Containers are a DevOps tool that tries to solve the problem of code working on developers’ machines, only to then not have that code work for their co-workers, and/or in the production environment. It does this by providing a single, consistent environment that remains constant through out the lifetime of a feature request – all the way from development on change request through to a new feature being sent live into production. 

Containers can be used to optimize IT infrastructure, manage microservices, and modernize monoliths, and streamline CI/CD pipelines. However, they do require tools that help organizations manage them as they move throughout the various stages of an organization.  

Below, we look at some of the container management tools companies can use to get the most out of their use. 

1. Alibaba Cloud: Apsara Stack Agility

Alibaba Cloud is a tool that gives teams the ability to effectively manage their own containers. The tool allows teams to build their own powerful, on-premise cloud.

Alibaba Cloud’s Aspara Stack Agility’s instances helps businesses to maintain compliance and regulations. The tool combines big data and powerful computing systems allows teams to identify containers and ensure their security.

Features

• Easily operate and manage clusters and resources
• Full suite data mining and analysis to generate business value
• Multi-layer security and architecture and disaster recovery

Sources

• Alibaba Cloud’s Aspara Stack Agility Documentation
• Alibaba Cloud’s Aspara Stack Agility Review

2. Cisco: Cisco Container Platform

Cisco Container Platform is a container management system for multiple public and private clouds. The tool automates repetitive tasks which simplifies complex tasks.

This tool gets people back to enjoying containers by eliminating container-related busy-work. Cisco Container Platform creates clusters, load balancers, and installs analytics tools.

Features

• Consistent deployment across your infrastructure to have full flexibility
• Automate repetitive tasks and utilize analytics tools to eliminate repetitive tasks
• Integrated stack that addresses container-related tasks

Sources

• Cisco Container Platform Documentation
• Cisco Container Platform vs Rancher
• A Glance at Cisco Container Platform

3. DxEnterprise

DxEnterprise is used to manage a wide array of workloads as well as Docker containers. The tool is commonly used for containerized Microsoft SQL Server deployments on any given platform.

DxEnterprise also supports Docker containers on Windows or Linux. The tool’s management has a graphical interface that is flexible and instinctive.

Features

• Complete instance mobility from host to host
• Workload and data portability for high availability server instances

Sources

• DXEnterprise Case Studies
• DxEnterprise Review
• DxEnterprise Whitepaper

4. Diamanti D10

Diamanti D10 is an enterprise Kubernetes platform designed to accelerate application development by deploying your containers and Kubernetes within minutes.

The tool can help teams design infrastructure and better budget their resources. Teams can also make better decisions regarding their infrastructure using this tool.

Features

• Plug-and-play networking allows containers to have their own system of port mappings and eliminates configuration roadblocks
• Meet storage needs for your stateful applications
• Easily scale your infrastructure with appliances and multi-cloud capabilities

Sources

• Diamanti Enterprise Kubernetes Platform
• ESG Technical Review: Diamanti D10
• ESG Technical Review: Diamanti D10 Bare-metal Container Platform

5. Docker Enterprise Edition (EE)

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Docker Enterprise Edition is the leading container platform. This tool gives developers the ability to easily build and share their applications.

Docker Enterprise Edition speeds up the time to production for any application. These container-based applications can be via the cloud or a developer’s desktop.

Features

• Full feature set for Kubernetes orchestration
• Blue-green deployments for load balancing and various applications
• Role-based access control for Kubernetes workloads

Sources

• Docker Enterprise Documentation
• Docker Enterprise Review
• Docker Enterprise vs Docker Community Edition

6. Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) On-prem

GKE On-Prem is designed to deploy, manage, and scale containerized applications. This hybrid cloud software brings GKE to on-prem data centers to create, manage, and upgrade Kubernetes clusters.

GKE On-Prem uses a cloud identity to control clusters. Teams can also connect their on-prem clusters in a secure manner and integrate logging and monitoring to view metrics.

Features

• Integrated stack with a variety of components that help to implement security and compliance
• Connect securely without the need for complicated VPNs
• Use dashboards to gain insight into project clusters and resources

Sources

• Google Kubernetes Engine Documentation
• Google Kubernetes Engine Review
• Google Kubernetes Features

7. HashiCorp Nomad

HashiCorp’s Nomad is a workload orchestrator that uses a unified workflow to deploy and manage containerized applications.

Features

• Flexible orchestrator to deploy containers and run legacy applications
• No external services or coordination required to automatically handle applications, nodes, and failures
• Scale cluster of 10,000+ nodes to reduce latency for workloads

Sources

• Nomad Documentation
• Nomad Review
• Nomad Guides

8. Heptio Kubernetes Subscription (HKS)

HKS is designed to increase development velocity and efficiency. This is executed by validating deployment designs, open source tools, and a variety of other components.

HKS is a flexible tool that can avoid vendor and distributor lock-in, giving teams the ability to tailor the process to their needs. In doing so, deployments can be streamlined, and Kubernetes clusters can be managed to increase team productivity.

Features

• Tailor your experience with the tool’s architecture, tools, and lock-ins
• Streamline deployment and management of Kubernetes clusters to accelerate innovation
• Validated designs to maintain best practices

Sources

• Introducing Heptio Kubernetes® Subscription (HKS): “The Undistribution”
• Kubernetes on AWS with Heptio

9. IBM Cloud Private

IBM Cloud Private is a scalable platform that can run a team’s infrastructure. The tool integrates with a variety of other platforms such as IBM Watson, IBM Blockchain, and many others.

IBM Cloud Private offers a range of deployment options for public and private clouds with a consistent experience. There are also a variety of other services for logging, security, and monitoring.

Features

• Security for data in transit and at rest across all platform services
• Custom metrics to provide insights and receive custom alerts and dashboards
• Enable users to run Kubernetes containers in production

Sources

• IBM Cloud Private Documentation
• IBM Cloud Private Review
• IBM Cloud Private Overview

10. Triton Multi-Cloud Kubernetes; Triton Private Cloud

Triton Multi-Cloud Kubernetes is the first multi-cloud Kubernetes solution. This tool utilizes a control plane that can run on any cloud and manage Kubernetes environments.

Features

• Container-native networking
• Control and manage public and private Kubernetes environments

Sources

• Triton Multi-Cloud Kubernetes Documentation
• Joynet Triton vs Kubernetes
• Joynet Triton Multi-Cloud Kubernetes on GitHub

11. Kublr

Kublr is a tool designed to focus on the needs of enterprise customers to manage their containers. Teams can run reliably at scale using the tool’s governance and operations abilities.

Kublr’s design is capable of multi-cluster deployments with observability. Teams can also centralize their logging and monitor their components and receive alerts.

Features

• Use a single control plane to deploy, run, and manage your Kubernetes clusters
• Automatically connect to log collection and monitoring so you can receive alerts on the status of your components
• Reliable and secure cluster architecture to ensure communication between master and worker nodes is safe

Sources

• Kublr Documentation
• Kublr Review
• Kublr Features

12. Mesosphere DC/OS

Mesosphere DC/OS is the distributed operating system for Apache Mesos. This tool automates the processes of resource management and puts a scheduled process in place.

The tool also facilitates inter-process communication so everybody is on the same page throughout the process. Teams can also use remote management through the web interface and command-line interface.

Features

• Scale with dynamic task distribution and resource allocation
• Install on-premise or in the cloud to make any infrastructure decisions for business value
• Installation, management, and monitoring of clusters is simplified

Sources

• Mesosphere DC/OS Documentation
• About Mesosphere DC/OS

13. Azure Service Fabric

Azure Service Fabric eases the process of packaging, deploying, and managing microservices and containers in a scalable and reliable way. This is done by addressing significant challenges to avoid complex infrastructure problems.

Features

• Develop scalable applications that contain microservices
• Monitor the health of your applications and perform automatic repairs to maintain the health of your applications
• Reduce downtime by managing the lifecycle of applications

Sources

• Azure Service Fabric Documentation
• Azure Service Fabric Review
• Azure Service Fabric Overview

14. Mirantis Application Platform

Mirantis Application Platform has an operations-centric approach to continuously deliver automated infrastructure updates and a CI/CD pipeline. This provides teams the ability to deploy containerized applications while maintaining security and compliance.

Features

• Keep things secure by integrating with tools and processes that have Continuous Delivery pipelines
• Release faster using Continuous Delivery pipelines
• Easily migrate existing workloads to any cloud

Sources

• Mirantis Application Platform Documentation
• Mirantis Application Platform Review
• Mirantis Application Platform Overview

15. Pivotal Cloud Foundry (Includes Pivotal Application Service and Container Service (PKS))

The Pivotal Platform is designed to unify cloud computing, containers, microservices, CI/CD, and Agile in a single platform. Teams using this platform can move to microservices and upgrade to cloud-native platforms.

Features

• Run on a public or a private cloud to have applications where you want and scale
• Automation and security to update with no downtime
• Speed up delivery without sacrificing security

Sources

• Pivotal Platform Documentation
• Pivotal Platform Review
• Why Pivotal Platform

16. Rancher 2.0

Rancher 2.0 is built to manage hundreds of Kubernetes clusters within the same interface. The tool is open-source and has an extensive user community.

Teams that are adopting containers can address operational and security challenges and manage multiple Kubernetes clusters.

Features

• Manage your clusters and nodes and define user types
• Use role-based access controls and customize roles
• Create and group namespaces and assign them to projects

Sources

• Rancher 2.0 Documentation
• Rancher 2.0 Review
• Rancher 2.0 Features

17. OpenShift Container Platform

OpenShift Container Platform automates the building, deployment, and building, deployment, and management of Kubernetes clusters, offering a consistent hybrid cloud foundation. This shifts the focus back to writing code to deliver ideas to market.

The tool streamlines the delivery process by standardizing workflows for continuous integration. OpenShift Container Platform also manages builds and deployments by allowing teams to focus on their development process.

Features

• Automated release management for Continuous Integration
• Standardized workflows to create a reliable and repeatable process for application delivery
• Manage builds and deployments by building from scratch

Sources

• OpenShift Container Platform Documentation
• OpenShift Container Platform Review
• OpenShift Container Platform Features

18. Robin Cloud Platform

Robin Cloud Platform modernizes data infrastructure by tearing down silos and extending the benefits of Kubernetes. Robin combines a variety of components to optimize DevOps and the management of the application lifecycle.

Features

• Utilize indexing and searching to improve the agility of dev teams
• Databases to help shorten release cycles and deliver products to market faster
• Advanced data management to run stateful applications

Sources

• Robin Cloud Hyper-Converged Kubernetes Platform
• Robin Cloud Platform Review
• Robin Cloud Platform on IBM Marketplace

19. CaaS Platform 3

Caas Platform 3 is a container management tool to ease the process of deploying, managing, and scaling container-based applications. The automation process with this tool is executed by using Kubernetes.

CaaS Platform 3 can schedule workloads and monitor the health of applications to speed up the deployment process while increasing software security.

Features

• End-to-end security across your entire stack
• Integration features to plug Kubernetes into your existing processes
• Complete container execution environment

Sources

• CaaS Platform 3 Documentation
• CaaS Platform 3 Release Notes
• CaaS Platform 3 on Linux Journal

20. Pivotal Container Service (PKS)

Pivotal Container Service is a Kubernetes platform that aims to speed up the delivery process to achieve rapid results in a reliable manner. The tool’s multi-cloud capabilities also allows for a consistent experience.

Features

• Utilize add-on services to enhance containers
• Integration with VMware tools
• Built on open source with an extensive user community

Sources

• Pivotal Container Service Documentation
• Pivotal Container Service Review
• Pivotal Container Service Features

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