Kubernetes is currently on everyone’s lips. But many IT departments find it difficult to set up their own concept. Instead, people are increasingly using ready-made cloud applications. But what exactly is Kubernetes and what benefits does it offer? This article is intended to provide answers to these and other questions.
What is Kubernetes?
As a Google project from 2014, Kubernetes was made available as an open source project after more than 15 years of research. The portable and infinitely expandable platform is used to manage containerized workloads and services. These can not only be set up and operated better, they can also be scaled much more easily. This not only simplifies automation, but also configurations enormously.
Kubernetes is so trendy because the project can be used to replace manually controlled servers with an automated version. Kubernetes not only regulates the production process, it also provides the right rhythm. In technical jargon, such an activity is called orchestration.
Kubernetes in comparison
Compared to classic orchestration systems, however, Kubernetes takes a modified approach. Because instead of being based on a fixed workflow, the platform consists of independent control processes. Their task is to monitor the status quo of the container system. At the same time, however, also to continuously optimize it in the direction of the desired version. Accordingly, Kubernetes is not tied to a fixed solution to a task, but rather regulates the responsibilities itself. This has the considerable advantage that no further control authority is required. In addition, it can greatly simplify the process of managing containerized workloads and services.
What Kubernetes can do
In summary, this results in the following services that Kubernetes can provide to control and monitor container applications.
- Automation of containerized workloads and services
Container images and their configuration can be automatically summarized using Kubernetes, while at the same time they are continuously monitored by the open source project. This creates a kind of assembly line that ensures that the specified number of containers is in a constant flow. With the availability of a so-called rollout, changes can be made at any time by pausing or undoing the process and then restarting it.
- Protection and optimized use of IT resources
By recognizing free resources and automatically embedding containers of a deployment in precisely these places, Kubernetes ensures that resources are conserved. In addition, you can optimize usage by setting the minimum and maximum resource usage in advance as the user.
- Automatic scaling
Constantly changing intensities of tasks are no problem for Kubernetes, as the open source platform independently digs through open resources and automatically scales the use of containers. As a user, it only needs to be ensured that the project has enough resources for it to work properly.
- Persistent Storage Opportunities
Kubernetes does not establish any connections between tasks, which is why the containers are stateless. In order to still have the option of permanently storing data, the platform provides persistent storage in the form of interfaces to services such as the Google Cloud Platform or Amazon’s EBS.
Conclusion
With regard to its task as an orchestration system, Kubernetes acts like the conductor of an orchestra who guides his musicians and manages and monitors their activities – just transferred to IT-based applications. Complex software projects can be carried out and monitored automatically, which saves resources and time limits, which in turn represents a considerable advantage for many projects.
However, like almost every IT-based system, Kubernetes requires a certain amount of time to get used to it before the user can deal with the platform at its full level and scope. This usually requires experienced programmers who support new users with training and familiarize them with the new trend.
These additional articles contain even more information on cloud computing:
- What is cloud computing?
- Opportunities and advantages of cloud computing
- Risks and Disadvantages of Cloud Computing
- Cloud providers – 5 tips to choose from
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