Kubernetes, often abbreviated as ‘K8s’, is an open-source tool for managing containers. Containers run applications in isolated, virtual environments. This technique ensures secure and reliable software execution. Kubernetes facilitates the management of containers, especially when dealing with large quantities. It was originally developed by Google and released in 2015. Today, however, K8s is compatible with many cloud platforms such as Azure and AWS.
How Kubernetes works
Kubernetes is a container orchestration system. It doesn’t create containers but manages them. The core of Kubernetes is the hypervisor, which acts as a layer between hardware and containers.
In the K8s architecture, there are various units:
- Container: Contains applications and their necessary environments.
- Pod: This unit combines containers that need to work together.
- Node: These virtual or physical machines run the pods.
- Cluster: A cluster consists of multiple nodes.
The Kubernetes Master (which is a server) manages the system. It monitors the nodes, distributes the pods, and automatically adjusts the system’s state as needed. The Master acts as a control center and allows administrators to orchestrate the containers. Each node, also called a ‘slave’, communicates with the Master via Kubelet. The Kubelet starts and stops containers and records resource usage. This facilitates analysis and load balancing in the system.
Application and Benefits
Kubernetes has a high significance in software development, especially in agile projects. This is mainly because it simplifies the cycle of development, testing, and deployment by automating many processes. Another key advantage is scalability: K8s optimizes resource utilization, thereby saving costs. When needed, Kubernetes can also automatically provide additional resources to handle high demands.
Another advantage is the ability to use Kubernetes in hybrid cloud environments. This allows part of the infrastructure to be operated locally and another part in the cloud. This flexibility further increases scalability. Kubernetes also offers clear overview and version control. Developers can track the status of each container and roll out updates without downtime.
Overall, Kubernetes is considered a reliable and secure system. It reduces the risk of failures as the Master automatically responds to problems and stabilizes systems. Kubernetes is therefore a central tool in modern IT infrastructure.
With the management platform firstkube, firstcolo facilitates the use of Kubernetes at every touchpoint. firstkube includes a dashboard and orchestration service for the automatic provision and management of K8s clusters and associated cloud-native applications.
