Azure Container Services

Comprehensive Documentation for Azure's Container Solutions

Introduction to Azure Container Services

Azure provides a robust set of services to help you build, deploy, and manage containerized applications. Whether you're looking for full orchestration with Kubernetes, serverless container execution, or a managed container registry, Azure has you covered.

Containers enable you to package your application with its dependencies, ensuring it runs consistently across different environments. Azure's container services streamline this process, offering scalability, security, and global reach.

Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)

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

Key Features:

  • Managed Kubernetes control plane
  • Easy integration with Azure services (e.g., Azure Active Directory, Azure Monitor, Azure Virtual Network)
  • Hybrid cloud capabilities
  • Built-in security and compliance
  • Automated upgrades and scaling

Getting Started with AKS:

You can create an AKS cluster using the Azure portal, Azure CLI, or other infrastructure-as-code tools.

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

For detailed guides, visit the AKS Quickstart Guide.

Azure Container Instances (ACI)

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

ACI is ideal for scenarios like simple apps, task automation, and dev/test environments where a full orchestrator isn't required.

Key Features:

  • Serverless container execution
  • Pay-per-second billing
  • Fast startup times
  • Support for Windows and Linux containers
  • Integration with Azure Virtual Networks

Deploying a Container with ACI:

Use Azure CLI to quickly deploy a container:

az container create --resource-group myResourceGroup --name mycontainer --image mcr.microsoft.com/azuredocs/aci-helloworld --dns-name-label aci-helloworld --ports 80

Learn more in the ACI Quickstart Guide.

Azure Container Registry (ACR)

Azure Container Registry (ACR) is a managed, private Docker registry service based on the open-source Docker Registry 2.0. ACR allows you to store and manage private Docker container images and related artifacts.

Key Features:

  • Private registry for Docker and Helm charts
  • Geo-replication for global distribution
  • Integration with AKS, ACI, and other Azure services
  • Role-based access control (RBAC)
  • Vulnerability scanning with Microsoft Defender for Cloud

Creating an ACR:

You can create a registry like this:

az acr create --resource-group myResourceGroup --name myContainerRegistry --sku Basic --admin-enabled true

For more information, see the ACR Quickstart Guide.

Other Related Services

Azure offers several other services that complement its container offerings:

  • Azure Monitor for containers: Collect, correlate, and analyze logs and metrics from your container workloads.
  • Azure DevOps: CI/CD pipelines for building, testing, and deploying containerized applications.
  • Azure Service Fabric: A distributed systems platform that supports microservices and container orchestration.