Kubernetes

Introduction
What is Kubernetes
Kubernetes, commonly known as K8s, is an open source system for automating the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. It simplifies the process of managing containerized applications by grouping containers that comprise an application into logical units, making them easier to manage and discover. Originating from 15 years of Google’s experience in running production workloads, Kubernetes is designed with scalability and operational flexibility in mind, ensuring consistent and effortless application delivery regardless of the complexity of needs.
What are the characteristics of Kubernetes
Kubernetes is designed for Planet Scale, enabling it to handle large-scale operations without increasing the operations team. It is flexible and grows with you, supporting on-premises, hybrid, or public cloud infrastructures. The platform is open source, offering the freedom to choose your deployment environment and manage workloads effortlessly. Kubernetes features automated rollouts and rollbacks, allowing for smooth application updates, and service discovery and load balancing, providing consistent access to applications without changing service discovery mechanisms. It also handles storage orchestration, enabling automatic mounting of storage systems from various providers, and ensures self-healing, restarting failing containers and rescheduling when nodes fail based on defined health checks. Additionally, Kubernetes offers secret and configuration management for secure deployment, automatic bin packing to optimize container placement, batch execution for workload management, and IPv4/IPv6 dual-stack allocation for network flexibility.
What are the application scenarios of Kubernetes
Kubernetes is used for a wide range of applications, from machine learning to rapid iteration on clients' demands, and managing batch and CI workloads. Its automated rollouts and rollbacks, along with its ability to scale applications, make it ideal for environments requiring frequent updates and expansion. The service discovery and load balancing features, combined with robust storage orchestration, suit environments needing consistent and accessible services while managing diverse storage needs. Self-healing capabilities and flexible deployment ensure high availability and reliability for applications of various complexities. Kubernetes also extends its utility to machine learning platforms and cloud native technologies, fostering innovation and efficiency in modern application development and deployment.
Information
Updated
3/1/2025