Intelligent Data Centres Issue 08 | Page 82

THE EDGE Containerise and re-architect the components that need to be horizontally scaled in certain situations. This benefits application but also allows for more flexibility when deploying workloads. For example, during a traffic spike, the number of replicas of a machine can be increased to distribute load and prevent it from affecting the services and customer experience. Another area where Kubernetes delivers a lot of value is in fast-paced environments where new versions of a given software are deployed frequently. It makes activities such as A/B testing very easy and enables the user to deploy in a much more secured and measurable way. Which type of Kubernetes to use? Companies require a Kubernetes service that is compatible with any pure Kubernetes tooling and doesn’t cause an inconvenience in regard to installation and operation. Managed Kubernetes Services are designed to do just this: by being based on open source and providing a platform that is living in the cloud environment. 82 Issue 08 However, if this step is daunting and a business is at a more experimental stage, there are more basic tools available. Users can test and learn Kubernetes with tools such as Minikube and Kubespray that make it easy to run Kubernetes locally, from a laptop. These tools are not designed to handle any significant load and are not secured by design. But nonetheless they are available for teaching colleagues or learning tutorials and much more of a starting point. For specific needs that require an application on-premise, Kubernetes solutions such as Platform9 are available. This allows access to the solution via a commercial company that provides ease of use, enterprise support and agnostic features, in addition to being compatible with multi-cloud. Kubernetes in a nutshell There is no one size fits all solution. It’s about focusing on the right strategy for your business needs and having the flexibility to change approach as these needs evolve. There are different options available so it is not necessary to build your own solution. Select a commercial on-premise, or CNCF-certified managed cloud solution that can be used as a ready- made offering with tools to develop and scale a successful Kubernetes strategy. ◊ USING A MANAGED KUBERNETES SYSTEM MEANS COMPANIES CAN TAKE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY TO THE NEXT LEVEL, PROVIDED IT’S DEPLOYED CORRECTLY. www.intelligentdatacentres.com