Cloud image use cases

[Haïkel]

2015-07-10 13:59 GMT+02:00 Josh Boyer <jwboyer at fedoraproject.org>:

> Hi All,
>
> I was hoping someone could clarify the use cases for the cloud image,
> particularly in light of the reductions being looked at (like removing
> python).  I ask because I honestly don't know what purpose the cloud
> image is serving any longer.
>
>
That's a trade-off
* minimize disk usage that comes with a cost on IaaS platforms.
* minimize attack surface by removing unnecessary components
* base image is a generic one, not everyone needs a python interpreter
especially when you deploy a java or ruby apps.
* cloud instances provides tooling to customize images at startup
(cloud-init in
our case)
* you can save a customized image to be reused on most IaaS platforms.
* Patterns of deployment in the cloud are based on the assumptions of full
automation and minimal human interventions.

In my own opinion, base image is a neutral base and one has to customize
it for their use. We provide the tooling and a suitable base and it's a much
harder task to minimize fedora than adding missing tools.

And that's again, my own opinion, but the day we will provide an easy way to
generate customize/upload in IaaS cloud images for end-users (maybe through
copr), the cloud
story will be complete. Suse has done an awesome job in that direction
through
kiwi.

As for Python, that's still in discussion, as we need it for dnf and
cloud-init.
Until we find suitable replacements for these components, it's unlikely to
change.


> The atomic image is squarely targeted at being small, and for running
> containers.  It is somewhat positioned as a CoreOS solution.  With
> that being the case, I'm curious how the cloud image is different and
> not a repetitive image simply not using the atomic mechanisms.
>
>
One could see the current cloud image as a transitional step between
the opinionated approach from Atomic Host and classical linux distro.

Atomic Host concept goes further than just CoreOS, as it could become
the next way to envision linux distro including the desktop.
Cloud images are the current production, Atomic Host is the Research lab of
the
cloud SIG.


Regards,
H.


thanks.
>
> josh
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