The document compares major container platforms including Azure ACS, AWS ECS, OpenShift, and Google Cloud Platform, detailing their features such as support for orchestrators, container management, networking, storage, and scalability. Each platform varies in ease of installation, security options, and upgrade methodologies, with Kubernetes noted for its complex setups and vast scalability potential. The summary emphasizes the distinct characteristics and strengths of each platform to aid in selection.

1. Major Container Platform Comparison
Feature Azure ACS AWS ECS
Open Shift Container
Platform
Google Cloud Platform
Choice of Orchestrator
Kubernetes
DC/OS - Mesos
Docker Swarm
AWS ECS
AWS Fargate
EKS
Kubernetes Google Kubernetes Engine
Supported Images Windows and Linux Images Windows and Linux Images Linux Images Windows and Linux Images
Add Node
Manual
Worker Nodes Only
Not available for Master nodes
Manual
Available for Nodes
Manual -Run an Ansible playbook & CLI
Container
Management
ACS GUI
Docker Tools
ECS GUI
AWS CLI
OpenShift Origin command line
interface (CLI)
OpenShift Web Console
gcloud command-line tool
Choice of Containers
Separate Cluster to be
provisioned
Separate Cluster to be
provisioned
Separate Cluster to be provisioned Separate Cluster to be provisioned
Cluster Management Azure Portal
AWS Portal
AWS CLI
OpenShift Web Console
OpenShift Origin command line
interface (CLI)
Google Portal
gcloud command-line tool
Networking and
Storage
Libnetwork
Docker volume driver using
Azure storage
awsvpc
AWS EBS
GCE Persistent Disk
AWS Elastic Block Store (EBS)
NFS, GlusterFS, Ceph RBD, OpenStack
Cinder, GCE Persistent Disk, iSCSI, and
Fibre Channel.
Virtual Private Cloud
Cloud Storage
OS Supported Windows and Linux Windows and Linux Windows, Linux, Mac and Web Based Windows, Linux and Mac

2. Major Container Platform Comparison
Feature Azure ACS AWS ECS
Open Shift Container
Platform
Google Cloud Platform
Networking and
Storage
Libnetwork
Docker volume driver using
Azure storage
awsvpc
AWS EBS
GCE Persistent Disk
AWS Elastic Block Store (EBS)
NFS, GlusterFS, Ceph RBD, OpenStack
Cinder, GCE Persistent Disk, iSCSI, and
Fibre Channel.
Virtual Private Cloud
Cloud Storage
Application File Compose format
Compose format
Task definition file
Compose format
Docker Upgrades
No Upgrade, Create new
cluster
No Upgrade, Create new
cluster
Performing Manual In-place Cluster
Upgrades
Pricing Methodology Cost of Cloud Resource Usage Cost of Cloud Resource Usage Cost of Cloud Resource Usage Cost of cloud Resource Usage
Container Security
From Azure Marketplace
Twistlock
Aqua Security
AWS VPC
AWS IAM
Aqua Security,
Black Duck,
JFrog,
and Twistlock
Virtual Private Cloud
Integration Azure Active Directory AD Connector Azure Active Directory Google Cloud Identity
Log Analytics
Azure Log Analytics in
Operations Management Suite
AWS Cloud Trail
AWS Cloud Watch (Log Driver)
Ops Cluster
Elasticsearch
Fluentd
Kibana
Curator
Stack Driver
Supported Registries
Docker Hub
ACR
ECR
Docker Hub
OpenShift Container Registry Kubernetes, GCR
DevOps Support VSTS
AWS Code Pipeline
Jenkins
Jenkins Jenkins

3. Parameter Docker Swarm Kubernetes Mesos
Cluster Installation
Very easy to install and setup. All
components are mostly docker-
based, and can be integrated inside
“systemd”.
Slightly complex to setup. Extensive use
of YAML files to define all services in the
cluster. The YAML configuration is unique
to Kubernetes
Generally easy to install and setup with small
clusters, but considerably more complex with
larger setups. Repositories available for some
Linux distributions.
Container
Deployment
Completely Docker based and very
easy to setup. Completely native to
Docker.
YAML based for all components in a
deployed application (pods, services, and
replication controllers).
JSON based. All application definitions go
inside a JSON file which is passed to the
Mesos/Marathon REST API.
Minimum Size
(Cluster)
2 3 3
Scalability Small to medium
Medium to large clusters. Very well
suited for complex applications with
many containers inside pods.
Large to very large scale clusters.
Maturity Mature, but still evolving
Very mature.Direct descendant of Google
internal BORG Platform.
Very mature, especially for very big clusters
counting in the thousands of servers.
Best Features
Easy to use, and more native to
Docker.
est PODS scheduling features when
complex applications are required to be
deployed
Scale in the thousands, and rack/host based
constraints features available in order to fine-
tune where to deploy applications.
Docker Swarm, Kubernetes and Mesos container orchestration comparison table

4. How to Choose the One