Cassandra 5.0 Cluster Setup 2025: Docker, Vagrant, and Cloud-Native DevOps
What’s New in 2025
Key Updates and Changes
- Cassandra 5.0: Vector search, SAI indexes, unified compaction strategy
- Container-First: Docker and Kubernetes have replaced most Vagrant workflows
- Cloud-Native: Multi-cloud deployment with infrastructure as code
- ARM Support: Native ARM64 support for Apple Silicon and AWS Graviton
- Observability: Enhanced monitoring with OpenTelemetry and Prometheus
Major Platform Evolution
- Docker Compose: Simplified multi-container orchestration
- Kubernetes: Production-ready Cassandra operators
- Testcontainers: Integration testing with ephemeral containers
- Colima/Podman: Docker alternatives for development
- GitOps: Infrastructure managed through Git workflows
The modern approach to Cassandra cluster development has evolved significantly since 2017. While Vagrant remains useful for certain scenarios, container-based development has become the standard for 2025.