[OPLIN 4cast] OPLIN 4cast #459: Software containers

Wed Oct 14 10:30:19 EDT 2015

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OPLIN 4cast #459: Software containers
October 14th, 2015

[image: shipping containers] If your library uses any Software as a Service
(SaaS), which is increasingly common for Integrated Library Systems (ILS)
and subscriptions management, then it's quite likely that you have been
using a software container and didn't know it. Also known as
operating-system-level virtualization, containers allow SaaS and other
hosted services vendors to split a virtual server between a large number of
separate users and keep them isolated from one another. Think of a
container ship, where one vessel carries a large number of separate
containers that will be moved to trucks and distributed to many different
points. (It's no coincidence that the most popular software for managing
containers is called "Docker.") Containers are excellent places to test new
or upgraded software, so they occasionally are used locally as well as in
the cloud.

   - Software containers: Used more frequently than most realize
   <http://www.networkworld.com/article/2226996/cisco-subnet/software-containers--used-more-frequently-than-most-realize.html>
   (NetworkWorld | Scott Hogg) "As more VMs [virtual machines] were getting
   deployed, organizations had each application run on its own virtual server
   and each application essentially had its own dedicated resources (CPU,
   memory, I/O, network configuration). However, that server virtualization
   model requires a separate OS (and licensing) for each application. If all
   businesses care about is the applications, then why not try to get the
   applications to each run in their own computing instance? Then came along
   the idea of using a software container to isolate the application."
   - Containers everywhere! Getting started with Docker
   <http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/09/30/docker_how_to/> (The Register |
   Kat McIvor) "Shipping containers have a defined size. No matter what they
   contain the cranes used to move shipping containers about and the boats
   that load them know how to stack them. A shipping container is a
   standardised unit. Imagine if software was the same. Rather than needing to
   know how to setup a server to the exact specifications given by a program,
   you are given a container. The container engine knows how to move that
   container about and how to run it, no matter what is inside."
   - Is there a Docker in the house?
   <https://brinxmat.wordpress.com/2014/12/31/is-there-a-docker-in-the-house/>
   (Brinxmat's blog | Rurik Greenall) "As Oslo Public Library wants 100% test
   coverage, we aim for deploying tested artifacts; providing test coverage
   for complete software packages like the Koha integrated library system
   <http://koha-community.org/> is basically impossible as we're not just
   talking about unit tests for the software components, but also the
   configured system *as installed*. The route we've chosen is to use Docker
   <https://www.docker.com/> to encapsulate the packages we're using and
   test the resulting artifacts; in this way, we can ensure that every
   deployed artifact is tested and can be demonstrated to function as expected
   before it is deployed in production."
   - Why Docker is the hottest technology on the block
   <http://www.networkcomputing.com/data-centers/why-docker-is-the-hottest-technology-on-the-block/a/d-id/1322436>
   (Network Computing) "It's important to keep in mind that Docker still is
   relatively new, having been released in March 2013. So it is still in early
   days of adoption. As a result, your organization will most likely require
   IT professionals with significant experience in order to implement the
   technology successfully. And, as with most technology, there may be
   security risks associated with using Docker due to the flexibility it
   offers."

*Articles from Ohio Web Library <http://ohioweblibrary.org>:*

   - The world of containers doesn't end with Docker.
   <http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy.oplin.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=buh&AN=101598438&site=ehost-live>
   (*Computerworld Digital Magazine*, Feb. 2015, p.3-5 | Matt Weinberger)
   - A closer look at Kubernetes and Google Container Engine.
   <http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy.oplin.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cph&AN=101525972&site=ehost-live>
   (*Computer Weekly*, 3/10/2015, p.15-17 | Janakiram MSV)
   - Reliability of computational experiments on virtualised hardware.
   <http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy.oplin.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cph&AN=91967870&site=ehost-live>
   (*Journal of Experimental & Theoretical Artificial Intelligence*, Jan.
   2014, p.33-49 | Lars Kotthoff)

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