News

Microsoft Shows Off Container App for Multiple Platforms

• By David Ramel
• 06/25/2015

After Microsoft helped found the new container standardization effort, the Open Container Project, led by Docker Inc., Microsoft Azure CTO Mark Russinovich gave a keynote address at the annual DockerCon conference in San Francisco, showing off a key milestone toward creating applications that can run on multiple server OSes.

Docker just one year ago was merely the latest upstart flouting a new way to change how software is developed, deployed and managed. With key industry players supporting its software container platform, Microsoft's partnership with Docker last June was quickly noted for its promise to let developers build applications that run on any OS, virtual machine (VM) and cloud.

Russinovich demonstrated what Microsoft claims is the first ever multiplatform container application. "Built, shipped and running using Docker, this container application is the first in the industry to work across both Windows Server and Linux," said Corey Sanders, Microsoft's director for Azure product management, in a blog post. "We want to bring you broad choice and flexibility for building your apps, combining Windows Server and Linux containers with Docker Compose and Docker Swarm, to offer a truly cross-platform experience."

Also demonstrated for the first time was how developers and IT pros can use Microsoft's Azure Marketplace to select and deploy single or multicontainer apps that are sourced from a Docker Hub Image using the Docker Compose developer interface, Sanders noted.

Microsoft also showcased its support for the new Docker Trusted Registry VM image, an on-premises authentication repository launched by Docker this week. The Docker Trusted Registry VM image, also added to the Azure Marketplace, runs on premises where customers can store and share Docker container images.

Along with Microsoft, Amazon Web Services and IBM also are offering the Registry, with costs starting at $150 per month. Docker describes it as a highly available registry that offers integration with Active Directory, LDAP directories and other authentication platforms and offers role-based access control and audit logs for organizations looking to manage authorization or with compliance requirements.