Kubernetes

Frequently Asked Questions about Kubernetes

Who are Kubernetes?

Kubernetes is an open-source platform designed for automating the deployment, scaling, and management of containerised applications. Originally developed by Google, Kubernetes is now maintained by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) and has a large community of contributors and users.

What are Kubernetes products?

Kubernetes itself is a platform rather than a product in the traditional sense. It provides a set of tools and APIs for orchestrating containers, which can be used to build and manage applications across clusters of machines. Kubernetes does not offer commercial products but is often integrated into various cloud services and platforms.

What services do Kubernetes offer?

Kubernetes offers orchestration services for containerised applications. This includes automated deployment, scaling, management, and load balancing of containers across a cluster of servers. Kubernetes also supports service discovery and provides tools for monitoring and logging.

What type of companies do Kubernetes products suit?

Kubernetes is suitable for a wide range of companies, from startups to large enterprises, particularly those that are deploying microservices architectures or require scalable, reliable management of containerised applications. Companies in sectors such as technology, finance, healthcare, and e-commerce commonly use Kubernetes.

How much does Kubernetes product cost?

Kubernetes is open-source and free to use. However, costs may arise from the infrastructure on which it is deployed (such as cloud service fees) and any associated support services from third-party vendors or cloud providers.

Does Kubernetes offer a free trial?

As an open-source platform, Kubernetes does not require a trial; it is freely available for anyone to use. However, cloud providers that offer managed Kubernetes services may offer free tiers or trial periods for their services.

What discounts does Kubernetes offer on their products?

Since Kubernetes itself is an open-source project, there are no discounts to offer. However, users may find pricing options or discounts through the cloud providers that offer managed Kubernetes services.

Are there any hidden fees or additional costs with Kubernetes?

Kubernetes does not have hidden fees. However, users should be mindful of potential costs associated with the infrastructure they choose to run Kubernetes on, such as cloud provider fees, storage costs, and any additional software or services they may need.

Who uses Kubernetes products?

Kubernetes is used by a diverse range of organisations, including tech giants like Google, IBM, and Microsoft, as well as startups and enterprises across various industries. It is particularly popular among developers and operations teams looking to facilitate DevOps practices.

What are the main features of Kubernetes products/services?

• Automated deployment and scaling of containerised applications
• Load balancing and service discovery
• Self-healing capabilities
• Storage orchestration
• Batch execution and job scheduling
• Support for multiple container runtimes
• Extensibility through custom resources and controllers

How does Kubernetes compare to its competitors?

Kubernetes is often considered the industry standard for container orchestration. Compared to competitors like Docker Swarm or Apache Mesos, Kubernetes offers a more comprehensive feature set, a larger community, and better support for complex deployments. However, it can also be more complex to set up and manage.

Is Kubernetes platform easy to use?

Kubernetes has a steep learning curve due to its complexity and the breadth of its features. While it offers powerful orchestration capabilities, users may find it challenging to set up and configure without prior experience in container technologies.

How easy is it to set up Kubernetes product or service?

Setting up Kubernetes can be complex and time-consuming, especially for those unfamiliar with container orchestration. However, many cloud providers offer managed Kubernetes services that simplify the setup process, allowing users to quickly deploy and manage clusters.

Is Kubernetes reliable?

Kubernetes is designed for high availability and fault tolerance, making it a reliable choice for managing containerised applications. Its self-healing capabilities ensure that applications remain operational even in the event of failures within the cluster.

Does Kubernetes offer customer support?

Kubernetes does not provide official customer support since it is an open-source project. However, many cloud providers and third-party vendors offer support options for their managed Kubernetes services.

How secure is Kubernetes’ platform?

Kubernetes provides various security features, including role-based access control (RBAC), network policies, and secrets management. However, the overall security of a Kubernetes deployment depends on proper configuration and management practices by users.

Does Kubernetes integrate with other tools or platforms?

Kubernetes supports integration with numerous tools and platforms, including CI/CD tools like Jenkins, monitoring solutions like Prometheus, and service mesh technologies like Istio. Its extensible architecture allows for easy integration with various third-party services.

Can I use Kubernetes on mobile devices?

Kubernetes is not designed to be run on mobile devices. It is primarily meant for server environments, where it manages clusters of machines. However, users can access Kubernetes dashboards and management tools from mobile devices via web interfaces.

What do users say about Kubernetes?

User feedback on Kubernetes is generally positive, noting its powerful orchestration capabilities and flexibility. However, users often mention the steep learning curve and complexity of initial setup as challenges to overcome.

What are the pros and cons of Kubernetes?

• Pros: Powerful orchestration capabilities, self-healing features, extensive community support, and flexibility in deployment options.
• Cons: Steep learning curve, complex setup, and management compared to some alternatives.

How can I purchase Kubernetes’ services?

Kubernetes itself is free to use, but users can choose to purchase managed Kubernetes services from cloud providers like Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services, or Microsoft Azure, which include additional support and features.

What is the cancellation or refund policy for Kubernetes?

As an open-source platform, Kubernetes does not have a cancellation or refund policy. However, users are subject to the terms and policies of any cloud providers they may engage for managed services.

Who uses Kubernetes?

Kubernetes is used by a variety of organisations, including enterprises, startups, and individual developers who require efficient orchestration of containerised applications.

What are the common use cases for Kubernetes?

Common use cases for Kubernetes include cloud-native application development, microservices architectures, continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines, and managing large-scale applications across distributed environments.

Why choose Kubernetes over other options?

Kubernetes is often chosen for its extensibility, robust feature set, and strong community support. It is well-suited for complex and large-scale applications, making it a preferred choice for organisations looking to adopt container orchestration.

How easy is it to set up Kubernetes?

The setup process for Kubernetes can be complex, particularly for users without prior experience. However, many cloud providers offer managed Kubernetes solutions that simplify the setup process significantly.

Does Kubernetes offer training or tutorials?

While Kubernetes does not offer official training, there are numerous resources available online, including documentation, tutorials, and courses provided by community members and training organisations.

What languages does Kubernetes support?

Kubernetes supports applications written in any programming language that can run in containers. This includes languages such as Python, Java, Go, Node.js, and many others.

What problems does Kubernetes solve?

Kubernetes addresses challenges related to deploying, scaling, and managing containerised applications, such as ensuring high availability, efficient resource utilisation, and simplified application management across clusters.

Is Kubernetes worth the investment?

For organisations deploying complex, scalable applications, Kubernetes can provide significant value through improved efficiency, reliability, and management of containerised environments. However, the decision should be based on specific organisational needs and capabilities.