Kubernetes is a container cluster management system designed to address the challenges of deploying, scaling and operating containers in production. Containers are isolated and portable processes that bundle application code, its dependencies, and the resources it requires. They can be deployed on a local virtual machine or a remote server, making them ideal for continuous integration testing and other deployment advantages. However, the adoption of containers has also brought about new challenges in monitoring and managing large clusters of containers. As more companies embrace this technology and adopt Kubernetes as their primary production framework, we’ve seen an explosion of Kubernetes architecture examples. This blog post will walk you through everything you need to know about designing your own Kubernetes architecture.

What is a Kubernetes Architecture? #

If you’re reading this article, we assume that you’re already familiar with what Kubernetes is and how it works. If you’re not, check out this article first. As you’ve likely gathered from our introduction, Kubernetes is a production-ready container orchestration system that allows companies to manage and deploy containers at scale. A Kubernetes architecture is the blueprint of your Kubernetes cluster. It includes all the components, technologies and configurations that make up your Kubernetes cluster, which is responsible for deploying, scaling, and operating containers in production.

Identify use cases for Kubernetes #

Before you get started with Kubernetes, it’s important to take a step back and identify the use cases where Kubernetes is best suited. There are a number of use cases that call for the deployment of Kubernetes, including: –

Continuous Delivery – If you’re looking to accelerate the release of new features and functionality to your customers, and/or master the art of continuous deployment, Kubernetes can help. Containers enable complete software development life cycle (SDLC) automation by providing a standard unit of deployment. Container orchestration systems like Kubernetes make it easy to deploy containers across a cluster of servers, which is a necessary component for continuous delivery.

Infrastructure Automation – Kubernetes was built for this. The system can be used to deploy, scale and operate containers across different environments, including development, staging and production. Kubernetes automates most of the process, allowing you to focus on building and delivering new functionality to your customers.

Scalability – Containers are an amazing way to horizontally scale a service. With containers, you can deploy the same service across different machines by running an instance of the service on each of the machines. Meanwhile, the containers are able to communicate with each other across these different machines.

Build out your Kubernetes environment #

Now that you’re familiar with the benefits of deploying Kubernetes, let’s get into building out your Kubernetes environment. The first thing that you’ll need to do is select a cloud provider. While you do have the option of deploying Kubernetes on-premise, we recommend opting for a managed Kubernetes service. There are a number of managed Kubernetes providers, but Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) remain the most popular.

Once you have your cloud provider selected, head over to the Kubernetes engine on the provider’s website and click “get started.” On the sign-up page, select the “free” or “evaluation” plan, depending on the type of project you’re working on. The free plan is more than enough for early-stage development, prototyping and testing. Just remember to upgrade to a paid plan before your evaluation period expires.

After you’ve created your account and selected the Kubernetes cluster size, you’ll be prompted to select the Kubernetes version. The version you select should correspond with the version of your Node.js framework. For example, if you’re currently running an older version of Node.js, select the latest version of Kubernetes (i.e. v1.13). Otherwise, you’ll run into compatibility issues.

Define the requirements for your environment #

Before you get too excited and start building out the components of your Kubernetes environment, it’s important to define the requirements for your environment. While every company has unique needs, there are a few key requirements that are standard across the board. Selecting the right container registry and repository is crucial to the success of your business. Make sure that you choose cloud-based container registries and repositories with the ability to scale seamlessly with your business. Once you’ve selected your container registry and repository, you’ll need to select the following components for your Kubernetes environment: – 

Kubernetes Master – The master node is where your Kubernetes control plane is installed. The control plane is responsible for managing the rest of your Kubernetes cluster.

Kubernetes Worker Nodes – These nodes hold your containers, schedule pods, and execute containers that are bound to the nodes.

Networking – The networking components are responsible for providing networking functionality, including IP networking and container networking.

Select your container registry and repository #

Container registries and repositories serve as the hub for storing, managing and distributing your container images. There are several leading container registries and repositories in the industry, including Amazon ECR, Azure Container Registry, Google Container Registry, and Quay.io. With that being said, Quay has become the leading container registry and repository in the industry thanks to their unique approach. Quay’s single-tenant platform is designed to provide enterprise-grade security and scalability, while also being easy to use. And, with Quay’s recent acquisition of GIT, you’ll be able to seamlessly integrate GIT and Quay. When it comes to selecting a container registry and repository, you’ll want to select a service that is compatible with Kubernetes. Additionally, you’ll want to make sure that your platform has the ability to scale seamlessly with your business as it grows.

Define Networking Requirements #

As we mentioned earlier in the article, the networking components are responsible for providing networking functionality. With that being said, you’ll need to select the appropriate networking components for your business. Some of the most important networking components include: –

Network Policy – The network policy is responsible for governing traffic between pods within a Kubernetes cluster.

Virtual Private Cloud – The VPC is responsible for providing the networking services required for an isolated network.

Load Balancer – The load balancer is responsible for routing traffic to a pod within a Kubernetes cluster.

Select your Node.js framework and API server(s) #

Finally, you’ll need to select the frameworks and API servers that you plan to use in your architecture. The most commonly-used Node.js framework is, of course, Node.js. However, you also have the option of choosing a different Node.js framework if you prefer. Likewise, if you’d like to use a non-Node.js framework, you have the option of selecting a non-Java language. Depending on your selection, you may need to make adjustments to your Kubernetes architecture. For example, if you opt to use a non-Node.js framework

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