The January 2021 Fly ChangeLog

If you missed 2020, lucky you, to get you all caught up, here’s our Previously On Fly segment. Caught up? Good. And now here is the Fly ChangeLog, covering the end of December 2020 to January 2021. 6PN Networking and IPv6 WireGuard VPNs Let your ap

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Fly.io
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Dj Walker-Morgan
•4 min read•intermediate•
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Overview

The January 2021 Fly ChangeLog highlights significant updates to the Fly platform, including the introduction of private networking with 6PN, enhancements to scaling models, and backend improvements. These updates aim to enhance app communication, streamline resource management, and improve infrastructure performance.

What You'll Learn

1

How to enable 6PN DNS resolution for your Fly apps

2

How to utilize the new flyctl commands for managing WireGuard tunnels

3

Why the new count scaling model improves predictability in resource management

4

How backend improvements enhance app lifecycle logging

Key Questions Answered

What are the new features introduced in the January 2021 Fly ChangeLog?
The January 2021 Fly ChangeLog introduces private networking via 6PN, a new count scaling model, and backend improvements including the switch to containerd for image pulling. These features enhance app communication, resource management, and infrastructure performance.
How does the new count scaling model work?
The new count scaling model allows users to scale their applications based on the number of instances, providing a more predictable resource management approach. This model includes a dedicated flyctl command for autoscaling, making it easier to manage application resources.
What improvements have been made to backend infrastructure?
Backend improvements include switching to containerd for faster image pulling and logging app lifecycle events directly in the app's logs. This change results in shorter boot times for larger images and provides more detailed logging information.

Technologies & Tools

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Networking
Wireguard
Used for creating secure VPN tunnels for app communication.
Backend
Containerd
Utilized for pulling images, improving boot times and infrastructure performance.

Key Actionable Insights

1
Implement 6PN networking to enhance communication between your Fly apps.
By enabling 6PN, you can allow your applications to communicate privately and securely, improving overall performance and security within your organization.
2
Utilize the new flyctl commands for managing WireGuard tunnels to secure your app's network connections.
This feature is particularly useful for developers needing to create secure connections between their applications and external networks, enhancing security during development.
3
Adopt the new count scaling model to better manage application resources.
This model provides a more predictable scaling approach, allowing teams to allocate resources more effectively based on the number of instances, which can lead to cost savings.

Common Pitfalls

1
Failing to properly configure the fly.toml file for 6PN networking can lead to connectivity issues between apps.
Ensure that you follow the documentation closely to avoid misconfigurations that could hinder app communication.