OpenShift vs Docker: Understanding the Difference

Enterprise applications don’t do very well with Docker and can involve various microservices. Based on the selected data management pattern, the microservices communicate with each other. Complex applications can require multiple containers, thereby leading to challenges for developers. Docker provides core features that enterprises need in a container platform, along with best practices for ensuring success. Also, containers comply with legacy applications as well as new developments easily.

Kubernetes ensures you must set up security checks like authentication manually. It includes creating bearer tokens or implementing other authentication practices manually. Open source containerization motor Docker gives pressing, shipping, and sending of the program, displayed as a lightweight holder that can be run anyplace. Docker container comprises program components counting libraries, records, scripts, etc.

Docker vs OpenShift: Infrastructure Support

It was developed in 2013 by Docker Inc with Go as its programming language. It encourages the concept of DevOps methodology through Continuous Integration. Basically, it is a platform that allows the user to build, test, and deploy applications quickly. Openshift is an enterprise solution by redhat that builds on kubernetes. Kubernetes is just a framework to help organize and automate working with docker containers.

The OpenShift architecture is based on microservices—small, decoupled units that operate collectively. Docker Engine is the layer between the operating system and the container images, and also offers native support for Swarm mode. Swarm mode enables the integration of Docker Swarm’s orchestration capabilities into Docker Engine (for all versions since 1.12). Docker Swarm is a tool for clustering and scheduling Docker containers.

OpenShift features

Thus, the developers can integrate their code into a shared repository as early as possible and deploying it quickly and efficiently. Also, the virtual machine image is openly accessible and shareable. The applications https://www.globalcloudteam.com/ developed on it can be reused and are shareable. OpenShift supports various third-party integrations, including storage and infrastructure services, log analysis, monitoring, deployment, and diagnostic tools.

Other Docker-derived technologies, such as Docker Compose, are also included. OpenShift provides two types of services – Red Hat OpenShift cloud services editions and Self-managed docker consulting Red Hat OpenShift editions. Since Kubernetes is an open-source project, a sizable and engaged developer community constantly works together to improve the platform.

Head to Head Comparison between OpenShift vs Docker (Infographics)

After the debate on OpenShift vs Kubernetes vs Docker, we can note the hidden relation between them. The symbiotic relationship between these three tools leaves little for comparison. On the contrary, we should try out new ways of implementing them in unison with each other. For example, Kubernetes can address various issues in Docker-only setup, and OpenShift could do the same for Kubernetes.

It’s also important to explore and test the solution before integrating the tool into your workflow, seeing as you want to develop the pipeline that works best for you. OpenShift templates lack the advanced templates and package versioning found in Helm charts. As a result, OpenShift deployment becomes more difficult, and, in most cases, external wrappers are required. Helm templates are available in Kubernetes and are flexible and simple to utilize. When talking about Kubernetes vs. OpenShift, this point should definitely be considered.

The Hidden Relation between Docker, Kubernetes and OpenShift

In sum, it is structured so that pods can be replicated to support load balancing for your applications and to ensure applications do not fail. It is a means of running software more efficiently and reliably, no matter if you run it on a desktop, mobile, a local network or on the cloud. Support for developers and other personnel involved in the software development lifecycle to migrate apps to a cloud environment with the least amount of effort. The Docker Swarm mode in Docker Engine allows load balancing of clusters. Users can quickly extend their container deployments to many hosts by doing this, which entails pooling together numerous Docker host resources so they function as one. Although it offers an additional degree of ownership and control over the storage and distribution of container images, Trusted Registry is a repository comparable to Hub.

• The container-based approach takes away the need for separate operating systems and multiple hardware resources.
• There is often confusion surrounding Kubernetes, Docker, and OpenShift, despite 90% of organizations using containers in production.
• The core K8s functionality is complemented by security and monitoring features and is based on centralised policy management.
• You may construct and manage containers with the help of a variety of tools and components provided by Docker.
• Upgrades and PatchesA little bit after the launches of Kubernetes, Docker, and other open source platforms, OpenShift updates its repository.

This inherent advantage of container virtualisation led to the proliferation of distributed microservice architectures. Instead of building a monolithic application, feature sets are split into individual components. Docker popularised container virtualisation and largely displaced previously dominant virtual machines . Application containers have revolutionised how applications are built, packaged, and run because containers are a standardised software entity.

OpenShift vs Docker Comparison Table

A SaaS tool called Docker Hub enables customers to exchange containerized apps through a centralized library. In addition to private and public container registries, it offers over 100,000 publicly accessible applications. Both tools are open-source and can be used simultaneously or independently.

In the case of OpenShift, you must use one of the platforms listed below to install it. Before we proceed and take a look at the differences between OpenShift and Kubernetes, i.e., OpenShift vs. Kubernetes, let’s attempt to understand them briefly. Saurabh is a Software Architect with over 12 years of experience. He has worked on large-scale distributed systems across various domains and organizations. He is also a passionate Technical Writer and loves sharing knowledge in the community. This might be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your perspective.

Which purpose is Docker best suited for?

Several installation tools, such as kubeadm, kops, and kube-spray, can be used to install Kubernetes on the majority of systems. It has a sizable, active developer and engineering community which helps with the regular release of new features. It’s possible to create and run containerized apps on the OpenShift Container Platform. The technology that powers containerized apps is incorporated into the OpenShift Container Platform, which has its roots in Kubernetes.