What is a container registry?
Container registries are repositories used to store container images for Kubernetes, DevOps, and container-based application development. Container images are layered files that can run multiple applications at the same time. All container images required for an application should be available during the application development process. A single location allows users to commit, identify, and call up images whenever they need them.
By sharing an image with a container registry, users can act as hosts for container images. It may be worthwhile to use a container registry when an organization is hosting a native cloud application.
Container Images
An image of a container consists of its files and components — which go into constructing an application — which can then be opened to multiply the size quickly, or copied and moved to another operating system. It can then be used to build new apps or to scale existing apps once the container image is created.
The container registry is a way for you to store and access container images as they are created. Registers: containers are stored and are shared out by pushing (pushing) and pulling (pulling) them. If the image resides on another system, the original application contained within it can be run there as well.
Repository vs Registry
Containers are often confused with registries and repositories. For setup and deployment, related images are stored in a container repository. Images can be managed, pushed, or pulled from container repositories. In container registries, images of containers are stored as well as APIs and rules for access control. Public and private container registries are both available.
Public vs Private container registries
Container registries can be classified as public or private.
For individuals or small teams who want to start their registries quickly, public registries are great. Simple in terms of their capabilities/offerings, they are easily accessible.
For new and small organizations, standardized and open-source images are an excellent starting point. The growth of these servers often raises security concerns such as patching, privacy, and access control.
Enterprise container image storage can incorporate security and privacy via private registries, either hosted remotely or on-premises. If a company wishes, it can create and deploy its own container registry, or it can use a commercial registry service.
What to look for in a private container registry?
A private registry provides a number of benefits, including controlling access to what, scanning for vulnerabilities and patching as needed, and requiring authentication of both images and users.
When choosing a private container registry service for your enterprise, consider the following:
- Support for multiple authentication methods
- Controlling access based on roles (RBAC)
- Scanners for vulnerabilities
- Record usage in auditable logs so that an individual’s activity can be tracked
- Automated and optimized
A role-based access control system allows different capabilities to be assigned to different users based on their roles. Specifically, developers would require access to both uploads and download to the registry, while team members or testers would need access only to download.
It is also possible to put authentication measures in place for containers stored on a private registry. A digital signature is required before an image can be uploaded to a registry under such measures. The activity can be tracked, and uploads prevent if the user does not have the authorization to do so. In addition, images can be tagged at various stages so they can be reverted back to if necessary.
Top 10 container Registry Software
Red Hat Quay Azure Container Registry
Red Hat® Quay container and application registry enables secure container distribution, deployment, and storage on any platform. It is a standalone component or an add-on for OpenShift.
Amazon Elastic container Registry(ECR) Red Hat Quay
Using Amazon Elastic Container Registry (ECR), developers can store, manage, and deploy Docker containers quickly and easily. You can streamline your development to the production process with Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS) integrated with Amazon ECR.
Azure Container Registry
The Azure Container Registry uses the open-source Docker Registry 2.0 as a foundation for managing Docker registries. Furthermore, it keeps and manages images for deployments of any type of container.
JFrog Container Registry
With the JFrog Container Registry, you can deploy Kubernetes on your Kubernetes cluster using Docker and Helm. The JFrog Artifactory registry, built on industry-leading technology, lets you manage and deploy Docker images easily. It only offers local, virtual, and remote repositories that are free, providing DevOps teams with complete control of access and permissions. Support your hybrid, cloud, and multi-cloud business models.
Habor
Docker images are stored and distributed via Project Harbor, an enterprise-class registry server. Docker’s open-source distribution, Harbor, adds security, identity, and management capabilities that are needed by an enterprise.
Alibaba Container Registry
Images can be managed throughout the lifecycle of a container through the Container Registry. Image management is secure, creating stable image builds across global regions is simple, and permissions for images are managed easily. Using this service, you can easily manage images in multiple locations and create an image registry. Container Registry, together with other cloud services like Container Service, provides an optimal way to use Docker in the cloud.
Google Container Registry
A Docker image storage service on Google Cloud Platform called Container Registry provides fast, private storage of Docker images.
Docker Hub
It contains a variety of content including developer community images, open-source projects, and code provided by independent software vendors (ISVs). You can choose between public repositories where images can be stored free of charge or private repositories where you must subscribe.
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Registry
For the storage and sharing of container images within the same deployment regions, a highly available private container registry service.
