Kubernetes vs Docker – Difference Between Them

Key Difference Between Kubernetes and Docker

• Kubernetes is developed by Google whereas Docker Swarm is developed by Docker Inc.
• Kubernetes provides Auto-scaling whereas Docker Swarm doesn’t support autoscaling.
• Kubernetes supports up to 5000 nodes whereas Docker Swarm supports more than 2000 nodes.
• Kubernetes is less extensive and customizable whereas Docker Swarm is more comprehensive and highly customizable.
• Kubernetes provides low fault tolerance while Docker provides high fault tolerance.

What is Kubernetes?

Kubernetes is an open-source container management software developed in the Google platform. It helps you to manage a containerized application in various types of physical, virtual, and cloud environments.

It is a highly flexible container tool to deliver even complex applications. Applications ‘run on clusters of hundreds to thousands of individual servers.” It also allows you to manage your containerized application more efficiently.

What is Docker?

Docker is an open-source lightweight containerization technology. It has gained widespread popularity in the cloud and application packaging world. It allows you to automate the deployment of applications in lightweight and portable containers.

It is computer software used for Virtualization. It also allows you to run multiple Operating systems on the same host. Virtualization in Docker is performed on the system-level in what is popularly called Docker containers.

Features of Kubernetes

Here are the essential 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
• You can create predictable infrastructure
• Provides declarative configuration
• Deploy and update software at scale
• Offers environment consistency for development, testing, and production

Features of Docker

Here are the essential features of Docker:

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

Difference between Kubernetes and Docker

Here is the difference between Docker and Kubernetes.

Parameter	Docker Swarm	Kubernetes
Developed by	Docker Inc	Google
Year Released	2013	2014
Scaling	No Autoscaling	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 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
Scalability	Scaling up is faster than K8S. But, it’s cluster strength is not as robust.	Scaling up is slow compared to docker. However, guarantees stronger cluster state Load balancing needs manual service configuration.
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 Stars	53.8 k	54.1 k
Github forks	15.5 k	18.7 k

Advantages of Kubernetes

Here, are pros/ benefits of using 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.

Advantages of Docker

Here, are significant cons/ benefits of using Docker container:

• Offers an efficient and easier initial set up
• Integrates and works with 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
• Ensures that application is isolated

Disadvantages of Kubernetes

Here, are cons/ drawbacks of using Kubernetes container:

• Migrating to stateless requires many efforts
• 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

Disadvantages of Docker

Here, are important cons/drawbacks of Docker container:

• 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.
• 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
• Docker is for-profit SaaS company. Many critical components like Docker Engine, Docker Desktop are not ope-source.