Kubernetes vs Docker

Kubernetes and Docker are 2 terms both related to containerization, and widely used in ever dynamic world of Applications, especially Cloud Computing. Though it is true that Kubernetes can run without Docker and in same way Docker can perform without Kubernetes, however it is also very much true that each of the terms i.e. Kubernetes and Docker greatly benefit from each other.

Let’s discuss Kubernetes and Docker in detail.

What is Docker?

Docker is an open source containerization platform. Docker is a toolkit that makes it easier, safer, and faster for developers to build, deploy, and manage containers (A container is an executable unit of software that packages application code with its dependencies). Docker has gained popularity in the cloud and application. Docker allows automation in the deployment of applications in lightweight and portable containers. Docker is used for Virtualization. Docker also allows to run multiple Operating systems on the same host. Docker is a standalone software that can be installed on any computer to run containerized applications

Features of Docker

Isolated environments for managing your applications
Easy Modeling
Version control
Placement/Affinity
Application Agility
Developer Productivity
Operational Efficiencies

Advantages of Docker

Offers an efficient and easier initial set up.
Integrates and works with other existing Docker tools.
Allows you to describe your application lifecycle in detail.
Docker allows the user to track their container versions with ease to examine discrepancies between prior versions.
Simples configuration, interact with Docker Compose.
Docker offers a quick-paced environment that boots up a virtual machine and lets an app run in a virtual environment quickly.
Documentation provides every bit of information.
Provides simple and fast configuration to boost your business
Lightweight installation
Open source

Disadvantages of Docker

Doesn’t provide a storage option
Has poor monitoring option.
No automatic rescheduling of inactive Nodes
Complicated automatic horizontal scaling set up
All the actions have to be performed in CLI.
Poor basic infrastructure handling
Manual handling multiple instances
Need support for other tools for production aspects – monitoring, healing, scaling
Complicated manual cluster deployment
No support of health-checks
Limited in functionality by what is available in the Docker API
Limited fault tolerance
Provides limited functionality.
Has limited high availability and fault recovery capabilities.
Has a far smaller open source community compared to Kubernetes.
Docker Swarm primarily offers manual scalability, and offers limited ability to automatically provision resources.

Related – DOCKER vs VIRTUAL MACHINE

What is Kubernetes?

Kubernetes is an open source container orchestration platform for scheduling and automating the deployment, management and scaling of applications. Group of containers make up a cluster. Kubernetes cluster includes a container designated as a master node that schedules workloads for the rest of the containers or nodes in the cluster.

Features of Kubernetes

Offers automated scheduling
Self-Healing capabilities
Automated rollouts & rollback
Horizontal Scaling & Load Balancing
Provides a higher density of resource utilization
Offers enterprise-ready features
Application-centric management
Auto-scalable infrastructure
Provides declarative configuration
Deploy and update software at scale
Offers environment consistency for development, testing, and production

Advantages of Kubernetes

Easy organization of service with pods.
It is developed by Google, who bring years of valuable industry experience to the table.
Largest community among container orchestration tools.
Offers a variety of storage options, including on-premises SANs and public clouds.
Adheres to the principals of immutable infrastructure.
Open source and modular.
Runs well on any operating systems.

Disadvantages of Kubernetes

Migrating to stateless requires considerable effort.
Limited functionality according to the availability in the Docker API.
Highly complex Installation/configuration process.
Not compatible existing Docker CLI and Compose tools.
Complicated manual cluster deployment and automatic horizontal scaling set up.
Laborious to install and configure.
Incompatible with existing Docker CLI and Compose tools.
Kubernetes deployment can be extremely complex, with a steep learning curve, though Kubernetes as a service (KaaS) platforms can help with this complexity.
Requires separate administration tools.

Difference between Kubernetes and Docker

Docker was developed by Docker Inc. and released in 2013 , whereas Kubernetes developed by Google and released in 2014.
Docker is easy to install, whereas Kubernetes is very complicated and time consuming.
Docker shares data between multiple containers in the same Pod, whereas Kubernetes Shares data with any other container.
Docker support logging and monitoring 3^rd party tools like ELK , whereas Kubernetes uses in-built tool for logging and monitoring.
Docker does auto load-balancing, whereas Kubernetes does manually load balancing.
Docker agent update can be performed in place, whereas Kubernetes cluster can be upgraded in place.
Docker can be optimized for a single large cluster, whereas Kubernetes is optimized for multiple smaller clusters of SDLC.
Docker has high fault tolerance , whereas Kubernetes provides low fault tolerance.
Docker can support 2000 > nodes and 95000 containers, whereas Kubernetes Supports up to 5000 nodes and 300000 containers.
Docker can support Azure only (public cloud service provider), whereas Kubernetes supports all the key public Cloud providers i.e. Google, Azure, and AWS.
Docker applications can be used only as micro services in a swarm cluster, whereas Kubernetes applications can be deployed in Kubernetes using a myriad of micro services, deployments, and pods.
Docker can deploy containers much faster than Kubernetes.

Related – Docker Interview Questions

Comparison Table: Kubernetes vs Docker

PARAMETER	DOCKER	KUBERNETES
Developed by	Docker Inc	Google
Year of release	2013	2014
Scaling	No Auto scaling	Auto scaling
Cluster Setup	Setting up the cluster is challenging & complicated. Cluster Strength is stronger.	Setting up the cluster is simple. Requires only two commands. Cluster Strength is not as strong.
Installation	Easy & fast	Complicated & time-consuming.
Data volume	Shares storage volumes between multiple containers in the same Pod.	Shares storage volumes with any other container.
Support for logging and monitoring tool	Allows you to use a 3rd party tool like ELK.	It offers an in-built tool for logging and monitoring.
Load balancing	Does auto load-balancing	Manually configure your load balancing settings
Updates	Agent update can be performed in place.	A cluster can be upgraded in place.
Optimized For	Optimized for a single large cluster	Optimized for multiple smaller clusters of SDLC
Tolerance ratio	High fault tolerance	Low fault tolerance
Node Support	Supports 2000 > nodes	Supports up to 5000 nodes
Container Limit	Limited to 95000 container	Limited to 300000 containers
Public cloud service provider	Azure only	Google, Azure, and AWS.
Slave	Worker	Nodes
Compatibility	Less extensive and customizable	More comprehensive and highly customizable.
Community	An active user base which regularly updates the software.	Offers strong support from open source communities and big companies like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and IBM.
Large clusters	Speed is considered for the strong cluster states.	Offers container deployment and scaling, even in large clusters without considering the speed.
Companies using	Spotify, Pinterest, eBay, Twitter, etc.	9GAG, Intuit, Buffer, Evernote, etc.
Github starts	53.8 k	54.1 k
Github forks	15.5 k	18.7 k
Application Deployment	Applications can be used only as micro services in a swarm cluster. Multi containers are identified by utilizing YAML files. With the help of Docker Compose, the application can also be installed.	Applications can be deployed in Kubernetes using a myriad of micro services, deployments, and pods.
Scalability	Docker Swarm can deploy containers much faster.	Container scaling and deployment are therefore slowed down.
Container Setup	The Docker Swarm API offers much of the familiar functionality from Docker, supporting most of the tools that run with Docker. However, Swarm cannot be utilized if the Docker API is deficient in a particular operation.	By utilizing its own YAML, API, and client definitions, Kubernetes differs from other standard Docker equivalents. Thus, Docker Compose or Docker CLI cannot be used to define containers. Also, YAML definitions and commands must be rewritten when switching platforms.
Networking	When a node joins a swarm cluster, it creates an overlay network for services for each host in the Docker swarm. This gives users a choice while encrypting the container data traffic to create its own overlay network.	In Kubernetes, allowing all the pods to communicate with each other. Network policies are in place to define how the pods interact with one another. The network is implemented typically as an overlay, requiring two CIDRS for the services and the pods.
Availability	Docker also offers high availability architecture since all the services can be cloned in Swarm nodes. The Swarm manager Nodes manage the worker’s node resources and the whole cluster.	Kubernetes offers significantly high availability as it distributes all the pods among the nodes. This is achieved by absorbing the failure of an application. Unhealthy pods are detected by load balancing services, which subsequently deactivate them.
GUI	Docker Swarm, alternatively, requires a third-party tool such as Portainer.io to manage the UI conveniently.	Kubernetes has detailed dashboards to allow even non-technical users to control the clusters effectively.

Download the Comparison Table here.

Conclusion

Docker is an open source containerization platform. Docker is a toolkit that makes it easier, safer, and faster for developers to build, deploy, and manage containers. Kubernetes is an open source container orchestration platform for scheduling and automating the deployment, management and scaling of applications. Docker is popular among developers who prefer fast deployments and simplicity. Kubernetes is utilized in production environments.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rashmi Bhardwaj

I am here to share my knowledge and experience in the field of networking with the goal being – “The more you share, the more you learn.”

I am a biotechnologist by qualification and a Network Enthusiast by interest. I developed interest in networking being in the company of a passionate Network Professional, my husband.

I am a strong believer of the fact that “learning is a constant process of discovering yourself.”
– Rashmi Bhardwaj (Author/Editor)

Kubernetes vs Docker : Detailed Comparison 2022

Kubernetes vs Docker