CloudHub 1.0 vs CloudHub 2.0 : Detailed Comparison Report

CloudHub 2.0 signifies a major advancement in MuleSoft’s cloud integration platform by introducing a container-based architecture built on Kubernetes.

This modern approach offers increased scalability, stronger security, and improved management capabilities compared to CloudHub 1.0. Although CloudHub 1.0 is still fully supported, CloudHub 2.0 now serves as the standard deployment choice for new applications.

Key Benefits of CloudHub 2.0

• Seamless Mule clustering for deployments with more than one replica
• Container-based application deployment to regulate resource consumption, ensure application availability, and enable scalability
• More granular vCore allocation options
• Outbound firewall rule configuration

Architectural Comparison

CloudHub 1.0 Architecture

CloudHub 1.0 uses a VM-based infrastructure with two major components: Anypoint platform services and the worker cloud. Applications run on dedicated virtual machines called workers.

CloudHub 2.0 Architecture

CloudHub 2.0 leverages an orchestrated container platform and service-oriented architecture based on Kubernetes, with two major components: Anypoint Platform services and shared global regions.

Applications run as replicas - dedicated instances of Mule runtime engine that run in separate containers.

Key Feature Differences

1. Application Deployment Model

2. Resource Allocation

3. Networking and Connectivity

4. Security and Monitoring

Deployment Spaces Comparison

CloudHub 1.0

• Single deployment model to workers
• VPC for network isolation
• Manual load balancer configuration

CloudHub 2.0

CloudHub 2.0 introduces two deployment options:

Shared Spaces:

• Multi-tenant environment for applications that don't require network isolation
• No advanced setup required
• One shared space per supported region

Private Spaces:

• Virtual, private, and isolated areas for applications requiring network connectivity
• Evolution of VPC from CloudHub 1.0
• Automatic load balancer assignment
• Support for multiple environments and business groups

Performance and Scalability

CloudHub 1.0

• No real clustering concept
• Horizontal scaling through multiple workers
• Persistent queues for load distribution

CloudHub 2.0

• True clustering with replica scale-out for horizontal scalability and reliability
• Intelligent healing and automatic application restart
• Application bursting depends on resource usage of other applications in private space
• Zero-downtime updates with rolling deployment model

Limitations and Considerations

CloudHub 2.0 Limitations

CloudHub 2.0 does not support several features available in CloudHub 1.0:

Infrastructure Limitations:

• No VPC peering or Direct Connect support
• Cannot create VPN connections between CloudHub 1.0 VPC and CloudHub 2.0 private space
• No automatic migration path from CloudHub 1.0 infrastructure

Application Limitations:

• No persistent queues support
• Only HTTP, HTTPS, and TCP inbound protocols supported
• No custom notifications or CloudHub Connector support
• No JVM parameter overwriting
• Applications consume vCore licenses even when not running

Migration Considerations

Prerequisites for Migration

For applications migrating from CloudHub 1.0 to CloudHub 2.0:

1. API Specification Naming: Ensure API Specification and API Implementation have different names
2. Port Configuration: Update applications to use port 8081 for HTTP/HTTPS traffic
3. Infrastructure Setup: Create and configure new private spaces, set up new VPNs
4. Mule Version: Ensure applications use Mule 4.3.0 or later

Migration Strategy

If you have a large network of applications, it’s helpful to move over in phases instead of all at once, so you can minimize any bumps along the way. The good news is you can run CloudHub 1.0 and 2.0 side by side and share vCore resources as you transition.

Pricing and Cost Implications

Resource Efficiency

• CloudHub 2.0 is less resource intensive than CloudHub 1.0
• Fractional vCore offerings may eliminate need to bundle multiple listeners in same application
• More granular resource allocation optimizes utilization and minimizes waste

Usage-Based Pricing

Organizations with usage-based pricing packages use replica sizing for CloudHub 2.0 deployment, showing flows, messages, and throughput entitlements instead of vCores.

Recommendations

Choose CloudHub 1.0 When:

• Applications require persistent queues
• Using Mule versions prior to 4.3.0
• Need Direct Connect or VPC peering connectivity
• Require custom notifications or CloudHub Connector
• Applications use non-HTTP/TCP inbound protocols

Choose CloudHub 2.0 When:

• Building new applications
• Need true clustering capabilities
• Require outbound firewall rules
• Want improved resource allocation granularity
• Need faster deployment times (30 seconds)
• Require enhanced security with encrypted property vaults

Migration Timeline

CloudHub 1.0 will remain fully supported for the foreseeable future with no announced end-of-life plan. Organizations can adopt a gradual migration strategy, moving applications individually as they meet CloudHub 2.0 requirements.

Conclusion

CloudHub 2.0 is like giving your applications a first-class upgrade—trading in their tired old VM seats for sleek, containerized pods with more legroom, better clustering, and top-tier security. Sure, it’s got a few quirks compared to its predecessor, but the promises of lightning-fast deployments, smoother scaling, and resource efficiency make it the VIP lounge of cloud platforms for new and adaptable apps.

It’s a good idea to take a close look at your current applications and compare them to what CloudHub 2.0 offers—along with its few limitations—so you can create a migration plan that helps you enjoy the benefits of the new platform while keeping everything running smoothly for your business.

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