Containers redefined the role of an operating system (OS). With much of the heavy lifting moving to container runtimes, an OS has become a thin layer that provides access to physical resources. This shift has resulted in a new breed of operating systems called container-optimized OS (COS).

The COS forms the base layer of the cloud native stack, one layer above the physical infrastructure of the cluster, as we learned in the previous article in this series.

When compared to a traditional OS, COS is a lightweight OS with a much smaller footprint. It contains the most essential components that are required to run the container runtime. Choosing the right COS goes a long way in maintaining the CaaS deployment.

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Customers can choose between Fedora CoreOS from Red Hat, Talos from Talos Systems, Flatcar Container Linux from Kinvolk GmbH., or RancherOS from Rancher Labs (in the process of being acquired by SUSE as of July 2020) to deploy the COS.

Most of the vendors offer an optional commercial subscription plan that includes regular updates, patches, and professional support.

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