Kubernetes is an open-source container orchestration platform that automates the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. It originated from Google’s internal container orchestration system called Borg. In 2014, Google open-sourced a version of Borg, which became Kubernetes.
The abbreviation ‘k8s’ is a nerdy way of shortening the word Kubernetes. The number 8 represents the eight letters between the first letter ‘k’ and the last letter ‘s’ in the word. This abbreviation is commonly used in the Kubernetes community.
A Kubernetes cluster consists of nodes that run containerized applications. The cluster has two main components: the control plane and the worker nodes. The control plane manages the state of the cluster, while the worker nodes run the containerized application workloads.
Kubernetes offers scalability, high availability, and portability for applications. It simplifies tasks like self-healing, automatic rollbacks, and horizontal scaling. However, Kubernetes also has complexities and resource requirements, making it more suitable for larger organizations or those with dedicated expertise. Managed Kubernetes services provided by cloud providers offer a balance, allowing organizations to offload control plane management and focus on application deployment and management.
Also Read: An Ultimate Guide to Become a Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
A Kubernetes cluster is a set of machines, called nodes, that are used to run containerized applications. The cluster consists of two main components: the control plane and the worker nodes.
The control plane is responsible for managing the state of the cluster. It includes several core components:
The worker nodes are responsible for running the containerized application workloads. They include the following core components:
Pods are the smallest deployable units in Kubernetes, hosting one or more containers. They are created and managed by the Kubernetes control plane. Pods are the basic building blocks of Kubernetes applications, providing shared storage and networking for the containers within them.
In summary, a Kubernetes cluster consists of nodes running containerized applications. The control plane manages the state of the cluster, while the worker nodes run the application workloads. Pods are the smallest deployable units, hosting containers and serving as the basic building blocks of Kubernetes applications.
Figure: Thanks to Kubernetes Documentation
Also Read: How to Copy Files from Pods to Local Machine using kubectl cp?
Kubernetes offers several advantages for organizations looking to deploy and manage containerized applications. Here are some key points to consider:
Kubernetes provides the ability to scale applications up and down quickly, allowing organizations to respond to changes in demand. It also ensures high availability by automatically distributing workloads across nodes and providing self-healing capabilities. Additionally, Kubernetes offers portability, allowing applications to be deployed consistently across different infrastructure environments, whether on-premise or in the cloud.
Kubernetes simplifies tasks like self-healing, where it automatically restarts failed containers or replaces them with new ones. It also supports automatic rollbacks, allowing organizations to revert to previous stable versions of applications in case of issues. Horizontal scaling is another key feature of Kubernetes, enabling the addition or removal of pods to meet changing demand.
It’s important to note that setting up and operating Kubernetes can be complex, especially for organizations new to container orchestration. It requires a high level of expertise and resources to configure and maintain a production Kubernetes environment. Organizations must consider whether they have the necessary expertise or if they need to invest in training or hiring skilled personnel.
Kubernetes comes with resource requirements, both in terms of hardware and personnel. It requires dedicated infrastructure resources to support features like high availability and scalability. Smaller organizations may find these resource requirements to be excessive and costly. It’s crucial to assess whether the benefits of Kubernetes justify the associated costs for the organization.
For smaller organizations or those without dedicated expertise, a recommended option is to consider managed Kubernetes services offered by cloud providers. These services, such as Amazon EKS, Google GKE, or Microsoft AKS, offload the management of the control plane to the provider. Organizations can focus on deploying and managing their applications without the complexities of setting up and maintaining the Kubernetes infrastructure.
Overall, Kubernetes offers scalability, high availability, and portability for containerized applications. However, organizations must carefully consider the complexity, resource requirements, and costs associated with implementing and operating Kubernetes. Managed Kubernetes services can be a viable option for smaller organizations looking to leverage Kubernetes’ benefits without the need for extensive expertise and resources.
Also Read: Virtualization vs. Containerization: A Comprehensive Guide
‘k8s’ is a shorthand abbreviation for Kubernetes. The number 8 represents the eight letters between the first letter ‘k’ and the last letter ‘s’ in the word Kubernetes. It is commonly used in the Kubernetes community.
Kubernetes automates the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. It provides features like scalability, high availability, and portability. Kubernetes simplifies tasks like self-healing, automatic rollbacks, and horizontal scaling, making it easier to deploy and manage applications.
A Kubernetes cluster has two main components: the control plane and the worker nodes. The control plane manages the state of the cluster and includes components like the API server, etcd, scheduler, and controller manager. The worker nodes run the containerized application workloads and consist of components like the kubelet, container runtime, and kube-proxy.
The key components on worker nodes in Kubernetes are the kubelet, container runtime, and kube-proxy. The kubelet communicates with the control plane and ensures the desired state of pods on the node. The container runtime runs containers on the worker nodes, handling tasks like container image pulling and resource management. The kube-proxy routes traffic to the correct pods and provides load balancing.
The advantages of using Kubernetes include scalability, high availability, and portability. It simplifies tasks like self-healing, automatic rollbacks, and horizontal scaling. However, Kubernetes can be complex to set up and operate, requiring expertise and resources. It also has resource requirements, making it more suitable for larger organizations. Managed Kubernetes services offered by cloud providers provide a balance, allowing organizations to offload control plane management and focus on application deployment and management.
5G supports millions of devices, changes the telecommunication game and introduces new capabilities to build…
What is SCP Command? The Secure Copy Protocol (SCP) is a secure file transfer protocol…
When choosing a virtualization host, performance is a critical factor. This article compares Proxmox and…
Selecting the best platform for your business is critical to establishing a modern infrastructure for…
Imagine you're sitting in your office on a perfectly normal day. But suddenly, the entire…
Gone are the days of simply entering a password for your account to keep it…