What is containerization?
Everyone brings something different for lunch at the office: Pasta, salad, dumplings. Nevertheless, we eat together, no matter where the food comes from. Containers work in exactly the same way: they contain the software code and all the necessary dependencies. Nothing more is needed. With this lean structure, containers can be run on any platform with a suitable runtime environment – regardless of the operating system, just like we can enjoy our food anywhere. Unlike virtual machines, which each require their own operating system and virtualized hardware, containers share the host operating system and use resources more efficiently – like preparing multiple dishes in one kitchen instead of separate kitchens.
Why is containerization useful?
Containerization makes application development and deployment more efficient, flexible and reliable. It creates consistent environments so that applications work the same everywhere and the “works on my machine” problem is eliminated. Thanks to fast start times and efficient deployment, updates can be provided quickly. Orchestration tools such as Kubernetes enable dynamic scaling and modular extensions. Better resource utilization leads to lower operating costs as more containers run on the same hardware. Containers support automation in CI/CD pipelines, accelerate development cycles and make updates more secure. Their platform independence facilitates multi-cloud strategies, while the isolation of individual containers increases security.
The portability of containers ensures that applications that run flawlessly in the development environment also function smoothly in the production environment. This minimizes environmental differences and accelerates automated deployments, as the required environment is already included in the container.
Containerization in practice: advantages for organizations
The advantages of containerization mentioned in the previous section can also be used by companies: Since container bundle applications including dependencies and configurations, they can be seamlessly handed over to the operations team and usually run without additional customization. Containers provide a consistent environment and thus reduce many differences between development, test and production environments, which improves collaboration between teams. Integration with CI/CD pipelines automates and accelerates deployment and enables automated testing. Updates and rollbacks are efficient as new versions can be easily deployed as containers and faulty versions can be quickly replaced. Kubernetes and other orchestration tools also ensure flexible scalability to cope with dynamic loads.
Another important aspect is the cost factor: as containers share the host operating system, they require fewer resources than virtual machines, resulting in lower operating costs.
Deploying NEXIS 4 on Docker
NEXIS 4 customers can also benefit from the advantages of containerization by deploying NEXIS 4 as a container image. First, a container system such as Docker must be installed. The required database can either also run as a container or be obtained from another source. A folder is also required, for example for backups. The NEXIS 4 image is then imported from the TAR file provided and NEXIS 4 can be started with just one more command. Compared to traditional deployment, the container-based deployment of NEXIS 4 is significantly faster and more efficient.
Conclusion
Containerization accelerates the development, deployment and maintenance of applications, making them more flexible, scalable and cost-efficient while improving security and consistency across different environments. In the long term, companies benefit from increased agility and more efficient use of resources. Because containers run consistently in any environment, they accelerate development and deployment. Lower resource utilization and simplified scalability reduce operating costs and optimize system performance. With orchestration tools such as Kubernetes, applications can be scaled automatically, which increases flexibility. Containerization also supports multi-cloud strategies, reduces dependency on individual providers and increases security through isolated application environments. Containerized architectures facilitate updates and maintenance, allowing companies to react more quickly to changing business requirements. In the long term, containerization ensures a future-proof IT strategy that keeps pace with modern developments.