Faster deployment, easier updates, more secure operation, fewer resources: Containers make life easier for developers and lower the costs of cloud resources. Nevertheless, many companies are still relying on classic virtual machines (VMs). In an interview, cloud expert Nils Magnus reveals why this is changing and what developers should pay attention to when using containers.

Nils Magnus: Granted: The idea of packaging applications in containers and running them independently of software and hardware environments is not new. The first implementations, which are still in use today, can be traced back to 1979 and other ideas were sketched out even earlier. Although these proposals were well known in specialist circles, it took the computing and above all the storage capacities of our generation to implement the container idea across the board. Today this is no longer a problem.

Containers became really practical and feasible for the vast majority of developers in 2013, when the company Docker, Inc. launched its product of the same name. Docker is now the de facto standard for containers. In 2015, Google completed the concept with its Kubernetes project, which saw the development of management software for entire clusters of containers under an open source license. In tandem, the two products deal with a lot of what had irritated system administrators for years: The choice of the hardware manufacturer, storage drivers, addresses for networks or peculiarities of the operating system and ultimately even the cloud in which a Kubernetes cluster runs with its applications. This works very well for those who don’t want to rely on just one provider, i.e. who take a multi-cloud approach.

Nils Magnus: Very relevant: With containers, for example, I can achieve a high degree of resilience across several cloud regions. Or, when it comes to the costs for virtual machines, I can decide on a daily basis which container cluster should run in which country region. Or spontaneously move complete clusters to another region if laws or regulations suddenly change.

Nils Magnus: Only under certain conditions. Even when using containers, there is still a risk for companies: if they are tempted by provider-specific services that are only available from this particular provider. Those who use convenient but unique functions of certain providers can’t simply move with container clusters if they no longer run without these special functions after the move.

Nils Magnus: That’s true, but the Open Telekom Cloud’s Cloud Container Engine (CCE) doesn’t make the user dependent in any way. It simplifies the administration of Docker containers and reduces the effort required to set up and maintain a cluster. The result, however, is an unadulterated Kubernetes cluster that can be used with the many tools available. Without the CCE, DevOps employees have to install Docker individually on each virtual machine and then install and connect a range of services. This may sound like a bit of effort at first, but it can be done quickly, especially if the cluster is to grow larger – for example to cope with the onslaught in the Christmas business – or shrink to save costs after the festive hustle and bustle. Although it’s possible to set up entire clusters manually, it can be very laborious sometimes. It can take even an experienced developer several days, depending on the size and complexity. This is where the Cloud Container Engine comes into play, as it allows developers to assemble Kubernetes clusters within 10 minutes using the web console and a few sliders.

Nils Magnus: The added value through simplified installation and maintenance means there’s no added cost. We provide the engineering outlay, while customers only pay for the servers on which their workload runs.

Nils Magnus: In my opinion, the majority of developers, users and companies will be using this technology in the foreseeable future. However, containers also require a certain amount of rethinking, the necessary expertise and time to really engage with them. At the moment, many companies are still facing other challenges relating to digitalization – many are only just introducing cloud solutions. Occasionally you hear that the cloud is only the same server at a different location, so that you can transfer your IT workloads one-to-one there. This "lift and shift" approach works, but has limited benefits. It simply doesn't exploit the possibilities of the cloud, which we call the "cloud native."

When Docker and Kubernetes are used properly, applications can be scaled as needed, updated much faster, and the entire development process can be automated more fully. This allows developers to focus on the really exciting questions, which are their applications that generate real added value and can be quantified in cash. Since this duo is available on practically every cloud and for every server, multi-cloud structures can be established with little effort. So if you don't want to tie yourself unconditionally to a single manufacturer, make sure you use Kubernetes and Docker as container technology. We offer this option with the Cloud Container Engine on our Open Telekom Cloud. It combines standard conformity with the convenience of a managed service. This is the first step into the multi-cloud.