Introduction to Azure Containers

Azure provides a comprehensive set of services for running and managing containerized applications. Leveraging containers offers benefits like consistency, portability, and efficiency for your applications.

This documentation covers the core Azure services designed for container workloads, from simple container instances to complex orchestration with Kubernetes.

Azure Container Instances (ACI)

Azure Container Instances (ACI) is the fastest and simplest way to run a container in Azure. It allows you to run containers without managing underlying virtual machines or orchestration platforms.

Use cases for ACI:

  • Simple containerized applications
  • Development and testing
  • Event-driven processing
  • Batch jobs

ACI supports Docker images from any public or private registry.

Creating a Container Group with ACI

You can deploy a container group using Azure CLI, Azure PowerShell, or the Azure portal.

az container create \
  --resource-group myResourceGroup \
  --name mycontainer \
  --image myimage \
  --dns-name-label mydnslabel \
  --ports 80 \
  --cpu 1 \
  --memory 1
Tip: For more complex deployments, consider using YAML templates with ACI.

Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)

Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) simplifies deploying, managing, and scaling containerized applications using Kubernetes. AKS manages your Kubernetes control plane, allowing you to focus on your containers.

Key features of AKS:

  • Managed Kubernetes control plane
  • Integration with Azure services (monitoring, networking, storage)
  • Automated upgrades and scaling
  • Hybrid support with Azure Arc

Getting Started with AKS

Deploying an AKS cluster involves creating the cluster resource and then deploying your applications using Kubernetes manifests.

az aks create \
  --resource-group myResourceGroup \
  --name myAKSCluster \
  --node-count 1 \
  --enable-addons monitoring \
  --generate-ssh-keys

After creating the cluster, you can configure kubectl to connect to it:

az aks get-credentials --resource-group myResourceGroup --name myAKSCluster
Important: AKS is suitable for production-grade container orchestration and managing complex microservices architectures.

Other Container Services

Beyond ACI and AKS, Azure offers complementary services:

  • Azure Container Apps: A serverless platform for containerized microservices and applications, built on Kubernetes but abstracts away much of the complexity.
  • Azure Service Fabric: A distributed systems platform for packaging, deploying, and managing scalable and reliable microservices and containers.

Azure Container Registry (ACR)

Azure Container Registry is a managed, private Docker registry service for storing and managing your private container images and related artifacts. ACR integrates seamlessly with other Azure container services like AKS and ACI.

Features:

  • Private Docker image storage
  • Geo-replication for global availability
  • Integration with CI/CD pipelines
  • Security features like vulnerability scanning

Best Practices for Azure Containers

  • Choose the Right Service: Select ACI for simple workloads, AKS for complex orchestration, and Container Apps for serverless microservices.
  • Optimize Images: Keep container images small and efficient.
  • Secure Your Registry: Use private registries like ACR and implement robust access control.
  • Monitor Your Applications: Utilize Azure Monitor and other tools to track performance and health.
  • Implement CI/CD: Automate your build, test, and deployment pipelines.