Ask the Experts

Ask the Experts

Distributed Application Architecture (Scale-Out Architecture) for IT

• What is a Docker container vs. an image?

  Docker images, Dockerfiles and containers are all instrumental in a Docker setup. Learn what tasks each component completes and how they interact with each other to run applications.  Continue Reading

• How many Kubernetes nodes should be in a cluster?

  There's no one-size-fits-all answer in terms of how many nodes should make up a Kubernetes cluster. Instead, that number varies based on specific workload requirements.  Continue Reading

• Evaluate 3 ways to run Kubernetes locally

  A local Kubernetes deployment -- enabled by Minikube, MicroK8s or K3s -- is a great option to test code or simply learn the container orchestration technology.  Continue Reading

• Is read-only mode a viable approach to container hardening?

  Can containers work in read-only mode, and how does this setup make a difference in security hardening?  Continue Reading

• Is Kubernetes free as an open source software?

  Kubernetes is available open source, but also from IT vendors. As a complex container orchestration tool, Kubernetes brings many benefits to IT shops managing containers at scale. Which version will pay off for enterprise adopters?  Continue Reading

• Can container communication cross over to noncontainerized apps?

  Can an application have Python as a container, run SQL queries on an external Microsoft SQL database and publish the results on an Apache web server container?  Continue Reading

• How do I maintain an Azure VM IP address during a reboot?

  I need a persistent cloud application deployment in which the Azure VMs' IP addresses remain the same after a restart or failure.  Continue Reading

• Can switching to all event-driven applications cut IT infrastructure?

  Event-driven computing means no IaaS provisioning and no data center to run. Can I migrate all enterprise apps to be event-driven?  Continue Reading

• How is runtime as a service different from PaaS or IaaS?

  What is runtime as a service and how does it differ from platform as a service and infrastructure as a service?  Continue Reading

• Where do APIs fit in a microservices design?

  Our enterprise wants to connect users with microservices-based applications. How can we improve communication between app components and users?  Continue Reading