Docker containers are lightweight, standalone, and executable packages of software that include everything needed to run an application. They are designed to run on any platform, whether it’s your laptop, a virtual machine, or a cloud server. Docker containers allow developers to package an application with its dependencies into a single container, which can then be easily deployed to any environment.
The primary purpose of Docker containers are to simplify the deployment process of an application. With Docker containers, developers can create an application in a single environment and then deploy it to any environment without worrying about the underlying infrastructure. This ability to create the application as a single package and deploy it anywhere has made Docker containers increasingly popular in recent years.
Table of Content:
- Advantage of Docker Containers
- Docker software and its features
- Best Practices for Managing Docker Containers
- Use cases for Docker Containers
- Docker Software vs. Virtual Machines
- Docker Software and DevOps Integration, Automated Testing and Deployment
- Docker software use cases for big data and analytics
- Conclusion
EVENT announcement:
At Hannover Messe, April 17 to 21st, 2023 Softing Industrial will present smartLink SW-HT in hall 015, booth F48.
The HART multiplexer software smartLink SW-HT from Softing Industrial, for accessing configuration and diagnostic data, now supports ET200 remote IOs from Siemens and the FDT DTM interface.
smartLink SW-HT allows access to configuration and diagnostics data (Source: Softing Industrial)
smartLink SW-HT is a Docker container-based software application. It allows easy and fast access to HART devices connected to remote I/Os that can be reached via Ethernet. No additional hardware is required for this. As the only solution available on the market, smartLink SW-HT so far enabled the use of remote I/Os from Allen-Bradley, Schneider Electric and R. Stahl. The current version 1.30 now also supports ET200 remote IOs from Siemens and the FDT DTM interface.
Configuration and diagnostic data are accessed via Emerson’s AMS Device Manager or other HART IP-enabled Plant Asset Management applications. smartLink SW-HT provides an Ethernet connection for tunnelling the HART commands to the remote IOs.
On the field side, smartLink SW-HT is low-risk and easy to integrate. This is even possible during operation and does not require a plant shutdown. The application thus makes it easy for users to implement open, standards-based, and scalable system architectures and integrate connectivity into edge solutions managed by IT.
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About Ti2
Ti2 Pty Ltd offer a wide range of quality industrial automotive, automation, and information products and services. Using genuine open standards and technologies for industrial solutions we are able to reduce overall cost of ownership.
Ti2 is the sole distributor or Softing Industrial. Together, we connects disparate automation components to feed data from the shop floor to the cloud for control and analytics. Softing products enable the monitoring and diagnosis of communication networks and thus ensure a reliable data flow. In this way, they create the basis for the optimisation of production processes.
Before jumping into the features and benefits of docker software, let’s overview the shell, the docker container itself.
Advantage of Docker Containers
Docker containers offer several advantages over traditional deployment methods. First and foremost, Docker containers are lightweight. They require less memory and disk space than traditional deployment methods, making them ideal for use on low-end hardware or in cloud environments.
Because Docker containers are self-contained, their portability is a solid advantage as they can be easily moved from one environment to another. This allow easy deployment from application to production, testing, and relocation to development without compatibility issues.
In addition, docker containers offer improved security. Each container is isolated from the host system and other containers, reducing the risk of one compromised container affecting the others. Lastly, Docker containers can be configured to run with limited privileges, further reducing the risk of a security breach.
Docker Software and its Features
Docker software is a platform that provides the tools necessary to create and manage Docker containers. It includes a command-line interface for managing containers, a registry for storing container images, and an orchestration tool for managing multiple containers.
One of the key features of Docker software is its ability to create “images” of containers. An image is a template that can be used to create identical containers with the same configuration and dependencies. This makes it easy to deploy multiple instances of the same application without having to manually configure each one.
When a container is started, Docker pulls the necessary image from a registry and creates a new container based on that image. The container is then started with its own file system, process space, and network stack, which allows it to run independently of other containers on the same host.
Another feature of Docker software is its ability to manage networking between containers. Docker containers can communicate with each other using a shared network with security configuration.
Container orchestration tools like smartLink SW-HT, provides an Ethernet connection for tunnelling the HART commands to the remote IOs. This provide a number of benefits, including improved scalability, increased reliability, and simplified management of multiple containers. With an orchestration tool, you can easily scale your application up or down as needed, ensure high availability by automatically restarting failed containers, and manage multiple containers from a single interface.
Best Practices for Managing Docker Containers
Managing Docker containers can be challenging, especially when you have multiple containers running on the same host. To ensure that your containers run smoothly, it’s important to follow these best practices:
- Use a container orchestration tool to manage multiple containers
- Monitor container performance and resource usage
- Use container images from trusted sources
- Keep containers up to date with the latest security patches
- Limit container privileges to reduce the risk of a security breach
Docker container orchestration refers to the process of managing multiple Docker containers as a single unit.
Use Cases for Docker Containers
Docker containers are used in a wide variety of applications, from web development to big data analytics. Some common use cases for Docker containers include:
- Web application development and deployment
- Microservices architecture
- Automated testing and deployment
- Big data analytics
- DevOps and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD)
Docker Software vs. Virtual Machines
Docker software is often compared to virtual machines (VMs), which are another popular method of deploying applications. While both Docker containers and VMs provide a way to isolate an application from the host system, there are some key differences between the two.
One of the main differences between Docker containers and VMs is that Docker containers are much lighter weight. Because they share the host system’s kernel, Docker containers require less memory and disk space than VMs, making them faster and more efficient. In additional docker container are more portable with its self-contained form while VMs require more configuration to be moved between different environments.
Docker Software and DevOps Integration, Automated Testing and Deployment
Docker software is often used in DevOps environments to automate the deployment and testing of applications. DevOps teams can use Docker containers to create a consistent environment for testing and deployment, which reduces the risk of errors and speeds up the development process.
Docker containers can be easily spun up and torn down as needed, which makes it easy to test code changes in a controlled environment. Docker containers are particularly well-suited to continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. With Docker containers, developers can easily create a testing environment that is identical to the production environment, making it easy to test and deploy code changes quickly and efficiently.
Docker Software Use Cases for Big Data and Analytics
Docker software is increasingly being used in big data and analytics applications. Docker containers can be used to create a consistent environment for running big data applications, which reduces the risk of errors and ensures that results are consistent across different environments.
One of the key benefits of using Docker containers for big data and analytics is that they can be easily scaled up or down as needed. With an tools like HART multiplexer software smartLink SW-HT from Softing Industrial, for accessing configuration and diagnostic data, you can quickly spin up additional containers to handle increased demand, and then tear them down when they are no longer needed. The consistent environment for running big data applications will reduce the risk of errors and ensure that results are consistent across different environment.
Configuration and diagnostic data are accessed via Emerson’s AMS Device Manager or other HART IP-enabled Plant Asset Management applications. smartLink SW-HT provides an Ethernet connection for tunnelling the HART commands to the remote IOs.
Conclusion
Docker containers are a powerful tool for maximising efficiency in software development and deployment. They provide a lightweight, portable, and secure way to deploy applications to any environment, making them ideal for use in a wide variety of applications.
Overall, docker containers allows but is not limited to integration with DevOps, automated testing and deployment, big data and analytics measurement, and even microservices architectures.
By following best practices for managing Docker containers, using tools like HART multiplexer software smartLink SW-HT from Softing Industrial to manage multiple containers, and integrating Docker software into a DevOps environment, developers can improve the speed and reliability of their applications while reducing the risk of errors and security breaches.
To learn more about what we do in partnership with Softing Industrial in regards to engineering, runtime, visualisation, motion CNC robotics, Fieldbus, safety, and how we can help your process automation requirements, please click projects, products & services.
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