How do I deploy a container on ACI or AKS?

Posted on by Shravanthi S

Containerization has revolutionized the way applications are deployed and managed, offering flexibility, scalability, and isolation. Azure, Microsoft’s cloud platform, provides two powerful container deployment options: Azure Container Instances (ACI) for serverless and straightforward container deployments, and Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) for orchestrating and managing containers at scale. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through the process of deploying containers on both ACI vs. AKS. Whether you’re new to containerization or an experienced user, this guide will help you get started with ease.

Deploying Containers on Azure Container Instances (ACI)

Step 1: Prepare Your Container Image

Before deploying to ACI, ensure you have a Docker container image ready. If you need assistance building one, you can refer to the official Docker documentation.

Step 2: Create an ACI Resource

  1. Log in to the Azure portal.
  2. Click on “Create a resource” and search for “Container Instances.”
  3. Follow the wizard to configure your ACI instance. Provide the container image URL, resource group, and other necessary details.
  4. Review and create the ACI instance.

Step 3: Deploy Your Container

Once your ACI instance is created, you can deploy your container using the Azure CLI or Azure PowerShell. For example, using Azure CLI:

bash
az container create --resource-group <your-resource-group> --name <container-name> --image <container-image> --cpu <cpu-cores> --memory <memory-GB> --dns-name-label <DNS-label>

Your container is now running on ACI, and you can access it using the DNS name label.

Deploying Containers on Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)

Step 1: Create an AKS Cluster

  1. In the Azure portal, click on “Create a resource” and search for “Kubernetes Service.”
  2. Follow the wizard to configure your AKS cluster. Define the resource group, node count, and other settings.
  3. Review and create the AKS cluster.

Step 2: Deploy Your Container with Kubernetes

  1. Connect to your AKS cluster using the Azure CLI:
bash
az aks get-credentials --resource-group <your-resource-group> --name <your-aks-cluster-name>
  1. Create a Kubernetes Deployment file (e.g., deployment.yaml) that specifies your container image and desired replicas.
yaml
apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
name: my-deployment
spec:
replicas: 3
selector:
matchLabels:
app: my-app
template:
metadata:
labels:
app: my-app
spec:
containers:
- name: my-container
image: <container-image>
  1. Deploy your application to AKS:
bash
kubectl apply -f deployment.yaml

Your containerized application is now running on AKS, and Kubernetes will manage scaling, load balancing, and self-healing.

External Resources for Further Exploration

For more in-depth information and resources, consider the following external links:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the key differences between ACI and AKS?

  • ACI is a serverless container service for quick and simple deployments, while AKS is a managed Kubernetes service for orchestration and scaling of containerized applications.

2. How do I expose my containerized application to the internet in ACI or AKS?

  • In ACI, you can use a public IP address or DNS name label. In AKS, you can create Kubernetes Services with LoadBalancer type or use an Ingress controller.

3. What is the pricing model for ACI and AKS?

  • ACI is billed per second, while AKS pricing depends on the chosen virtual machine (VM) size and the number of VMs in the cluster.

Whether you opt for Azure Container Instances or Azure Kubernetes Service, Azure provides powerful tools to simplify container deployment and management, allowing you to focus on developing and running your applications with confidence.

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