Containerization in Networking

Containerization is a form of virtualization that helps transport the delivery of apps over a network to user endpoints.

A standard Virtual Machine (VM) provides an application written for a different operating system the support that it needs to run. In virtualization, the operating system needed for the application floats on top of the actual system running the host machine, enabling the incompatible application to access required resources on the machine.

The difference between VMs and containerization

In typical virtualization, the intermediate layer of an operating system runs as an application but looks like a different host. It is available to all new incompatible programs that are subsequently installed on the host. With containerization, the operating system is bundled in with the application. Only those elements of the operating system needed to support the application are included in the container, together with any libraries and modules that contribute to the application.

VMs create separate identities for one host, enabling one computer to be represented to the outside world as though it were many physical machines.

Containerization sends incompatible software to a host without compromising the host’s identity. VMs are an abstraction of the hardware, containerization creates an abstraction at the application layer.

The container that carries the application and its operating system is essentially a networking concept. The methodology means that an application can be delivered to an incompatible machine. Applications can also share containers and thus, only one copy of the operating system needs to be made available. With virtualization, each VM instance needs to have its own exclusive operating system.

Related post: Docker vs Virtual Machines

Benefits of containerization

You don’t need to install that extra layer of the virtual operating system on the receiving machine permanently. This makes a containerized application much more portable because it removes the requirements for pre-installed software, services, or operating systems on the target computer. Containerized applications can even be run on bare metal hosts and remote or cloud servers with unknown environments.

The proximity of the operating system services to the applications that need them within the container also means that containerization delivers faster response times to end users than a virtual machine. There are far fewer fetches across the network needed for a delivered containerized application to operate than a remotely accessed VM.

Containerization also has advantages over distributed software and it is this category of network service that has caused containerization to boom.

Bring your own device (BYOD)

Applications can be made available over the network for staff to access on their own devices. The container acts as an immunizer, creating a barrier between the corporate application and the user-owned device. However, this mediation has to be managed properly because the container does get access to the device’s kernel.

Nonetheless, containerization provides a security benefit for the organization delivering the application because it removes the need to give direct access to the network to the user. This reduces the risk of virus infection to the corporate infrastructure in BYOD environments.

Containerization is also useful for software license control because the application can be easily withdrawn from use at any time. As the application was never actually installed on the remote device, it can be suspended should the owner of the device leave the organization or if the device gets stolen.

Communication between applications running in separate containers can be enabled through APIs, so the amount of integration and coordination or, at the other end of the scale, isolation, can be controlled.

Further reading: Ultimate Guide to BYOD Management

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)

Containers can be withheld, which makes it easier to track and control access to software from remote devices. This is a very useful tool for providers who make their software available from the cloud on a subscription basis. Essentially, the container creates a temporary partition on the host device and that partition can be suspended by the provider.

The ability to deliver software to incompatible devices without the need to install supporting services is particularly useful to cloud services because it expands the method of delivery for an application beyond the use of browsers for access.

Where do I get a containerization software?

There are many containerization systems available and many of them are free to use. This list details the best systems that you could try.

Docker

Docker logoDocker is the most famous containerization system. Whereas most containerization environments are only made for Linux, this package will also run on Windows. Better yet, the system is an open-source project and is absolutely free to use. There are paid versions. The free option is called the Community Edition. You have to download the code for Docker CE from a GitHub repository. The software can be installed on Fedora, Ubuntu, CentOS, and Debian Linux and it is also available for Mac OS and Windows 10.

Key Features

  • Widely-used
  • Very reliable
  • Free and paid versions
  • Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows (over Hyper-V)
  • Open source

If you have Windows Server 2016 and higher, you already have Docker installed because it is bundled into the operating system. On Windows and Windows Server, the Docker system relies on services from Hyper-V in order to run. These utilities get activated during the Docker installation process.

See also: Docker Container Monitors

LXC

LXC logoLXC is short for Linux Containers. This is one of the oldest containerization systems and is still very influential, although it has been overtaken in popularity by Docker. LXC pre-dates Docker by three years.

As the name suggests, this system is only available for Linux – it is already bundled into Ubuntu. You need a Linux 3.8 kernel or newer in order to create LXC containers.

Key Features

  • Pre-dates Docker
  • Runs on Linux
  • Included with Ubuntu
  • Free to use

LXC is completely free to use. However, with only a command-line environment, it is not as easy to learn as Docker, which goes a long way to explain why Docker became the star of the containerization world.

Kubernetes

KubernetesKubernetes is probably the only alternative to Docker that stands any chance of becoming the number one containerization system. It is an open-source project that was created by and is managed by Google. So, this system has a lot of clout behind it. This system is part of the Google Cloud family of products.

Key Features

  • Free to use
  • Created by Google
  • Widely available on cloud platforms

You create containers through the Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE). This is a cloud-based environment, but you can get an installed version to run on your own hosts, which is called GKE On-Prem. As an open-source project, the code is available for anyone to create their own version of the tool. This proliferation has occurred through integrations with front end tools, rather than through forks of the original code. Among variants, you will find the Azure Kubernetes Service, which is available on the Azure cloud platform.

CoreOS rkt

Rkt logoThe rkt name of this containerization system is pronounced “rocket.” This is another open-source project that was started up in 2014 with the aim of providing a replacement for Docker in the wider containerization system called Container Linux, which is not to be confused with Linux Containers (LXC). The rkt system installs on Linux and is designed as a method for delivering applications from cloud-based services.

Key Features

  • Free to use
  • Containerized Linux over Linux
  • Conveys cloud apps

Originally called CoreOS Linux, Container Linux is a lightweight operating system and CoreOS rkt is a containerization system that delivers Container Linux over networks. It can also be used on ArchLinux, Fedora, NixOS, CentOS, Ubuntu, and openSUSE.

OpenVZ

OpenVZ logoOpenVZ is an abbreviation for Open Virtuozzo. This system was devised in 2005, making it older than LXC. This containerization package runs on Linux. The Virtuozzo part of the name comes from the forerunner of this system, which is still available today. Virtuozzo was developed by a private company and was the first implementation of containers. This environment was released in 2000 and a free, open-source version of the technology was made available as OpenVZ.

Key Features

  • Well-established
  • Runs on Linux
  • Free to use

Container network monitoring

As with any virtualization system, containers can be difficult to monitor. Performance impairment in the delivery of containers could be due to a failure in any one of a number of layers in the network stack. So, you need a comprehensive monitoring system to ensure consistent delivery. We recommend Paessler PRTG and the SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor for this task.

Our methodology for selecting a containerization system for your business 

We reviewed the market for container packages and container monitoring software and analyzed tools based on the following criteria:

  • An established system that is stable
  • A monitoring package that is able to look at supporting systems as well as container performance
  • A system that can run on cloud platforms as well as on premises
  • Efficient software that is light on processor demand
  • Automated systems that need little supervision
  • A free trial or a free demo for a no-cost assessment period
  • Value for money from a set of functions that work faultlessly at a reasonable price

With these selection criteria in mind, we looked for containerization systems and container monitoring tools that will improve security and reduce costs and time.

SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor (FREE TRIAL)

SolarWinds Container Monitor

The SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor (or SAM) is suitable for keeping track of the health of all types of virtualizations, including containers.

Key Features

  • Monitors Docker
  • Covers cloud-based and on-premises systems
  • Runs on Windows Server

Why do we recommend it?

SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor can track the activity of a range of systems, including Docker. The tool won’t give you container management but it is particularly good at spotting problems with your containers, particularly in their creation and destruction. The package also monitors server resources, so it provides calculations of potential resource shortages.

The console of the tool includes visualizations of live traffic data and has a specific section for monitoring containers. The Server and Application Monitor is part of a suite of IT infrastructure management tools, which all fit together because they were built on a common platform, called Orion. You can improve your network visibility by installing the Network Performance Monitor to complement the Server and Application Monitor.

Who is it recommended for?

This package is able to monitor cloud platforms as well as on-premises servers. However, this package is much stronger at tracking on-premises servers than cloud systems. DSo, you can track Docker on AWS, Azure, and other cloud systems but you get much better data correlation on performance from this tool with on-premises servers.

Pros:

  • Supports a wide range of containerized and virtual environments
  • A great option for medium to enterprise-sized networks
  • Offers intelligent alerting and numerous integrations into other notification platforms
  • Uses drag and drop widgets to customize the look and feel of the dashboard
  • Robust reporting system with pre-configured compliance templates

Cons:

  • Designed for IT professionals, not the best option for non-technical users

SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor installs on Windows Server and you can get it on a 30-day free trial.

SolarWinds Server & Application Monitor Download 30-day FREE Trial

Paessler PRTG Network Monitor (FREE TRIAL)

PRTG Docker sensor

PRTG by Paessler is a three-in-one monitor covering networks, servers, and applications, so it has all of the elements that you need in order to identify which supporting layer might be about to slow down your container performance. The package includes a useful “sunburst” status chart, which displays all the stack layers that support an operating end-user application.

Key Features

  • Monitors Docker
  • Tracks network and server resources
  • Runs on Windows Server

Why do we recommend it?

Paessler PRTG Network Monitor is able to track Docker and also server resources. So, it is able to identify when demand for server resources increases during the container lifecycle and it can identify when shortages might be approaching. The PRTG system, like the SolarWinds tool, is much better at tracking on-premises servers than cloud platforms.

The PRTG system runs on Windows Server and it is a collection of monitors, which are called “sensors.” The bundle contains a very wide range of specialized sensors and one of those is the Docker Sensor.

Who is it recommended for?

This package is very flexible and you can use for full stack observability. So, you can monitor many more assets than just Docker and have all of those monitoring systems running at the same time. Small businesses that only activate 100 sensors in the package get it free forever.

Pros:

  • Offers sensors for each containerized environment providing highly accurate data
  • Autodiscovery reflects the latest inventory changes almost instantaneously
  • Drag and drop editor makes it easy to build custom views and reports
  • Supports a wide range of alert mediums such as SMS, email, and third-party integration
  • Supports a freeware version

Cons:

  • Is a very comprehensive platform with many features and moving parts that require time to learn

Paessler offers PRTG on a 30-day free trial and there is also a free version of the system, which has a limit of 100 active sensors.

Paessler PRTG Network Monitor Download 30-day FREE Trial

Containerization in Mobile Device Management

If you haven’t had to consider containerization yet, then the field that is most likely to introduce you to the need for the technology is probably Mobile Device Management (MDM). Containerization is a great option for the delivery of applications to mobile devices, which can easily be lost or stolen. Containers also offer a good solution to running your corporate apps on user-owned devices.

The two best tools for using contains for mobile devices are the ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus and the Mirador Online Mobile Device Management platform.

ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus

Mobile Device Manager Plus
Containerization is just one of the useful tools contained in Mobile Device Manager Plus from ManageEngine. The tool deploys containerization for data access through its mobile content management system and also its mobile application management. This is particularly necessary if your business uses a BYOD model. The containerization of corporate data and services ensures that the user’s own apps and data are kept separate from business functions.

Key Features

  • Facilitates containerized delivery of apps
  • Containers good for user-owned devices in corporate use
  • Tracks container performance

Why do we recommend it?

ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus has a lot of features to help you manage fleet mobile devices and also delivery corporate systems to user-owned devices. Among the tools available is a containerization system. This can be applied to applications or data, or both. The tool prevents temporary files from getting onto a non-corporate device.

Who is it recommended for?

The containerization feature in this package is essential for companies that want to let workers access corporate systems from their own devices. An alternative strategy is a portal or company app but they are often backed by containers as well. Containerization is only included in the Top plan and the Free edition, not the lower paid plan.

Pros:

  • Combines MDM with containerization in a single platform
  • Leverages autodiscovery to find, inventory, and map new devices
  • Uses intelligent alerting to reduce false positives and eliminate alert fatigue across larger networks
  • Supports email, SMS, and webhook for numerous alerting channels
  • Integrates well in the ManageEngine ecosystem with their other products

Cons:

  • Is a feature-rich tool that will require a time investment to properly learn

The system is free to manage up to 25 devices and there is a 30-day free trial for the paid plans. ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus installs on Windows Server and Linux. Devices under management can be running Android or iOS.

Miradore Online Mobile Device Management

Miradore
As the name suggests, the Miradore Online Device Management system is a cloud-based platform. So, you don’t need to bother installing or maintaining software on your premises in order to use it. The service is available in four service levels, with the lowest being free to use. The paid plans are very reasonably priced and are charged per managed device per month, so you can get started monitoring a small team’s mobile devices and add on subscriptions as your company expands.

Key Features

  • Cloud based
  • Free and paid versions
  • Containerizes communications with devices

Why do we recommend it?

Miradore Online Mobile Device Management provides a fleet management system that includes tracking, locking, and wiping. It also has processes for delivery company systems to user-owned devices and this is based on containers. The Miradore system is very similar to the ManageEngine service, so assess both options side by side.

Mirador uses secure containers for all of its communications with Android devices. The system is also able to manage mobile devices running iOS.

Who is it recommended for?

Miradore has two editions and the first of these is Free. This is a great offer because it has no limit on the number of devices that you can manage – the ManageEngine Free edition is limited to 25 devices. However,r while the Free ManageEngine tool includes containers for system delivery, Miradore reserves that facility for its paid edition.

Pros:

  • Offers three flexible pricing options
  • Encrypts communications via VPN
  • Provides security features as an add on

Cons:

  • Offers a wide range of features that can take time to fully explore

Adopting containerization

Although difficult to conceptualize, containerization could be the answer to your infrastructure requirements for the delivery of services to remote devices. Hopefully, after reading this page, you are in a better position to start on your containerization adoption strategy.