How to create a Docker Datacenter on Microsoft Azure

 

During the last Dockercon, a new product was shipped to public: Docker Datacenter. Let’s discover this product and initialize a datacenter. You can get a one month trial here.

So what is Docker Datacenter ?

What is the best way to explain Docker Datacenter ? Docker web site…

[su_quote cite=”Docker web site” url=”http://www.docker.com/products/docker-datacenter”]

Fastest Time to Value

Easy to set up and use, Docker Datacenter provides a simple installation and upgrade process for the system. System configurations like storage, certificates and managing users and images are available in an intuitive web interface.

Built in High Availability

From the Datacenter components to cluster to application, Docker Datacenter provides high availability (HA) for the complete stack. Docker Datacenter controllers and replicas can be configured in a one, three or five node set up for failover and state preservation. Application HA is provided through container rescheduling to healthy nodes in the case of node failures in a running cluster.

Orchestration and Management at Scale

Easily orchestrate containers and clustered Engine nodes at enterprise scale with Docker native tools like Compose, Swarm. The point and click UI makes actions like start, stop and scale quick and easy.

Integrated Content Security

Secure the software supply chain from development to production with integrated image signing and verification with the image registry. IT admins and developers can sign images with Docker Content Trust to ensure the freshness guarantees of images and to prevent old or malicious content from being inserted into the pipeline.

Enterprise Access Management (RBAC)

Integration to enterprise systems like LDAP/AD make it easy to manage user and group access to Docker Datacenter managed repositories and Engines. Granular role based access control (RBAC) combined with labels allow IT administrators to ensure the right level of access and permissions for a project and team.

Flexibility and Choice

Docker Datacenter is designed to easily integrate to your existing systems and processes. As a platform agnostic solution, Docker Datacenter runs on any infrastructure (physical, cloud, virtual) with any operating system with support from a broad ecosystem of partners. From networking and volume plugins to storage and log drivers and open APIs, Docker Datacenter provides a robust platform with the flexibility to customize the platform to your applications and business. [/su_quote]

 

How does it works ?

Here are the core components of Docker Datacenter :

  • Docker Universal Control Plane (UCP) in order to administrate your services and configure everything related to security.
  • Docker Trusted Registry (DTR) that’ll be available from both internet and locally to store and deploy your Docker images.
  • Docker Commercially Supported (CS) Engine that’ll host every single containers with fully support from Docker.
Docker UCP is a cluster with multiple nodes, running  Docker Engine, it’s composed of the following nodes
  • UCP controller node : the node that handles user requests
  • UCP replica nodes : replicas of the controller node that can take its place if it fails
  • UCP nodes : the nodes that run your own containers

 

Here is the locial schema from Docker web site to help you understand how all bricks can work together.

Docker Datacenter logical schema

And if we take a look at the Azure architecture behind, here is what we’ll get

 

 

 

 

How to build a Docker Datacenter ?

First of all, you need a Docker Datacenter subscription. You can get a trial there. Once you get your subscription, go to your Azure (or AWS) suscription (i’ll use Azure for this post) and search in the marketplace for Docker Datacenter.

Azure_Docker_Datacenter_Marketplace

Once you selected the Docker Datacenter item, you’ll have the same Azure Windows as usual to inform you about legal informations. Click Create on this window.

Azure_Docker_Datacenter_Creation

Fill all fields like usual with correct informations and click OK.

[su_note note_color=”#2df4f4″ radius=”6″]You can also use Login/Password to authenticate this Linux VM[/su_note]

On the next screen you’ll be asked to choose many things, but thanks to the Azure Schema y’oull be able to understand each field 😉

configure docker datacenter azure

The part in red is the most important, after you have created your trial licence on Docker web site, you can go there to get your licence key, log yourself and go to your subscriptions

Docker subscriptions

Choose the correct Docker Datacenter subscription and download your licence key

Get Docker Datacenter Licence keyChoose the licence on Azure Portal and click OK, you will see the famous validation screen for the JSON template. Click OK.

After that you’ll view a window saying it won’t be free, click Purchase. Now you just have to grab a good coffee and a donuts 🙂

How to access your Docker Datacenter ?

Docker universal Control Plane is available with the public fqdn you have configured during the installation and you’ll have to use credentials configured in the same window.

Azure Docker Universal Control PlaneQuite easy isn’t it ?

You now have your Docker datacenter up and running. In the next article we’ll explore each part of this Control Plane.