Azure Linux is a lightweight, secure, and reliable operating system optimized for performance
Microsoft unveiled recently the general availability of Azure Linux, its open source operating system for Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), optimized for Azure and intended to make it easy for developers to use Microsoft tools to deploy and manage container workloads. Bottom line: Azure Linux is designed to be deployed in the cloud and run multiple containers.
And is that in the 2023 edition of his Build conference Developer-focused, Microsoft announced that after using it internally for two years and running in public preview since October 2022, Microsoft has finally made its distribution available to everyone.
For those who are unaware of Azure Linux, you should know that is the same distribution as CBL-Mariner and which basically positions Azure Linux as “the commercially supported offering for CBL Mariner Linux”.
Microsoft noted that Azure Linux has "very stubborn Azure guidance" and intentionally includes “just the essentials to run a Kubernetes cluster. That said, other product teams can use it for other purposes, for example the .NET team. Some container workloads use Azure Linux, but official support from Microsoft only extends to the host.
We are pleased to announce the general availability of the Azure Linux container host for Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS). Azure Linux Container Host for AKS is a lightweight, secure, and reliable operating system platform optimized for performance on Azure
During the same event, Microsoft announced that Kubernetes Apps, a collection of third-party open source offerings for the AKS platform, It is generally available in the Azure Marketplace.
Entering public preview in October 2022, Kubernetes applications enable one-click deployments, CI/CD automation, automated lifecycle management, and support. There are also flexible consumption options.
Our goal is to provide a secure and reliable platform to run your workloads. To this end, all Azure Linux container host updates are first run through a rigorous set of Azure validation tests.
Available applications are vetted and certified by Microsoft and scanned for vulnerabilities, a necessary step at a time when the number of supply chain attacks continues to rise.
Azure Kubernetes Services (AKS) provides a robust and scalable managed Kubernetes platform for organizations running their most critical applications on Azure. With Kubernetes applications, teams can further extend the capabilities of their AKS implementations with a dynamic ecosystem of proven third-party transactional solutions from industry-leading partners and popular open source offerings.
The clients benefit from a streamlined supply chain that offers verified security, fIntegrated billing and one-click AKS deployment, making it easier than ever to build industry-leading solutions.
On this, it is mentioned that the use of Azure Linux as a container host for AKS offers several benefits, including:
- Optimized to run on Azure: Azure Linux packages and images run through a suite of Azure validation tests. All packages are built and signed in Microsoft pipelines and verified prior to imaging.
- Supply Chain Security: it uses the same Linux distribution and the same software built and tested to run securely on Azure.
- Smaller and more efficient Linux: Azure Linux is designed with a minimalist view, a focus on the cloud. Window managers and other graphical interfaces are removed, resulting in a lower attack surface, reduced dependencies, and a generally smaller footprint. Ultimately, this helps reduce update interruptions and improves reboot speeds.
- Operational consistency: Because the same container host is used in cloud AKS and edge scenarios like Azure Arc or AKS-HCI, customers know exactly what's inside, simplifying administrative and management tasks. This consistency allows customers to shift their workloads more effectively to also take advantage of true hybrid cloud functionality.
Finally, if you are interested in learning more about it, you can consult the details in the following link.