5 Key Features in Orka's CLI for iOS and macOS Virtualization

It’s always a treat when you can do more with less code. And Orka’s CLI fits this bill. Orka is a powerful macOS virtualization tool that performs complex tasks with short, simple commands. In the spirit of brevity that makes the Orka CLI so attractive, let’s get to it, shall we?

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Top five actions you can execute natively in Orka’s CLI:

orka iso upload

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Massive files, like a pre-configured macOS image that might be used in a CI workflow, can be quickly and reliably uploaded with this feature.

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orka image generate

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Create a “blueprint” of a Mac VM that will act as a “home” for your newly uploaded OS image. That is, create an image that defines a VM that will run the OS image you just uploaded. VM Images can also be stored and reused in future workflows. This can also be used to make a virtual storage device you can pass from one VM to the next.

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orka node list

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To extend the above “home” metaphor, here you can list all “lots” in a “subdivision” that will house the “homes” – i.e., the VMs themselves. That is to say, here you can list all worker machines in the Kubernetes system. In an Orka cluster, “node” typically refers to a Mac Pro.

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Kubernetes call out: although Orka provides full Kubernetes functionality, the actual Kubernetes actions are executed with User-level permissions (RBAC) defined in Orka. To facilitate this User management, Orka abstracts “away” certain Kubernetes features; orka node list is one such case, as executing this command in Orka actually results in a call to kubectl get nodes, but orka node list can only be called by Orka Users with sufficient permissions.

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orka vm create-config

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Build the VMs from the “blueprints” – i.e., the macOS VM Images. Like manufactured homes, VMs created en masse like this are a very efficient, single-use solution.

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orka vm deploy

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Deploy the VMs to the “lots” in the Kubernetes “subdivision” of ephemeral nodes. Here, finally, the CI processes proper can run in a known, secure and compliant environment.

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TL;DR:

MacStadium’s Orka offers a proprietary solution to running Kubernetes on macOS. Additionally, it offers broad flexibility coupled with an intuitive approach to CI workflow creation and execution in a Mac environment.