Fundamental Kubernetes Concepts Everyone Needs To Know



What is Kubernetes and why learn it

Kubernetes is an open-source container-orchestration system for automating deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. It was originally designed by Google and is now maintained by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation.

Understanding the Kubernetes architecture

Kubernetes is a container orchestration platform that automates the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. It provides a unified framework for managing containers with a unified set of APIs, which makes it easier to manage and deploy applications across multiple cloud providers and on-premise environments.

Kubernetes is composed of several components, each of which plays an important role in the management of containerized applications.

At the core of Kubernetes is the Master Node. This is the main control plane that manages the nodes and orchestrates the deployment and running of applications. It consists of the API server, scheduler, and controller manager, which are responsible for the management of the cluster.

The nodes, also known as worker nodes, are the computers that run the applications. They are managed by the master node and are responsible for running the containers.

Kubernetes also has several add-on components that provide additional features such as logging, monitoring, networking, and storage. These add-ons are typically provided by external providers or integrated into the Kubernetes platform.

Finally, Kubernetes has several tools for managing, deploying, and maintaining applications. These include kubectl, helm, and kustomize, which are used to manage the configuration of the cluster and the applications running on it.

Kubernetes objects

Kubernetes objects are the basic building blocks of a Kubernetes system. They are used to manage and define the desired state of the system. Objects include Pods, Replication Controllers, Services, Volumes, Namespaces, and Secrets.

Pods are the smallest and most basic unit in the Kubernetes system, and they provide a way to deploy and manage applications and services. Pods contain one or more containers, storage resources, and a unique network IP address.

Replication Controllers are objects that are used to ensure that a specified number of pod replicas are always running. They can be used to scale up and down applications and to ensure that a certain number of instances of a particular application are always running.

Services are objects that provide a stable network endpoint for a set of Pods. Services allow for communication between different parts of an application and make it easier to manage the lifecycle of the application.

Volumes are objects that provide persistent storage for applications running in a Kubernetes cluster. They are used to store application data, even if the application is stopped or restarted.

Namespaces are objects that provide a way to group related objects together. They can be used to separate workloads or to provide a way to manage access to resources.

Secrets are objects that are used to store sensitive data, such as passwords or certificates. They are encrypted and stored in the Kubernetes cluster and can be used to securely access services or resources.

Kubernetes deployment

1. Creating a Kubernetes Deployment:

  • Create a Kubernetes cluster with the desired node configuration.

  • Install the necessary Kubernetes components.

  • Create the deployment configuration file.

  • Create a deployment manifest file.

  • Apply the manifest to the cluster.

  • Monitor the deployment progress.

2. Managing the Lifecycle of Containers:

  • Create a container image with the desired application.

  • Run the container using the desired command.

  • Monitor the container’s performance using Kubernetes tools.

  • Make modifications to the container as needed.

  • Stop the container when finished.

3. Scaling and Updating Containerized Applications:

  • Use Kubernetes to scale the application by adjusting the number of replicas.

  • Use Kubernetes to update the container image with the new version.

  • Monitor the application’s performance and adjust the replicas accordingly.

  • Monitor the application’s health and adjust the replicas accordingly.

Kubernetes pods

A pod is the smallest deployable unit in Kubernetes. It is a group of containers that are deployed together and managed as a single unit. Pods contain one or more containers, such as Docker containers, that share the same network and storage resources. Pods can also communicate with each other and are scheduled to run on nodes within a cluster. Kubernetes uses pods to manage the job of running containers within a node(s).

Kubernetes provides a way to manage and scale applications by controlling the distribution of containers within nodes. Pods provide an isolated environment for each container, allowing for easy scaling and flexibility. They also ensure that containers are running in the same environment as each other, so applications can communicate easily. Kubernetes ensures that application components are always running, by regularly monitoring the health of the containers and providing a mechanism to recover from any failures. This makes it ideal for running mission-critical applications.

Kubernetes services

Kubernetes services are a way to expose applications and services running inside Kubernetes clusters. Services are used to provide a stable endpoint to access the containers deployed in a Kubernetes cluster. They allow traffic to be routed to specific pods based on the service configuration. This allows users to access applications running inside the cluster without having to know the exact endpoints of the individual pods. Services are also used to provide load balancing and service discovery to applications running inside the cluster. Services can expose applications to the public internet or to internal networks.

Services can be configured to use a variety of different protocols including HTTP, HTTPS, TCP, and UDP. Services are assigned a unique IP address and port combination, allowing them to be accessed via the same endpoint. Services also enable scaling of applications running in the cluster by allowing additional pods to be added without changing the endpoint for the service. Additionally, services can be used to provide failover capabilities, allowing applications to continue to run if a single pod fails.

Kubernetes configuration

ConfigMaps and Secrets are two powerful Kubernetes primitives that enable developers to store configuration data and sensitive information, respectively, in a secure and declarative fashion. ConfigMaps are used to store configuration data such as application settings, parameters, and environment variables that can be used by Kubernetes objects (like Pods and Services) to modify their behavior. Secrets are used to store sensitive information such as passwords, API keys, or certificates, which can be securely accessed by Kubernetes objects.

ConfigMaps and Secrets are both stored in Kubernetes’ etcd distributed key-value store and can be accessed by any Kubernetes object. The advantage of this is that the configuration data and sensitive information can be centrally managed, and any changes can be applied across all affected objects. This makes it easier to apply dynamic configuration changes to an application without having to manually change each object’s configuration.

ConfigMaps and Secrets are also used in conjunction with other Kubernetes primitives like Configurable Containers and Container Runtime Configurations to further customize and control the behavior of Kubernetes-managed applications. By leveraging these primitives, developers can dynamically configure application behavior without having to directly modify the application’s source code.

Kubernetes labels

Kubernetes labels are key-value pairs that are attached to Kubernetes objects such as pods, services, deployments, and nodes. Labels are used to logically group and identify Kubernetes objects, and can be used to organize applications running on a Kubernetes cluster. For example, labels can be used to identify a deployment as belonging to a particular application or to identify a node as running a specific type of workload. Labels can also be used to filter objects based on certain criteria, such as the environment in which a deployment is running, or the type of application running on a node. Labels can also be used to control access to certain resources, such as a particular namespace or a certain type of storage. Labels are a powerful tool for managing and organizing applications running on a Kubernetes cluster and can help administrators quickly identify and group objects in order to optimize performance and usage.

Kubernetes networking

Kubernetes' internal network operates by assigning each pod its own IP address, which acts as an identifier of the pod. This IP address allows communication between the different pods, allowing applications to communicate and exchange data.

Testing communication between pods is done by sending a request from one pod to another and verifying that the request is received and processed properly. This is done by using tools such as curl and ping, which send packets to the pod’s IP address and evaluates the response.

Establishing communication between different applications requires the creation of a networked connection between the different applications. This is done by using a service called a service mesh, which is a dedicated network of service proxies that are responsible for routing network traffic between the applications. Service meshes can also be used for load balancing, secure communication, and service discovery.

Kubernetes security

AUTHORIZATION: Authorization is the process of determining whether a user or service has access to a specific resource or action. This is an important security concept for Kubernetes because it regulates which users or services have access to various cluster resources. In Kubernetes, authorization is handled through Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), which defines roles and assigns users, services, and accounts to those roles.

AUTHENTICATION: Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a user or service. In Kubernetes, authentication is handled through authentication plugins, which are configured to use various authentication providers such as LDAP and OAuth2. Authentication plugins can also be used to integrate with other authentication providers, such as Active Directory.

NETWORK POLICIES: Network policies are used to control communication between resources within a Kubernetes cluster. Network policies define rules for which services can communicate with each other, as well as which sources and destinations are allowed. Network policies can be used to secure communication between services and to limit access to sensitive resources.

BEST PRACTICES:

  • Enable and enforce Role-Based Access Control (RBAC).

  • Use authentication plugins to authenticate users and services.

  • Implement network policies to control communication between services.

  • Use secure communication protocols and encrypt data in transit.

  • Monitor and log cluster activity.

  • Use image scanning to detect potential vulnerabilities.

  • Harden the Kubernetes API server.

  • Use pod security policies to restrict pod access.

  • Use network segmentation to isolate sensitive resources.

  • Use Kubernetes admission controllers to control access to resources.

Monitoring Kubernetes

Kubernetes Dashboard: This tool provides a web-based graphical user interface for managing and monitoring the Kubernetes cluster. It allows users to manage and troubleshoot applications running on the cluster, as well as provide a view of cluster resources.

Prometheus: This is an open-source monitoring system that can be used to monitor the performance of Kubernetes clusters. It provides a rich set of metrics and alerting capabilities, as well as a query language for exploring and analyzing metrics.

Grafana: This is an open-source data visualization and monitoring platform that can be used to monitor and analyze the performance of Kubernetes clusters. It provides a graphical view of the cluster, allowing users to quickly identify and fix issues.

Kube-Hunter: This is a penetration-testing tool designed to help Kubernetes users identify security risks in their clusters. It can detect common misconfigurations and vulnerabilities in Kubernetes clusters and alert users to potential risks.

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