A Comprehensive Guide to Kubernetes: What It Is, What It Can Do and How to Get Started

Kubernetes is an open source container orchestration system that helps you manage the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. It was originally developed by Google and is now maintained by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation. Kubernetes automates the process of deploying and managing applications in a distributed system, making it easier for developers to build and maintain applications.

Kubernetes provides an abstract layer on top of the underlying infrastructure, allowing developers to deploy applications without worrying about the underlying hardware. It’s also designed to be cloud-agnostic, meaning it can be used in any cloud environment. Kubernetes also provides features such as service discovery, resource management, and automatic scaling.

To get started with Kubernetes, you’ll need a server with at least one CPU core and 1GB of RAM. If you’re running on a cloud platform, such as Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, or Microsoft Azure, you can use the respective cloud services to set up a Kubernetes cluster. You can also install Kubernetes on your own server, however this requires a little more work.

Once you have a Kubernetes cluster up and running, you can then begin deploying applications. Kubernetes supports a variety of container technologies, including Docker, rkt, and CRI-O. You can then configure your applications to use the container technology of your choice.

Kubernetes also provides a number of tools to help manage your applications. For example, you can use Kubernetes’ built-in dashboard to view and monitor your running applications, as well as deploy and manage them. You can also use the kubectl command line tool to manage your applications.

Finally, Kubernetes provides a number of features to help you scale your applications. For example, you can use Kubernetes’ autoscaling feature to automatically scale your applications based on demand. You can also use the built-in replication controller to ensure your applications are always running, even if one of the nodes fails.

Kubernetes is a powerful container orchestration tool that makes it easy to deploy and manage distributed applications. With its wide range of features, it’s a great option for developers looking to simplify their application deployment and management. So, if you’re looking to get started with Kubernetes, this comprehensive guide should help you understand what it is, what it can do, and how to get started.