How Computers Support Micro services Architecture
Introduction
The micro services architecture has
become a foundational design pattern in modern software development. It allows
large applications to be built as a collection of loosely coupled services,
each responsible for a specific business function. These services are
independently deplorable, calculable, and maintainable. Underpinning this
architecture is the powerful and adaptable role of computers, which provide the
processing, communication, storage, and orchestration capabilities needed for
micro-services to function effectively. This article explores how computers
support micro services architecture, enhancing development speed, reliability,
scalability, and system resilience.
Understanding Micro services Architecture
Micro services architecture is an
approach to designing software systems where the application is broken down
into smaller, autonomous units. Each micro service handles a specific task and
communicates with others through lightweight mechanisms like REST APIs, gRPC,
or messaging queues. Unlike monolithic systems where components are tightly
integrated, micro services promote flexibility and isolation.
Role of Computers in Supporting Micro services
1. Processing
Power for Independent Services
Each micro service runs as an
independent process. Computers provide the multi-core processing power and
virtualisation technologies (such as containers and virtual machines) necessary
to run multiple services simultaneously without interference. High-performance
CPUs enable parallel processing and efficient handling of concurrent service
requests, which is essential in a micro services environment.
2. Efficient Resource Management
through Virtualisation
Modern computers support hypervisors
and container runtime like Docker and Rubbernecks, which allow micro services to
be packaged with their dependencies and run in isolated environments. This
supports consistent behavior across development, testing, and production
environments. Container orchestration tools such as Rubbernecks automate
deployment, scaling, and management of containerised applications, efficiently
utilising computer resources.
3. Storage and State
Management
Though micro services are often
designed to be stateless, persistent storage is still crucial for saving data
between service invocations. Computers provide the necessary disk storage and
database integration for this. Each micro service can use its own dedicated
database or data store, supported by the underlying computer system. Examples
include SQL databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL) or No SQL stores (MongoDB, Cassandra)
running on powerful servers or in the cloud.
4. Network
Connectivity and Communication
Micro services depend heavily on
inter-service communication. Computers, through their network interface cards
(NICs), routing configurations, and virtual networking tools, support reliable,
fast, and secure communications. Network latency, packet loss, and congestion
are managed at the operating system and hardware levels to ensure seamless
interactions among services.
5. Monitoring and Diagnostics
Computers enable real-time
monitoring and diagnostics, which are critical in micro services where services
can fail independently. Tools like Prometheus, Granada, ELK Stack
(Elasticsearch, Log stash, Banana), and Data dog rely on computer systems to
collect and analyse logs, metrics, and events. These insights help in detecting
issues quickly and maintaining system health.
6. Deployment Automation and CI/CD
Pipelines
Micro services require frequent
updates and deployments. Computers play a crucial role in Continuous
Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. Automated build tools
(e.g., Jenkins, Git Lab CI, Circles) compile code, run tests, and deploy
updated services to production environments. Computers ensure that this entire
pipeline runs smoothly, reducing manual intervention and deployment errors.
7. Security and Access Control
Computers support micro services with
advanced security mechanisms. Firewalls, authentication protocols (Coauthor,
JWT), and TLS encryption are enforced by operating systems and networking
hardware. Computers also facilitate identity and access management (AIM),
ensuring only authorised services and users can access specific resources.
8. Scalability and Load
Balancing
Micro services must handle varying
loads efficiently. Computers support dynamic scalability—either by vertical
scaling (adding more resources to a machine) or horizontal scaling (adding more
machines). Load balances like Ha Proxy, GINNING, or cloud-native ones like AWS
LB and Google Cloud Load Ba lancer are run on computer systems to distribute
requests evenly across services.
9. Fault Tolerance and
High Availability
Computers provide the underlying
infrastructure for redundancy and fail over strategies. In the event of a
service or server failure, other systems can take over seamlessly. Features
like RAID storage, multiple network paths, and cluster management (e.g.,
Rubbernecks, Docker Swarm) enhance the fault tolerance of micro services systems.
10. Data Backup and Disaster
Recovery
To protect against data loss,
computers support regular backups and disaster recovery strategies. Backup
services (local or cloud-based) copy and store service data securely. In
disaster scenarios, computers facilitate the restoration of services from
snapshots or replicas, ensuring business continuity.
Cloud Computing and Micro services
Cloud platforms—such as Amazon Web
Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud—extend the capabilities of
local computers by offering on-demand computing power, storage, and managed
services. These cloud computers automatically scale, monitor, and orchestrate micro services, providing infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and platform as a
service (PaaS). Cloud-native features like server less computing (AWS Lambda,
Azure Functions) further abstract the server layer, allowing developers to
focus purely on service logic.
Edge Computing and Micro services
Edge computing is another domain
where computers support micro services, especially in latency-sensitive
applications. By deploying micro services closer to users on edge devices (IoT
gateways, routers, or local servers), computers reduce the round-trip time of
data transmission and ensure faster response times. This is crucial for
applications like autonomous vehicles, industrial automation, and real-time
analytics.
Develops and Micro services
The integration of Develops practices
with micro services depends heavily on computer automation. Computers automate
code testing, infrastructure provisioning, monitoring, and alerting.
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools like Terra form and Expansible manage configuration
using scripts that are executed by computers to create reproducible
environments.
Challenges Addressed by
Computers in Micro services
Computers help tackle many of the
inherent challenges in micro services, such as:
- Service
discovery: Computers run registries (e.g., Consul, etcd) to keep
track of available services.
- Circuit
breakers: Tools like Hysterics or Resilience, running on
servers, prevent cascading failures.
- API
gateways: GINNING, Kong, and Ambassador, running on computers,
serve as entry points and manage routing, security, and rate limiting.
Conclusion
Micro services architecture
transforms how software is developed, deployed, and scaled. However, the real
enabler of this transformation is the computer—whether it's a physical machine,
a virtual server, or a cloud node. From processing power and storage to
networking and orchestration, computers provide the robust foundation needed to
run callable, secure, and efficient micro services systems. As technologies like
edge computing, AI integration, and quantum computing evolve, the role of
computers in supporting micro services will only grow more critical, making them
indispensable to the modern software ecosystem.
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