Docker Tools for Modernizing Traditional Applications

Over the past two years Docker has worked closely with customers to modernize portfolios of traditional applications with Docker container technology and Docker Enterprise, the industry-leading container platform. Such applications are typically monolithic in nature, run atop older operating systems such as Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2003, and are difficult to transition from on-premises data centers to the public cloud.

The Docker platform alleviates each of these pain points by decoupling an application from a particular operating system, enabling microservice architecture patterns, and fostering portability across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments.

As the Modernizing Traditional Applications (MTA) program has matured, Docker has invested in tooling and methodologies that accelerate the transition to containers and decrease the time necessary to experience value from the Docker Enterprise platform. From the initial application assessment process to running containerized applications on a cluster, Docker is committed to improving the experience for customers on the MTA journey.

Application Discovery & Assessment

Enterprises develop and maintain exhaustive portfolios of applications. Such apps come in a myriad of languages, frameworks, and architectures developed by both first and third party development teams. The first step in the containerization journey is to determine which applications are Continue reading

What We Heard About Containers and Windows Server App Migration at Microsoft Ignite

Ever since Microsoft CVP Erin Chapelle spoke about the future of Windows Containers at DockerCon earlier this year, there has been excitement around the general availability of Windows Server 2019. That announcement came last week at the Microsoft Ignite Conference in Orlando.

Ignite was a tremendous opportunity for us to discuss the containerization journey with companies of all shapes and sizes. A central theme: what to do with large numbers of applications running today on Windows Server 2008, an operating system that will reach the end of its supported lifecycle in a mere 15 months.

Here are some common questions discussed last week at Ignite:

Q: What challenges do legacy Windows Server applications present?

A: Legacy applications have several challenges:

• Fragile dependencies between the OS, application and other components
• Lost knowledge when original development teams move on.
• The stickiness of legacy .NET applications, with 70 percent of .NET apps still running on Windows Server 2003 or 2008.

Q: Are Docker containers only a public cloud technology?

A: Containers are the fastest growing cloud enabling technology, and are often used to enable cloud migration initiatives. Jabil Circuit, GE Digital and Lindsay Corporation are among many customers that have used containers Continue reading