The X4 BPMS digitalization platform by SoftProject GmbH now supports container orchestration with Kubernetes. Kubernetes automates, scales, and manages containerized applications. From the X4 BPMS container image provided as a template, any number of Docker containers can be created. With Kubernetes support, orchestration platforms such as Red Hat OpenShift can also be used. Red Hat OpenShift enables user-friendly automation, management, configuration, installation, migration, and scaling of containers. With minimal effort, companies can achieve optimal performance, increase flexibility, and at the same time save resources, costs, as well as update and installation efforts.
Kubernetes: As a container image, the low-code platform X4 BPMS unlocks new digitalization opportunities
The term container originates from the logistics industry, where industrial containers are loaded, moved, and optimally distributed. In software, a container is a self-contained instance that is largely isolated from its environment and typically only accesses specific operating system resources when needed. Containers are lightweight, flexible, and easy to manage, and they include all necessary components—such as frameworks, libraries, and configurations—to run independent applications. These include software solutions like ERP systems, general business applications, database servers, microservices, or digitalization solutions such as X4 BPMS. Containers can be deployed in traditional data centers as well as on all major cloud platforms. In addition to operating system resources, containers primarily rely on their own resources, such as storage, network addresses, and integrated installation packages. As independent systems, containers can operate independently of other applications.
How software components become a powerful Docker container
Docker differentiates between containers and images. An image—such as the X4 BPMS Docker image—represents a stage prior to the actual Docker container. The image is a read-only file archive and cannot be modified. The X4 BPMS image can be easily copied and provides the foundation for a container without requiring software installation. An image always includes a configuration description that defines how the container will be structured and what functionalities it will provide. Unlike a container, an image does not yet have dependencies on operating system resources. This makes images flexible and easily transferable between different systems, regardless of whether the X4 BPMS image is hosted on a physical or virtual server. The image contains all functionalities required to run software independently from its own file system. Docker reads the information from the X4 BPMS image and creates one or more Docker containers from it. In simple terms, a container is an “executed image.” Developers or administrators only need to adjust a few configuration settings to quickly deploy any number of powerful X4 BPMS Docker containers with the desired applications and web services for a wide range of use cases.
Red Hat OpenShift minimizes orchestration effort for users
Containers typically utilize the resources of the operating system on which they run, such as disk storage capacity, access control, or user permissions. Kubernetes largely handles the management, coordination, and orchestration of these resources. For example, the open-source system detects when a server lacks a specific application or performance capacity and automatically provisions an additional container to balance the load. For individual tasks—such as assigning user permissions—Red Hat OpenShift supports users with intuitive management tools and dashboards. This eliminates the need for complex, low-level configurations in Kubernetes, making it easier for users to manage applications and processes while increasing efficiency.
X4 BPMS Docker containers: Infinitely scalable and secure
X4 BPMS Docker containers offer the advantage that hotfixes—software bug fixes—or updates do not need to be applied step by step on patch day. Instead, it is sufficient to provide an updated X4 BPMS image containing the changes, allowing updates to be automatically rolled out across the entire container environment. Containers based on the X4 BPMS image can be created and operated both in on-premise data centers or on virtual machines, as well as in private clouds or across various cloud computing platforms such as Google Cloud Platform, Amazon Web Services (AWS), or Microsoft Azure. Companies are not tied to a specific infrastructure, and running applications in parallel across different platforms is fully supported.
Conclusion:
Since the X4 BPMS Docker image can now also be used with Red Hat OpenShift (based on Kubernetes), companies can quickly create any number of X4 BPMS Docker containers, scale them as needed, and significantly increase the speed and efficiency of their processes.
X4 BPMS fully supports Kubernetes and Red Hat OpenShift. What concrete benefits do companies gain?
- Unlimited scalability
- No additional software installations required
- Time and resource savings
- Compatibility with all platforms and systems
- Effortless deployment of new systems
- Minimal effort for updates and hotfixes
- Flexible use of applications of any kind
- Easy setup of multiple test environments
- Reduced effort in system administration
- No additional hardware costs
- An environment that is always automatically perfectly configured
