VMware vSphere Integrated Containers

2017: The technology is upgraded

On September 12, 2017 the VMware company submitted the upgraded version of vSphere Integrated Containers 1.2.

The technology helps to create infrastructure of virtual applications Docker of century virtual machines vSphere.

Main additions

vSphere Integrated Containers has an opportunity to unroll native hosts of the containers Docker. This functionality will allow administrators to unroll containers on hosts, retaining full control over resources of the data-center.

Security changes

• White lists (Registry Whitelists) - in release there was an opportunity to create white lists of the register of images for hosts of Virtual Container Hosts. Developers received the tool for loading only of the correct images.
• Image Scanning - can scan now registers regarding the known vulnerabilities. Administrators can prohibit potentially vulnerable images. When loading an image in the register, it is scanned.
• Content Trust - developers and administrators can include these functions. They support start of only correctly signed and validirovanny images.

Identification and access control

In this release possibilities of the register and a management portal are improved:

• Projects – administrators can integrate a great number of users and resources in logical group, having determined by it corrected authorizations and authentications.
• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) – users and repositories of Docker will be organized in projects. Users get the corresponding permissions for images within specific namespace.
• [[Microsoft The Active Directory|Active Directory/Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (AD/LDAP) – can integrate the operating AD/LDAP infrastructure for management of users.
• SSO is integration of Single Sign On for the vSphere Platform Services Controller component.

Changes of the interface

• Integrated the portal and means of work with registers - in this release completely processed user interface is provided. The portal and the register are integrated. Now they separate the general rules of authorization and construction of projects and users.

• Support of vSphere Client on the basis of HTML5 technology is included. The section of vSphere Integrated Containers outputs the list of all hosts Virtual Container Hosts and container VM in installation of vSphere now.

Improvements of installation and upgrade - now installation became much simpler, and after deployment there is a special interface for creation of a demo host which allows the administrator to investigate possibilities of vSphere Integrated Containers.

• The Virtual Container Host configuration - for support of the fast-growing vSphere Integrated Containers 1.2 commands allows to reconfigure a host of VCH after deployment.

For September 13, 2017 the release of VMware vSphere Integrated Containers 1.2 is available to loading.

2015

VMware issued the platform

VMware vSphere Integrated Containers - helps to work with infrastructure of the virtualized applications of Docker on the basis of the operating virtual infrastructure of VMware vSphere vSphere Integrated Containers^[1].

Representation of VMware vSphere Integrated Containers (2015)

Basic concept of infrastructure of containers - VCH, Virtual Container Host. Really it is not a host - the virtual object consisting of resources of a resource pool (Resource Pool) VMware vSphere or a cluster of hosts of ESXi entirely. It helps to create containers in several domains within one or several VCH (for example, Production, Staging and Test).

Each VCH services own cache of the images loaded from a public hub of Docker or private repositories. The VM file systems in containers are placed in virtual disks of VMDK placed in normal VMFS storages.

Screenshot of the program window, 2015

Infrastructure management of VIC is implemented through a plug-in to vSphere Web Client. There is a command line interface and PowerCLI. Process of creation of VCH:

Screenshot of the program window, 2015

Each container Docker is placed in the separate virtual machine. It is made for improvement of controllability and reliability of isolation of applications, their safe and stable work.

On the Photon OS platform the new car through VMFork is turned and in it the container is selected from the necessary repository.

Screenshot of the program window, 2015

For October 15, 2015 vSphere Integrated Containers in the status Technology Preview.

Support of VMware vSphere Integrated Containers

On October 15, 2015 the VMware company provided enhanced capabilities of the unified platform for a hybrid cloud.

VMware announced plans of further expansion of support of Photon OS on the vCloud Air platform by means of implementation of support of VMware vSphere Integrated Containers in the environment of VMware vCloud Air. It will help VMware to give to IT commands opportunities of support of any applications, including containerized, within the normal infrastructure working at VMware vCloud Air. This support will accelerate development of container solutions as IT commands will fully be able to receive return from investments made in infrastructure of VMware, employees, processes and management tools, at the same time, allowing developers it is easy to switch between other container solutions from a partner ecosystem.

Expanded support on the VMware vCloud Air platform will become available to vSphere Integrated Containers in 2016.

Notes