deploying N copies of the same docker image->ACI container

AJG 436

Looking at the Azure Portal 'Container Instances' page - for a given container - the container name has 'container instances' written below it, also on that same page - in 'essentials', there is a 'container count' property (with value 1).

this strongly suggests that azure containers are designed to support the deployment of multiple instances of the same container - but how is this done ?

if we want a simple way of parallelization across containers - the starting point should be a mechanism for the simultaneous deployment of multiple homogeneous container instances - without any other nasty complications, eg by including a 'count' or 'instances' value in the 'azure container create' command.

the portal details referenced above suggest that this should be the case - but there is no obvious way to do it - that I can see.

I have seen the 'az deployment group create' command ... oh dear ... is that really the answer ? ...

1 answer

whoward-msft 2,766 Reputation points

2020-09-09T23:44:36.907+00:00

Hi @AJG ,

A simple way of deploying multiple instances of the same ACI container would be Azure Resource Manager Templates. You would deploy an ARM Template using the copy element to set the number of containers of a set instance you would like to deploy. For more see this doc.

If this helps answer your question please mark it as accepted to help others in the community with similar questions. Thanks!
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AJG 436 Reputation points

2020-09-10T04:37:42.143+00:00

Hello,

I have now tried this - by taking the container ARM template and editing it, and including the 'count' construct.

however - at the moment, I can get it to work if I create a set of containers that all have different names, eg mycontainer1, mycontainer2, etc - so they appear as separate entries in the container list on the portal.

the portal ui and the json schema strongly suggest that this is meant to support the notion of a 'container group' - ie a single named item, with multiple instances created. if i try to do this using the ARM template - by excluding counter from (what looks like) the group name, and including it (in what looks like) the instance id - then it fails.

if container groups are supported - then I would much rather use that - than manage each container individually.

most likely the template I have edited to try to create a container group has been guessed wrongly.

any thoughts on this?

whoward-msft 2,766 Reputation points

2020-09-10T17:54:00.497+00:00

Hi @AJG ,

The container groups can have the same specs but each container will need a unique resource name. If your looking for a more native scaling I'd advise you to take a look at Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) and use that as your orchestrator to get native scaling. Does this help answer your question?

As for the ARM Template, you should use this schema where you define all the container instances your looking for with the container object schema. But again each container does need a unique resource name.

AJG 436 Reputation points

2020-09-11T16:39:52.373+00:00

Hi,
I just tried AKS - I like the architecture a lot - however, hit a simple roadblock wrt the number of nodes available on subscription - have posted another question about that.

I am finding it very hard to find a good scalable 'compute on demand' solution on azure - using batch, aks, acs or otherwise.

the irony of this - is that using 'old style' hpc tech - C++/slurm etc - it was much quicker to make complex analytics work quickly compared to using technologies/languages like python/batch/aks - which are supposed to make these things easier.

I have a home made compute system at home - that still has about 100x the compute power of anything I have so far managed to achieve on azure - for non trivial problems. I was hoping that azure would give me more compute power.

A

whoward-msft 2,766 Reputation points

2020-09-11T17:31:50.54+00:00

Hi @AJG ,

I'm glad to hear you like AKS, I'll go check out your other question. As for this question regarding ACI would you please mark this answer as accepted to help others regarding ACI?

I've seen you post a few questions out here on different azure compute offerings, I'd be interested to know your use case and maybe I can point you towards the perfect solution. Let me know what your trying to build :). Cheers.
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deploying N copies of the same docker image->ACI container

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