CNI (Container Network Interface)
A specification and framework for configuring network interfaces in containerized applications.
Description
In the context of AWS, the Container Network Interface (CNI) is a crucial component that enables networking for containers in services like Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS) and Amazon Elastic Container Service (ECS). CNI allows containers to communicate with each other and with external services by managing their network interfaces. It defines how network resources are allocated and configured for each container, ensuring that they receive unique IP addresses and can connect to the network seamlessly. AWS CNI plugins provide features like VPC networking, enabling containers to use the same network as EC2 instances, which simplifies security configurations and connectivity. This integration enhances performance and scalability, allowing developers to build microservices architectures efficiently. CNI also supports advanced networking features such as security groups and network access control list (ACL) configurations, making it easier to manage containerized applications in a cloud-native environment.
Examples
- AWS VPC CNI Plugin: Allows EKS pods to have native VPC networking, providing them with IP addresses from the VPC subnet.
- Calico: A popular alternative CNI plugin that provides advanced networking features, such as network policy enforcement, which can be integrated with EKS.
Additional Information
- CNI is designed to be extensible, allowing developers to create custom plugins for specific networking needs.
- AWS provides robust documentation and support for CNI configuration, making it easier for developers to set up and manage container networking.