layer 7

Interlock Service Clusters

The Single-Cluster architecture utilizes a single Docker Swarm cluster with multiple collections to separate the dev, test, and prod worker machines and combined with RBAC it enforces work load isolation of applications across the various runtime environments. Applications deployed to this Single-Cluster can utilize the Interlock reverse proxy capabilities of SSL termination and path based routing. This single Interlock application supports all three collections and the routing of application traffic.

In this article I will show you how to configure Interlock to run in a multi-service-cluster configuration which gains you isolation and dedication of Interlock Proxy instances to each of the dev, test, and prod collections.

Docker Layer 7 Routing – Host Mode

It’s been nearly 3 months since my last blog about new the Layer 7 Routing (aka Interlock) in Docker Enterprise 2.0. It’s been a journey of up’s and down’s to get this to work, scale, and become stable enough for a production environment. I’m not sure we can declare total success just yet.

Near the end of my previous blog post I mentioned that there is an alternative configuration for Interlock regarding overlay networks. You could utilize Interlock’s host mode networking. Docker states the following:

By default layer 7 routing leverages the Docker Swarm routing mesh, but you don’t have to. You can use host mode networking for maximum performance.

Interlock for Docker Swarm

In early 2018 Docker made an announcement of the release of its newest Docker Enterprise 2.0 product.  This newest release provides a significant advancement in the Docker platform in the form of a choice between Swarm and/or Kubernetes orchestration. But that’s not what i want to talk about.

Layer 7 Routing

Another great addition to the platform is the replacement of the HTTP Routing Mesh, known as HRM, with a new Layer 7 routing and load balancing. This latest enhancement is built upon the new Interlock 2.0 architecture which provides a highly scalable and highly available routing solution for Swarm.  Interlock provides the same functionality as HRM but also includes 2 new features: 1) path based routing and 2) SSL termination.