Comparison of Container Orchestration Engines

Samarth Shah; Ujjawal Jain

doi:10.55544/ijrah.4.6.24

Authors

Samarth Shah University at Albany, Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12222, UNITED STATES.
Ujjawal Jain Birmingham City University, Cardigan St, Birmingham B4 7RJ, UNITED KINGDOM.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55544/ijrah.4.6.24

Keywords:

Container orchestration, scalability, fault tolerance, resource management, DevOps integration, service discovery, containerized applications, open-source platforms, workload management, cloud-native architecture

Abstract

Container orchestration engines have become essential for managing containerized applications in modern cloud-native architectures. These tools automate the deployment, scaling, networking, and management of containers, enabling seamless application lifecycle management. With a growing number of orchestration solutions available, understanding their features, strengths, and limitations is crucial for selecting the right platform.

This paper presents a comparative analysis of prominent container orchestration engines, highlighting their core functionalities, architectural design, and suitability for different use cases. Key areas of comparison include resource allocation, fault tolerance, scalability, and integration with DevOps workflows. The study explores how these platforms address challenges such as dynamic workload management, service discovery, and inter-container communication while maintaining high availability and system resilience.

The analysis reveals that while some platforms excel in simplicity and ease of deployment, others provide advanced features tailored to complex, large-scale systems. Additionally, open-source orchestration tools are evaluated against proprietary solutions in terms of community support, customization capabilities, and total cost of ownership.

This comparative study aims to assist organizations and developers in identifying the most suitable container orchestration engine based on their operational needs and technical constraints. By understanding the trade-offs and unique features of each platform, stakeholders can make informed decisions that optimize performance, reduce operational overhead, and support efficient application delivery in a rapidly evolving technology landscape. This abstract underscores the importance of aligning platform capabilities with organizational goals for successful containerized application management.

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