Kubernetes

The Cloud Strategy You’ve

Been Waiting For...
 2

Kub er n et es – T he C lo ud St r at egy Yo u’ v e B een Wa i t i n g Fo r

Setting up your business to operate in the cloud can be a tricky proposition. Whether
you’re starting from scratch or migrating your existing resources from one cloud to
another, there are a lot of different applications to keep track of, maintain, and ensure
compatibility. It can take a lot of time and resources to keep everything running
smoothly. Fortunately, there’s a platform that can help simplify your cloud strategy.

Here’s what Kubernetes can do for you, and why you need it in your company.
 3

What is Kubernetes?
Developed by Google, Kubernetes is an open-source platform for developing, deploying,
and managing containerized applications. It was originally used by Google to manage apps
like Gmail and Google Maps. In 2015, the platform was finally released as open-source, so
that the general public could use it. Maintained currently by the Cloud Native Computing
Foundation (CNCF), the platform has become the standard container orchestration system
for a host of cloud-based companies, including Pinterest, Spotify, Tinder, Airbnb, and many
others.

The name Kubernetes, commonly stylized as k8s, comes from Greek and means orchestrator
or helmsman. That’s precisely what the platform does. It’s the helmsman of your cloud
strategy and orchestrates all of your applications within it, to ensure that they work the way
they are supposed to.

The challenge of deploying applications to the cloud is that different devices have different
environments that they run on. They may have the same operating system, but subtle
differences between the two can still cause issues with compatibility. It’s an issue when
teams develop applications across multiple devices, and even more so when releasing those
applications to the users.

In order to combat such problems, applications are separated from the environment where
they are developed and put into virtual containers. The container allows the app to be run
separately from its environment—thus making it compatible with multiple environments.
That’s where Kubernetes comes in. It provides container orchestration so that you can
deploy and maintain each of your applications efficiently, on a single, cloud-based platform,
allowing them to run both separately and together. Several other platforms can perform
similar functions, such as Docker Swarm and Apache Mesos, but Kubernetes is widely
recognized as the best and most versatile option.

Kubernetes – The Cloud Strategy You’ve Been Waiting For

 4

Using Kubernetes
Each of the applications you use is like a cog in a machine. Putting them into separate
containers allows you to migrate them to different environments, but they’re still separate
cogs. You need a way to bring them all together to work as one.

Kubernetes takes a series of containers that function in tandem and bundles them together
into something called a pod. All containers in a single pod run together and share the same
storage and other resources, including a hostname and IP address. Please note that a pod
can also have just one container if need be. By separating these resources from the
individual containers, it makes them easier to move from one place to another.

The pods also have a shared set of instructions on how to behave. Each pod is deployed to a
node, which carries out pod specific instructions. Nodes are controlled by a master, which
creates tasks for each pod, based on its function. The node then performs these tasks. The
master also dictates when a particular node should be created or destroyed.

Collectively, the master and its nodes are called a cluster. The cluster is what enables all the
containers in a particular pod to act as one, as well as for multiple pods to work together. A
cluster can consist of either physical machines, virtual machines, or both. Each machine
serves a specific function as part of the whole. Clusters are hosted by the API Server, which
provides a central management location to control nodes, pods, and etcetera.

Within the cluster, pods are maintained by a kubelet. Each node has a kubelet, which
monitors and manages the pod’s specifications. It continually checks the files in every
application in the pod, to ensure they’re all running the way they’re supposed to. If anything
goes amiss, changes can be made using kubectl, Kubernetes’ command-line tool for
controlling Kubernetes clusters.

Kubernetes – The Cloud Strategy You’ve Been Waiting For

 5

The system allows you to automate a lot of basic application tasks, helping you to keep
them running smoothly without the need to babysit. It includes automated diagnostics to
ensure applications are functioning as intended. Kubernetes can even apply necessary
patches and fixes automatically as well, including replication, restarting, and more.

Replication allows for better resource allotment. Extra copies of specific pods prevent your
CPU from being overloaded by enabling you to run applications from multiple locations at
once. A replication controller lets you dictate exactly how many copies of a particular pod
you need, and the system can then maintain that number automatically, creating or deleting
copies as required.

Kubernetes allows you to automate a lot of basic application tasks, allowing

you to keep them running smoothly without the need to babysit.

Kubernetes – The Cloud Strategy You’ve Been Waiting For

 6

IT Benefits
So, what can Kubernetes do for you? There are several reasons to use the platform, both
on the software development side of things, and on the business side. Let’s look at IT
benefits first.

Scalability
One of the main appeals of Kubernetes is its ability to redistribute resources automatically
as needed. You can set resource limits, as defined by your CPU power and available RAM,
and Kubernetes will monitor your applications to prevent them from exceeding those
limits. As we already discussed, replication of pods allows for load balancing, so that no
one application gets too burdened. Each one can be spread evenly across the cloud
infrastructure. And if demand increases, those resource limits can be scaled up
automatically to meet the demand. They can be scaled back down automatically if the
need is reduced. Kubernetes can be scaled either horizontally or vertically. That is, more
machines can be added to the system to accommodate increased traffic, or more power
can be added to your existing system.

Versatility
Kubernetes is cloud-agnostic. That means you can run it from any cloud platform you
want, including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. You
can also run it from multiple clouds at one time, or as a cloud hybrid system across
various platforms. Containerization means you can even move your Kubernetes setup
from one cloud platform to another, without affecting the way it runs. That way, if you find
yourself with a vendor who doesn’t meet your needs, you don’t have to get stuck with
them simply because you wish to stay away from redesigning your entire workload.
Additionally, each of the aforementioned cloud platforms (and most others) offer
Kubernetes as a Service, managing your container orchestration for you, so you don’t
have to worry about the technical side of things.

Kubernetes can be scaled either horizontally or

vertically. That is, more machines can be added to the
system to accommodate increased traffic and vice versa.

Kubernetes – The Cloud Strategy You’ve Been Waiting For

 7

Flexibility
A lot of platforms run on what’s called an imperative configuration. You define, step by
step, exactly how you want the system to function, and it’s locked into that sequence of
steps. Kubernetes runs on a declarative configuration. You start by defining what you
want the system to look like, and the platform takes steps to make it look alike
automatically. Configurations can be changed easily over time. In an imperative system,
to change things, you would need to rewrite each of your instructions to get the
configuration to its new iteration. In a declarative setup, you can redefine the end-result,
and the system will reconfigure as needed.

Efficiency
An additional benefit of the declarative configuration is that it allows Kubernetes systems
to be self-healing. We have covered this already in the context of performing automated
diagnostics and self-monitoring, but self-healing takes things a step further. Once you’ve
declared a particular configuration, the platform will automatically take steps to keep it the
way you want. For example, say you want two replicas of a specific application for
resource distribution, if one of the nodes is non-responsive due to some reason, the
master determines that it needs to be deleted, along with the pod attached to it. When that
happens, one of the replicas of your application gets eliminated as well. The system will
automatically and seamlessly create another replica to keep the app running the way
you’ve specified.

Open Source
Since Kubernetes is an open-source platform, it’s available to all without restrictions. That
means, you can develop your tools to accommodate your needs, but it also means you can
take advantage of the vast archive of tools created by other people, to make your journey
through Kubernetes smoother and more manageable. Whatever you are trying to solve,
chances are, someone else has already had them and created the tools to deal with it. All
you need to do is find them and apply them.

Kubernetes – The Cloud Strategy You’ve Been Waiting For

 8

Business Benefits
There are plenty of technology-related benefits to using Kubernetes for your cloud
services, but there are also many business and financial benefits for your company, and we
have listed a few salient benefits in this section.

Reduced Costs
By providing scalability and better allocation of resources, Kubernetes reduces your
overall costs of implementing and running a cloud solution. Companies that use the
platform enjoy significant cost reductions and an improved bottom line. Containers all
share resources, allowing your operation to be run more efficiently. In addition to virtual
resources, it also reduces the amount of hardware you need for maintaining your cloud
infrastructure. Furthermore, by automating so many of the day to day operations,
Kubernetes minimizes the dependency on human resources for cloud maintenance. Now
your employees can concentrate on more critical tasks.

Increased Productivity
Kubernetes utilizes a microservices architecture for application development. That means
the development process is divided up into a series of smaller, more focused tasks. Thus,
development teams can also be smaller and more focused, creating and testing
applications more quickly and having them ready sooner—particularly when you consider
how much automation goes into the process as well. Containerization also means that the
different teams can work independently of one another and concurrently, reducing the
amount of communication necessary between them, which can also take extra time. And
each team has easy access to whatever resources they need, which can be seamlessly
scaled up or scaled down as needed. The results include faster time to market and a
better, more efficient application development process overall.

By automating so many of the day to day operations,

Kubernetes minimizes the dependency on human
resources for cloud maintenance. Now your employees can
concentrate on more critical tasks.

Kubernetes – The Cloud Strategy You’ve Been Waiting For

 9

Customer Satisfaction
The benefits of Kubernetes extend to your customers and can improve your relationship
with them. Automated processes and self-diagnostics translate to applications that work
better, function the way they’re supposed to, and have a much higher uptime rate.
It allows you to serve your customers more effectively and provide them with better
user experience—while at the same time reducing your overhead costs. And of course,
scalability means you’re always equipped to meet customer demand, even as it
increases.

Development teams can be smaller and more focused, creating and

testing applications quickly, and having them ready sooner.

Kubernetes – The Cloud Strategy You’ve Been Waiting For

 10

Getting Started with Kubernetes

If your company has cloud-based resources, ATC can help you implement, manage, and
maintain Kubernetes at ease. We can support you in starting from scratch, or if you already
have a container orchestration setup, we can help you switch over to Kubernetes as quickly
and seamlessly as possible.

Our proactive and managed services offer efficient and cost-effective ways to set up and
implement, including constructing and solidifying your Kubernetes architecture and creating
continuous delivery pipelines for your applications.

We can also work with you in an advisory capacity. We conduct hands-on workshops to
introduce your company to Kubernetes architecture and strategic use of containers, how to
use Minikube, and more.

Kubernetes – The Cloud Strategy You’ve Been Waiting For

 11

Kub er n et es – T he C lo ud St r at egy Yo u’ v e B een Wa i t i n g Fo r

Get in Touch
Our cloud strategy experts are on hand 24/7. No exceptions, no compromises.

For information, please contact:

Email
[email protected]

Phone
(515) 974-5619

Visit us at
american-technology.net/solutions/kubernetes