Communicate with multiclient applications

Question

I have a 3rd party application. Basically I need to run one instance of that application for a one user. For 10 users I have to run 10 instances. From my API I want to communicate with a specific client based on API parameters. Please check the attached image.

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I have two methods and each have some issues.

1. using multiple ports

I can record port number in a database and forward API data to specific instance. For example localhost/instances:4501;

Issues is it's not scalable as there is a limit in port addresses. Also identifying usable ports is another challenge without interface with other applications.

2. Using docker network

with this approach I don't need to assign ports , I can just name containers as instance1,intance2 and can forward traffic to specific instance. How ever with this approach I cannot run application with docker. I want to run my application without docker as well.

Which approach is better? And is there any other best way to achieve this? thank you

• Darem: Do your API and Clients communicate over http?
• Fast Snail: @Darem Both api and clients exist in the server .Yes I'm using http internal api to communicate with clients.for example http/localhost:portofclientA or http/clientA using docker network
• Darem: And your "application" runs without docker and your clients/instances are docker container?
• Fast Snail: @Darem i have 2 ways to do.i'm trying to find the best way or another method. I use docker containers and docker network also i used applications without docker and used ports communicate so different clients has different ports.
• Darem: Ok I´m a little bit confused by this sentence "How ever with this approach I cannot run application with docker. I want to run my application without docker as well."