Word of the Day: container management software

Word of the Day Daily updates on the latest technology terms | August 22, 2018 container management software Container management software is a range of products for automating the creation, destruction, deployment and scaling of containers. Containers are used to create cloud-native, distributed applications and to package legacy applications for increased portability and deployment simplicity. They bind libraries and dependencies into one deployable unit and reduce complexity and resource usage when compared to virtual machines (VMs). Since many more containers than VMs can reside on a server host, the chief benefit of container management software lies in the simplified administration of densely populated hosting environments. Without the automation provided by container management software, the sheer number of containers can quickly outstrip a human operator's ability to keep up with changes, particularly at rapid speed. Another advantage of containers over VMs is that they are lightweight and have separate application configuration information from the host OS. This provides containerized applications with increased interoperability, regardless of whether they are supported by heterogeneous server OSes or public cloud infrastructures. The lines between different container management software categories -- including orchestration, security and networking -- blur as container orchestration platforms, such as Kubernetes and Docker's Swarm mode, add native support for additional management capabilities. Container management technology is also being folded into or connected with larger software suites that manage underlying server hosts and VMs. Quote of the Day "Most container orchestration platforms have a number of exposed interfaces, some of which are designed for programmatic access via APIs, and others that are more traditional, web-based administrative or deployment consoles." - Dave Shackleford Trending Terms containerization Kubernetes Docker stateful app Azure Stack Mesos native cloud application Learning Center Why container orchestration platforms risk data exposure Container orchestration platforms have exposed interfaces, which creates the risk of data exposure and unauthorized access. Learn about the risks to container orchestration systems and why they exist. The role of container management software in IT ops With container management software, an organization can take advantage of containerization without overcomplicating its IT operations. Assess and choose the right container management system Selecting the right container management system will depend on what your organization needs -- whether it's container software, orchestration or both of these. Rounding up leading container management software in detail Acquiring effective container management software is a complicated process. Read these comprehensive product descriptions to find the best vendor -- or vendors. Choose the right container deployment strategy and software Buying container management software is a complex feat. Figure out the right strategy and the right software suite to achieve a solid container deployment. Quiz Yourself In Kubernetes, a replication controller scales containers horizontally, ensuring there are more or ________ containers to meet the overall application's computing needs. A. less B. fewer Answer Stay in Touch For feedback about any of our definitions or to suggest a new definition, please contact me at: mrouse@techtarget.com Visit the Word of the Day Archives and catch up on what you've missed! FOLLOW US About This E-Newsletter This e-newsletter is published by the TechTarget network. To unsubscribe from Whatis.com, click here. Please note, this will not affect any other subscriptions you have signed up for. TechTarget, Whatis, 275 Grove Street, Newton, MA 02466. Contact: webmaster@techtarget.com Copyright 2018 TechTarget. All rights reserved.