Kubernetes is a widely popular open-source container orchestration platform that has played a significant role in the advancement of cloud-native technologies. Originally developed by Google and released to the public in 2014, Kubernetes has revolutionized the way organizations manage and scale containerized applications or microservices.
The foundation of Kubernetes lies in containers, which are lightweight units of software that package code and its dependencies to run in any environment. Containers are essential for modern microservices, cloud-native software, and DevOps workflows. While Docker initially popularized containerized applications, it lacked an automated orchestration tool. Kubernetes, also known as K8s, was specifically created to address these limitations by automating the management of containerized applications.
Kubernetes operates through containers, pods, and nodes. A pod contains one or more Linux containers and can run in multiples for scaling and resilience. Nodes run the pods and are typically grouped in a Kubernetes cluster, abstracting the underlying physical hardware resources. Kubernetes’s declarative, API-driven infrastructure has streamlined operational processes, allowing DevOps teams to work more independently and efficiently.
In 2015, Google donated Kubernetes to the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), which serves as the open-source hub for cloud-native computing. Today, Kubernetes is widely adopted for managing Docker and other container runtimes. It is supported by major public cloud providers like IBM, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google. Kubernetes can run on various environments, including bare metal servers, virtual machines, private cloud, hybrid cloud, and edge settings.
Kubernetes has transformed IT infrastructure in various ways, leading to its widespread use in different industries. Here are six key use cases:
1. Large-scale app deployment: Kubernetes enables autoscaling, allowing applications to adjust to demand changes automatically. This ensures the right amount of workload resources without over or under-provisioning.
2. High-performance computing (HPC): Kubernetes manages the distribution of HPC calculations across hybrid and multicloud environments, supporting industries like government, science, finance, and engineering.
3. AI and machine learning: Kubernetes automates the management and scaling of AI and ML lifecycles, making it easier to handle large volumes of data and complex processes. It facilitates the deployment of ML models and provides scalability and fault tolerance.
4. Microservices management: Kubernetes handles the complexity of managing multiple independently deployable components within a microservices architecture. It ensures high availability and self-healing, maintaining continuous operations even in the event of failures.
5. Hybrid and multicloud deployments: Kubernetes simplifies the migration of applications between on-premises, hybrid cloud, and multicloud environments. It offers portability and eliminates platform-specific dependencies.
6. Enterprise DevOps: Kubernetes improves agility for enterprise DevOps teams by enabling rapid application updates and deployments. It plays a crucial role in cloud-native CI/CD pipelines, automating container deployment and optimizing resource usage.
The future of Kubernetes looks promising, as evidenced by its widespread adoption and continuous growth. Businesses across various industries are implementing Kubernetes to modernize their applications and optimize their IT infrastructure. In a recent survey, 96% of organizations reported using or evaluating Kubernetes for containerized platforms. IBM is actively involved in helping clients leverage Kubernetes and other cloud-native solutions to modernize their applications and optimize their IT infrastructure.
Source link