Kubernetes (often called K8s) is an open-source platform used to automate deploying, scaling, and managing containerized applications.
Think of Kubernetes as an orchestrator for Docker containers: it manages where and how containers run, monitors their health, and scales them automatically.
Manages clusters of machines (nodes) running containers.
Ensures apps are highly available and resilient.
Handles scaling, load balancing, rollouts, and self-healing.
Analogy: If Docker is a car, Kubernetes is the traffic control system that makes sure all cars move efficiently and safely.
Why Kubernetes is Used in DevOps
In DevOps, the focus is on continuous delivery, scalability, and reliability. Kubernetes helps by:
Automating Deployment & Management – Deploy containers consistently across environments.
Scaling Applications Dynamically – Automatically increase/decrease instances based on demand.
High Availability – Replaces failed containers automatically.
Rolling Updates & Rollbacks – Deploy new versions without downtime and rollback if issues occur.
Resource Optimization – Efficiently uses CPU, memory across nodes.
Works Well With CI/CD Pipelines – Integrates with Jenkins, GitLab, GitHub Actions, etc.
Example workflow: Developer pushes code → CI/CD pipeline builds Docker image → Kubernetes deploys it → Auto-scaling and monitoring ensure stability.
What is the Purpose of Using Kubernetes?
Container Orchestration :
Manages multiple containers across multiple servers efficiently.
Automatic Scaling :
Add/remove container replicas based on load automatically.
Self-Healing :
If a container crashes, Kubernetes restarts it automatically.
Load Balancing :
Distributes traffic across containers to ensure performance.
Rolling Updates & Rollbacks :
Deploy new versions without downtime; revert easily if needed.
Service Discovery :
Containers can find and communicate with each other automatically.
Resource Management :
Optimizes CPU and memory usage across cluster nodes.
Declarative Configuration :
Use YAML/JSON files to define the desired state, Kubernetes enforces it.
Advantages of Using Kubernetes
High Availability & Reliability :
Automatically manages container health.
Scalability :
Scale apps up or down quickly based on demand.
Portability :
Works with any cloud, on-premise, or hybrid environment.
Cost-Efficient :
Runs multiple containers on the same nodes efficiently.
Automated Rollouts & Rollbacks :
Smooth updates with minimal downtime.
Extensive Ecosystem & Community :
Helm charts, operators, monitoring tools.
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