Kubernetes is an open-source container orchestration tool that is used to deploy, scale, and manage containerized applications. Kubernetes is one of the most important tools used in DevOps. In this guide, I have discussed what Kubernetes is, its architecture, and the key features it provides. Then I discussed the role of containers in DevOps. Then I briefly discussed how Kubernetes helps in the evolution of enterprise DevOps. After this, I have discussed several points regarding why Kubernetes is used in DevOps.
What is Kubernetes?
Kubernetes is a container orchestration tool that is used to deploy, scale, and manage containerized applications. Kubernetes follows a master-slave architecture. Here, the master node manages all the Kubernetes cluster operations while the worker nodes deploy and run the containers. The master node consists of four main components: API Server; Scheduler, which Scheduler schedules the pods on a particular node, etcd to store the Kubernetes cluster data; and Control Managers, which manage the different Kubernetes controllers like deployment, replica set, and many more. Apart from this, in the worker node, there is Kubelet, which helps in managing the pod lifecycle; Container Runtime, which helps in running the containers; and Kube Proxy, which helps in managing the networking rules in the pods.
Kubernetes provides different features such as
- High Availability: Kubernetes uses a controller called replica set which helps in maintaining the desired number of pods always in running state. Even if someone tries to delete a pod or any pod becomes unhealthy , Kubernetes will automatically run another pod to maintain the desired number of pods running in the cluster.
- Autoscaling: There are two types of autoscaling methods Kubernetes provides , one is vertical pod autoscaling and another one is horizontal pod autoscaling. The vertical pod autoscaler adjusts the CPU and memory usage of a pod to handle all the requests and the horizontal pod autoscaler automatically scales up or scale down the number of pods on the amount of traffic the application receives.
- Autohealing: In Kubernetes if any pod is unhealthy or deleted by mistake, it will automatically schedules another pod for running on any of the nodes.
- Deployment: Kubernetes helps in rolling out the new updates of a software application with zero downtime.
Role Of Containers in CI/CD Workflows
Container are lightweight and portable, which also provides consistent environment for application to run. Containers can be run on any operating system. Containers encapsulate the application, its dependencies and runtime for smooth running of an application. These containers helps in simplifying the management of different environments like development, testing and production. Containers allow easy scalability. Overall we can say containers helps the development and operation team to collaborate more effectively to accelerate the software delivery and running of the application seamlessly.
Evolution Of Enterprise DevOps
Kubernetes has shaped the evolution of Enterprise DevOps. The Kubernetes features like container orchestration, deployment automation, autoscaling and seamless management of containers have empowered the DevOps teams to build more industry ready CI/CD pipelines to automate the entire software delivery lifecycle. Kubernetes also uses different YAML files to make configurations and manage the cluster, which promotes the Infrastructure As Code principles. Overall we can say Kubernetes has become an important tool in the evolution of Enterprise DevOps which enables the organizations to build, deploy, scale and operate the applications more effectively.
Why Kubernetes Used In DevOps ?
Kubernetes is used in DevOps for the following reasons:
- Container Orchestration: Kubernetes automates the scaling , deployment and management of containerized applications. This helps the DevOps engineers to easily manage the complex application deployments.
- Automation: Kubernetes automate many aspects of deploying an application such as scaling, load balancing and health monitoring. This eventually increases the speed of application delivery process.
- Monitoring Capabilities: Kubernetes can integrate with other tools like Prometheus and Grafana, which helps in monitoring the application logs, cluster health, resource usage and many more metrics.
- Security: Kubernetes provides many security features like Secrets which helps in storing and managing the sensitive information such as password, API tokens. It also provides RBAC which helps in accessing the particular Kubernetes resource on the basis of role and permission. This enhances overall security in DevOps workflows.
- Resource Usage: Kubernetes ensures efficient usage of resources, which helps in the saving the cost in DevOps workflows.
- Abstraction Of Infrastructure: Kubernetes helps in DevOps engineers to define and mange the application deployments by writing simple YAML configurational files.
- Microservices: Kubernetes commonly used for microservices. It provides service discovery, load balancing which makes it well suited tool for microservice architecture.
- Improves Reliability: Kubernetes provides autohealing , autoscaling and easy roll out of updates. These features enhances Kubernetes reliability in the DevOps workflows.
- Increases Productivity: Developers can focus more on improving the code and logic without worrying the deployment of application.
Conclusion
Here in this guide you have first learned what is Kubernetes. Then you have learned the key components of Master and Worker nodes in Kubernetes. After this you have learned about the different features provided by Kubernetes. Finally you have learned why Kubernetes is important tool used in DevOps.
Why Kubernetes used in DevOps – FAQs
What is the use of Kubernetes in CICD pipeline?
Kubernetes helps to automate the deployment of containerized applications throughout development lifecycle.
What are the different resources provided by Kubernetes?
Deployments, Services , Ingress, Secrets, Persistent Volumes, ConfigMaps are some of the important resources provided by Kubernetes.
What are the key points to keep in mind while using Kubernetes for application deployment?
Ensuring security, high availability and scalability are some of the key points to keep in mind while deploying application using Kubernetes.
What is role of HPA in Kubernetes?
The HPA helps in automatically scaling up or down the number of pods on the amount of traffic application receives.
What are the different security features Kubernetes provide?
Kubernetes provides Secrets to store and manage the sensitive information like API tokens, passwords. It also provides RBAC which helps in giving access to Kubernetes resources on the basis of roles and permissions.