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A Tale of Two Orchestrators: Swarm and Kubernetes

A Tale of Two Orchestrators: Swarm and Kubernetes

Learn about the two orchestration layers that can be used with Docker.

Orchestration layers

There are currently two competing orchestration layers that can be used with Docker: Swarm and Kubernetes. Both have many similarities but also significant differences.

Swarm

Swarm (or Swarm mode)—Docker’s homegrown solution—has been built into the Docker Engine since version 1.12, so it is installed. Although it took some time to become production-ready, Swarm is now a mature, capable, low-ceremony orchestrator.

While it is still missing one or two desirable features (such as autoscaling), it’s a well-thought-out piece of software and gives you a lot of power.

Swarm

Kubernetes

The other big player is ...

Kubernetes