Kubernetes

Kubernetes is an open-source container orchestration platform that automates many of the manual processes involved in deploying, managing, and scaling containerized applications.

Container Orchestration #

It is a technology that automatically deploys, manages, and scales multiple containers.

This enhances the availability and scalability of applications. (Other orchestration tools besides Kubernetes: Docker Swarm, Apache Mesos, etc.)

Kubernetes Cluster #

Groups of hosts running Linux containers can be clustered together, and Kubernetes allows for easy and efficient management of these clusters.

Kubernetes clusters can extend hosts across on-premises, public, private, or hybrid clouds.

For these reasons, Kubernetes is an ideal platform for hosting cloud-native applications that require rapid scaling, such as real-time data streaming via Apache Kafka.

Why is Kubernetes necessary? #

Using Kubernetes enables the elastic execution of containerized application environments.

In a production environment, you need to manage the containers running your applications and ensure there is no downtime.

For example, if a container goes down, another container must be restarted to minimize downtime.

What if these actions could be handled by a system?

It is Kubernetes' role to ensure these issues are managed by the system.

Features provided by Kubernetes #

Let's briefly look at the features Kubernetes provides.

• Service discovery and load balancing - Expose containers using DNS names or their own IP addresses.
• Storage orchestration - Automatically mount your desired storage system, such as local storage, public cloud providers, etc.
• Automated rollouts and rollbacks - Describe your desired state and change the current state to the desired state at a controlled rate.
• Automated bin packing - Provide each container with the CPU and memory it needs.
• Automated self-healing - Restart failed containers and replace containers.
• Secret and configuration management - Store and manage sensitive information like passwords, OAuth tokens, and SSH keys.