Microsoft is bringing support for Windows Server containers to Azure’s fastest growing compute service—Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS).
Enterprises and developers run their application both on Linux and Windows. The AKS supported Linux containers only and some of the customers wanted support for Windows containers as well.
With the newly added support, the users will be able to manage Windows and Linux containers side by side in the same Kubernetes cluster. They can use the same APIs and tools for it.
Microsoft said that support for Windows Server containers in Azure Kubernetes Service will enable new scenarios. These containers can now be deployed and orchestrate in AKS, so that developers can migrate and modernize Windows Server apps in Azure.
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“For example, you can now add Windows node pools to existing Virtual Network; or deploy a Linux container running a reverse proxy or Redis cache and an IIS application in a Windows container in the same Kubernetes cluster and even as part of the same application – all with consistent monitoring experience and deployment pipelines,” explained Taylor Brown, Principal PM Manager, Container Platform, Microsoft, in a blog post.
When users run Windows Server container in AKS, they will also be able to gain benefits of a number of existing Azure services and features. This will make the management and development of Kubernetes apps easier.
For instance, they can manage the lifecycle of Linux and Windows containers via Azure Container Registry, deliver apps faster on any operating system with a standard deployment pipeline, as well as gain insights into the health and performance of Kubernetes clusters.
Integration of Azure DevOps with AKS will help in automating the validation, testing, canary and production of apps.
The support for Windows Server containers in AKS is now available for preview.
