Hot containers: Microsoft cuddles up to Google’s Kubernetes
Microsoft Corp., has just added support for managing Docker containers in its Azure cloud, with the help of the open-source Kubernetes tool that was designed and built by rival Google Inc. For two companies that are so often at odds with each other, it’s a move that might raise a few eyebrows.
The coolest aspect of Microsoft’s implementation of Kubernetes is the way users will be able to interact with it. The Azure team has built an interactive dashboard that displays a visual representation of the Kubernetes architecture. Called the Azure Kubernetes Visualizer project, the visualizer is designed to make it “easier to experiment and learn with Kubernetes on Azure”, says Microsoft. It’s devoted an entire blog post to the visualizer here, while its code is freely available on GitHub.
Now that Azure supports both Docker and Kubernetes, it’s possible to build both types of containers on Azure’s storage service, and deploy, configure and update clusters using those container images (either hosted on Azure or the main Docker hub).
Kubernetes has come on rapidly in the short time since Google first announced the open-source project, gaining support from companies like IBM Corp., Red Hat Inc., and even VMware. That’s great news for Docker Inc., and the Docker project, and will appeal to developers who appreciate the ability to easily switch between platforms while retaining the same general experience of launching and managing applications. As for the vendors it makes whatever competitive advantages they have appear less like avenues for lock-in, meaning developers may give weight to other factors like performance and price when choosing a cloud.
As far as Google and Microsoft are concerned, any support for Kubernetes can only be a good thing. Both companies remain fixated on stealing market share from Amazon Web Services, which has dominated the cloud since 2006. They might have lost out with the current generation of developers, but if projects like Kubernetes truly take off, they could easily win over the next generation and then the cloud computing landscape would look very different indeed.
photo credit: Fouquier ॐ via photopin cc
A message from John Furrier, co-founder of SiliconANGLE:
Support our mission to keep content open and free by engaging with theCUBE community. Join theCUBE’s Alumni Trust Network, where technology leaders connect, share intelligence and create opportunities.
- 15M+ viewers of theCUBE videos, powering conversations across AI, cloud, cybersecurity and more
- 11.4k+ theCUBE alumni — Connect with more than 11,400 tech and business leaders shaping the future through a unique trusted-based network.
About SiliconANGLE Media
SiliconANGLE Media is a recognized leader in digital media innovation, uniting breakthrough technology, strategic insights and real-time audience engagement. As the parent company of SiliconANGLE, theCUBE Network, theCUBE Research, CUBE365, theCUBE AI and theCUBE SuperStudios — with flagship locations in Silicon Valley and the New York Stock Exchange — SiliconANGLE Media operates at the intersection of media, technology and AI.
Founded by tech visionaries John Furrier and Dave Vellante, SiliconANGLE Media has built a dynamic ecosystem of industry-leading digital media brands that reach 15+ million elite tech professionals. Our new proprietary theCUBE AI Video Cloud is breaking ground in audience interaction, leveraging theCUBEai.com neural network to help technology companies make data-driven decisions and stay at the forefront of industry conversations.
