Introduction
Containerization has revolutionized the way applications are deployed and managed in the cloud. And container orchestrators have made life easier for DevOps engineers by automating the task of managing and scaling containers. Two popular container orchestrators in use today are Kubernetes and Nomad.
In this blog post, we'll compare Kubernetes and Nomad on various factors to help you choose the right one for your needs. But first, let's understand what container orchestrators do.
What are Container Orchestrators?
Container orchestrators are tools that automate the process of deploying, managing, and scaling containers. They work with containerization technology like Docker to make it easier to manage multiple containers running on multiple servers.
Kubernetes
Kubernetes, also known as K8s, is a widely used open-source container orchestrator. It was originally developed by Google and is now maintained by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF). Kubernetes helps manage containerized applications across multiple hosts and provides a platform for automating deployment, scaling, and operations of application containers.
Features of Kubernetes
- Automatic binpacking, which automatically places containers based on available resources and user-defined constraints.
- Self-healing, which automatically replaces failed containers or nodes.
- Horizontal scaling, which adjusts the number of running containers based on incoming traffic.
- Service discovery and load balancing, which automatically assigns IP addresses to containers and load balances traffic.
- Storage orchestration, which supports automatic mounting of storage systems like local, cloud-based or network storage.
- Automated rollouts and rollbacks, which allows for seamless deployment and versioning of applications.
Pros of Kubernetes
- Large community and ecosystem support.
- High availability and reliability.
- Extensible and customizable.
- Secure and resilient.
Cons of Kubernetes
- Steep learning curve and complexity.
- Resource-intensive.
- Requires significant setup and maintenance efforts.
Nomad
Nomad is also an open-source container orchestrator developed by HashiCorp. It helps run any workload on any infrastructure by providing a single workflow to deploy, run and scale applications across different operating systems and hosting environments. Nomad aims to provide a simple and flexible deployment option for containers, virtual machines, and standalone applications.
Features of Nomad
- Multi-cloud and multi-region support, which allows running applications on varying environments.
- Dynamic resource pooling, which automates resource management across clusters.
- Task grouping, which groups related tasks and deploys them together.
- Automatic failure recovery and rollbacks, which ensures reliable and resilient deployment and scaling.
- Configurable scheduling, which allows operators to define custom scheduling policies based on performance or regulatory requirements.
Pros of Nomad
- Easy to learn and use.
- Simple and flexible.
- Lightweight and fast.
- Efficient resource utilization.
Cons of Nomad
- Limited community and ecosystem support.
- Does not provide service discovery out of the box.
- Limited monitoring and logging options.
Comparison
| Factor | Kubernetes | Nomad |
|---|---|---|
| Orchestration | Pod-based | Task-based |
| Support for microservices | Excellent | Good |
| Cluster scaling | Excellent | Excellent |
| Service discovery | Automatic | Manual |
| Community support | Excellent | Good |
| Ease of use | Moderate to Difficult | Easy |
| Resource management | Good | Excellent |
| Logging and monitoring | Integrated solutions available | Limited options available |
| Learning curve | Steep | Gentle |
Conclusion
Both Kubernetes and Nomad provide powerful tools to manage containers and cloud infrastructure. Kubernetes has a larger community and provides robust solutions for service discovery, security and orchestration, whereas Nomad offers a simpler approach and is easy to set up and use.
When choosing between Kubernetes and Nomad, consider your organization's resources, use case, and goals. If you have a large development team or require advanced features, Kubernetes might be the best option. If you have a small team, want a simple solution, or need a lightweight platform, Nomad might be the better choice.
References
- Kubernetes. (n.d.). Retrieved September 22, 2021, from https://kubernetes.io/
- Nomad. (n.d.). Retrieved September 22, 2021, from https://www.nomadproject.io/
- Vasella, F. (2020, October 27). Kubernetes vs. Nomad: Which Container Orchestrator Is Right for You? Retrieved September 22, 2021, from https://www.altoros.com/blog/kubernetes-vs-nomad-which-container-orchestrator-is-right-for-you/