Kubernetes is all about sharing machines between the applications, so understanding how they communicate is essential. The first important element to understand is that every Pod gets its own IP address. This means you do not have to create links between the Pods and also negates the need to map host ports to container ports, as is done in the Docker networking model. Pods can now be treated very similarly to VMs or physical hosts with respect to naming, port allocation, load balancing, migration and more. Read article

The more choice we have, the less satisfied we become however we do need choice to feel freedom and autonomy when decision-making. This is known as the paradox of choice and rings true when buying a packet of crisps (or chips for my US friends), one of Heinz’s 57 varieties or selecting a NOS that best suits your needs. Consumer choice in this sphere is essential as every network requires something a little different to suit their very specific environmental demands. It is this choice that has driven creation, innovation, price and also keeps everyone in this market on their toes. Innovate or die was the cry! Read article

Container platforms and Cloud Native are the talk of the town, with Kubernetes, or k8s as it is stylized, recently being crowned the victor in the bloody but aptly named ‘Container Wars’. The white flag of surrender for management and orchestration was raised by Docker which now supports Kubernetes natively. Docker is still the container engine of choice though. This means that most Cloud Native systems are going to contain both platforms in a complementary fashion.

Gone are the halcyon days when explaining a concept like the edge of a network could be accomplished in a sentence or two. It could be described as a controlled boundary between two networks, or the point at which traffic exits the core, or even simply the entry and exit points to the network. These explanations, while somewhat correct in their summary, are about as useful in describing the carrier’s edge or edge computing as an ashtray on a motorbike.  Read article

SDN’s rise to prominence has shown all the similarities of a butterfly’s metamorphosis in its fledgling years. The first stage being the egg. The seed of the idea of what might be. The second stage is the caterpillar, or the feeding stage, when early adopters like Facebook beavered away tirelessly to turn the idea into something tangible. The third stage, the pupa, or the transition stage has just ended with SDN moving into every facet of networks. Finally, the adult stage is upon us. SDN is now ready to spread its wings, take flight outside the Data Center and show the world its true colours.

The grim reaper is on the horizon for proprietary solutions with open networking the scythe that breaks the chains… Read article