whole DevOps stack consists of the following tools:

  • GitHub (incl. GitHub Pages/Markdown for Documentation, GettingStarted and HowTo's) for collaborative review and code management tool
  • Respectively Git as revision control system
  • SourceTree as Git GUI
  • Visual Studio Code as IDE
  • CircleCI for continuous integration (automatize development process)
  • Prettier / TSLint / ESLint as code linter
  • SonarQube as quality gate
  • Docker as container management (incl. Docker Compose for multi-container application management)
  • VirtualBox for operating system simulation tests
  • Kubernetes as cluster management for docker containers
  • Heroku for deploying in test environments
  • nginx as web server (preferably used as facade server in production environment)
  • SSLMate (using OpenSSL) for certificate management
  • Amazon EC2 (incl. Amazon S3) for deploying in stage (production-like) and production environments
  • PostgreSQL as preferred database system
  • Redis as preferred in-memory database/store (great for caching)

The main reason we have chosen Kubernetes over Docker Swarm is related to the following artifacts:

  • Key features: Easy and flexible installation, Clear dashboard, Great scaling operations, Monitoring is an integral part, Great load balancing concepts, Monitors the condition and ensures compensation in the event of failure.
  • Applications: An application can be deployed using a combination of pods, deployments, and services (or micro-services).
  • Functionality: Kubernetes as a complex installation and setup process, but it not as limited as Docker Swarm.
  • Monitoring: It supports multiple versions of logging and monitoring when the services are deployed within the cluster (Elasticsearch/Kibana (ELK), Heapster/Grafana, Sysdig cloud integration).
  • Scalability: All-in-one framework for distributed systems.
  • Other Benefits: Kubernetes is backed by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), huge community among container orchestration tools, it is an open source and modular tool that works with any OS.
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Pros of Docker Hub
Pros of Kubernetes
  • 2
    Uses a very familiar collaboration model as GitHub, the
  • 1
    Provides public and private repositories
  • 1
    Quickly creates organizations, add users or create grou
  • 1
    Allows users to set permissions to restrict access or s
  • 1
    Fairly inexpensive with usage based pricing
  • 1
    Security scanning available
  • 164
    Leading docker container management solution
  • 128
    Simple and powerful
  • 106
    Open source
  • 76
    Backed by google
  • 58
    The right abstractions
  • 25
    Scale services
  • 20
    Replication controller
  • 11
    Permission managment
  • 9
    Supports autoscaling
  • 8
    Cheap
  • 8
    Simple
  • 6
    Self-healing
  • 5
    No cloud platform lock-in
  • 5
    Promotes modern/good infrascture practice
  • 5
    Open, powerful, stable
  • 5
    Reliable
  • 4
    Scalable
  • 4
    Quick cloud setup
  • 3
    Cloud Agnostic
  • 3
    Captain of Container Ship
  • 3
    A self healing environment with rich metadata
  • 3
    Runs on azure
  • 3
    Backed by Red Hat
  • 3
    Custom and extensibility
  • 2
    Sfg
  • 2
    Gke
  • 2
    Everything of CaaS
  • 2
    Golang
  • 2
    Easy setup
  • 2
    Expandable

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Cons of Docker Hub
Cons of Kubernetes
  • 1
    Lacks fine grain access control
  • 1
    Does not provide any insight into the registry usage
  • 1
    Lacks LDAP, SAML and OAuth support
  • 16
    Steep learning curve
  • 15
    Poor workflow for development
  • 8
    Orchestrates only infrastructure
  • 4
    High resource requirements for on-prem clusters
  • 2
    Too heavy for simple systems
  • 1
    Additional vendor lock-in (Docker)
  • 1
    More moving parts to secure
  • 1
    Additional Technology Overhead

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What is Docker Hub?

It is the world's easiest way to create, manage, and deliver your teams' container applications. It is the perfect home for your teams' applications.

What is Kubernetes?

Kubernetes is an open source orchestration system for Docker containers. It handles scheduling onto nodes in a compute cluster and actively manages workloads to ensure that their state matches the users declared intentions.

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What companies use Docker Hub?
What companies use Kubernetes?
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What are some alternatives to Docker Hub and Kubernetes?
Quay.io
Simply upload your Dockerfile (and any additional files it needs) and we'll build your Dockerfile into an image and push it to your repository.
Docker Cloud
Docker Cloud is the best way to deploy and manage Dockerized applications. Docker Cloud makes it easy for new Docker users to manage and deploy the full spectrum of applications, from single container apps to distributed microservices stacks, to any cloud or on-premises infrastructure.
Amazon ECR
It is a fully managed container registry that makes it easy to store, manage, share, and deploy your container images and artifacts anywhere. It eliminates the need to operate your own container repositories or worry about scaling the underlying infrastructure.
GitHub
GitHub is the best place to share code with friends, co-workers, classmates, and complete strangers. Over three million people use GitHub to build amazing things together.
Docker
The Docker Platform is the industry-leading container platform for continuous, high-velocity innovation, enabling organizations to seamlessly build and share any application — from legacy to what comes next — and securely run them anywhere
See all alternatives