Azure Kubernetes Service

An Introduction to Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)

Microsoft Azure / By

Microsoft Azure is one of the foremost players in the cloud computing market presently. On the other hand, we also have Kubernetes as the top instrument for the management of application containers. The drastic rise in the application of both these tools in enterprise use cases is explicitly evident. Kubernetes provides a platform for automation of deployment, scaling, and operations of application containers across clusters of hosts.

Also, Kubernetes helps in reducing the cost of cloud computing investments alongside simplifying architecture and operations. Therefore, Azure Kubernetes Service combines the functionalities of Kubernetes and Microsoft Azure for better outcomes in application development. The following discussion would present insights into different aspects of Azure Kubernetes Service AKS such as features and use cases. Also, the discussion would focus on the benefits of Azure’s Kubernetes service as well as examples. So, let us start learning about AKS, shall we?

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Defining Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)

The first thing we should look at in this discussion is the definition of Azure Kubernetes Service. AKS is a managed container orchestration platform that has its foundation in the opensource Kubernetes system. AKS is available on Microsoft Azure public cloud, and its applications are ideal for deploying, scaling and managing Docker containers. Also, container-based applications come within the scope of AKS.

The deployment, scaling, and management of containers and container-based applications are possible across a cluster of container hosts. As of June 2018, Azure Kubernetes Service AKS is available for general access. AKS helps in managing a hosted Kubernetes environment that supports flexible and quick deployment and management of containerized applications.

The best thing here is that you don’t need profound expertise in container orchestration for using AKS. Furthermore, you can be able to reduce the stress of ongoing maintenance and operations. How? AKS supports efficient provisioning, upgrades, and scaling of resources according to demand without taking the applications offline.

AKS is surely an improvisation for developers to use Kubernetes on the Azure cloud platform. Azure Container Service or Azure Container Instances can be the right example of tools for deploying containers on Azure public cloud. The Azure Container Instances can reduce the stress on a developer to implement Kubernetes for deploying and running containers.

Azure Container Service was the predecessor of AKS and supported various opensource container orchestration platforms. However, ACS and AKS have many differences other than the fact that AKS is ideal for Kubernetes. For instance, AKS implements managed disks, thereby implying the need for converting unmanaged disks before assigning to AKS nodes.

On similar grounds, users should convert the persistent storage volumes or the customized storage class objects related to Azure disks. Furthermore, users should also ensure due diligence for stateful applications before migration from ACS to AKS. Now, it’s time to reflect on the features of AKS Azure!

Features of AKS

Azure Kubernetes Service tutorial will inform you of the simplicity of deploying managed Kubernetes cluster in Azure using AKS. Microsoft Azure can deal with important tasks such as maintenance and health monitoring because it is a hosted Kubernetes service. Azure manages the Kubernetes nodes, and users could manage and maintain the agent nodes. Users could create an AKS cluster in the Azure portal or with Azure CLI.

You could also choose template-based deployment options such as Terraform and Resource Manager templates. Upon deployment of an AKS cluster, you find the automatic configuration of the Kubernetes master and all nodes. You could also configure the additional features such as Azure Active Directory integration, monitoring, and advanced networking. Quite some amazing functionalities, aren’t they? So, let us take a deeper look into the features that you get with Azure Kubernetes Service.

  • Security, Access, and Monitoring

Common Azure Kubernetes Service documentation can shed light on the improvements in areas of access, security, and monitoring. AKS helps in integration with Azure Active Directory and using Kubernetes role-based access controls. Also, you could monitor the status of your cluster and resources.

RBAC helps in controlling access to Kubernetes resources and namespaces as well as permission to resources. Azure AD integration helps in configuration of Kubernetes access based on existing identity and group membership. Azure Monitor can help in observing the performance of your AKS Azure cluster and deployed applications.

  • Clusters and Nodes

Azure Kubernetes Service tutorial also include elaborations on the feature of clusters and nodes in AKS. AKS nodes run on Azure Virtual Machines, and AKS provides support for Kubernetes clusters running multiple node pools. With the changes in demand for resources, the number of cluster nodes or pods running services can be scaled accordingly.

AKS also provides different Kubernetes versions and the cluster upgrades through the Azure Portal or CLI. You could also find support for creating GPU enabled node pools. Also, you have the privilege of mounting storage volumes for persistent data. You can use static and dynamic volumes according to your preference. The two options for storage volume support with Azure Kubernetes Service include Azure Disks and Azure Files.

  • Virtual Networks and Ingress

Azure Kubernetes Service documentation will also include virtual networks and ingress. You can deploy an AKS cluster into an existing virtual network. Every pod in the cluster is attached with an IP address in the virtual network. The pods can communicate with other pods in the cluster as well as other nodes in the virtual network. The add-on of HTTP application routing can help in having flexible access to applications deployed on an AKS cluster. HTTP application routing solution can help in configuration of an ingress controller in an AKS cluster.

  • Development Tooling Integration

The next important concern in Azure Kubernetes Service is Development tooling integration. You can find a wide ecosystem having development and management tools such as Draft and Helm. The seamless functioning of these tools with AKS is a prolific reason to consider using AKS. Most important of all, the Azure Dev Spaces can give a faster, iterative Kubernetes development experience. You could run and debug containers directly in AKS with the least stress on the configuration.

Azure Kubernetes Service also provides support for Docker image format. Furthermore, you could also integrate AKS with Azure Container Registry (ACR) for the private storage of Docker images. Also, AKS establishes credibility through the CNCF certification of “Kubernetes conformant.” The regulatory compliance of AKS with SOC, HIPAA, ISO, and PCI DSS make it reliable for application across diverse industries.

Also Read: Step by Step Guide to Create Azure Virtual Machine

Use Cases of Azure Kubernetes Services

Now, let us take a look at the different uses of Azure Kubernetes Service for improving this discussion further.

  • AKS is ideal for easy migration of the existing application to containers and running them. The access control comes through integration with Azure Active Directory. You can also access SLA-backed Azure Services such as Azure Database using OSBA (Open Service Broker for Azure).
  • AKS is also ideal for simplifying the deployment and management of applications based on microservices. The streamlined horizontal scaling, secret management, self-healing, and load balancing by AKS provide the necessary support.
  • AKS is also a reliable instrument for bringing DevOps and Kubernetes together. AKS is ideal for secure DevOps implementation with Kubernetes and improves the speed and security of the development process. The development processes are secure with the use of CI/CD supported by dynamic policy controls.
  • Constant monitoring can also help in accelerating the feedback loop. Azure pipelines can help in faster delivery alongside compliance with critical policies specified by Azure. Microsoft Azure also gives features for observing the build and release pipelines in real-time and features for easy application of compliance audit and reconfigurations.
  • Azure Kubernetes Service is also applicable in many other use cases. One of them is the ease of scaling by using AKS and Azure Container Instances. Also, you can find the applications of AKS for on-demand IoT device deployment and management. AKS can provide scalable compute resources for IoT solutions according to demand. AKS could also find applications in use cases that involve machine learning model training. Flexible tools in AKS such as Kubeflow and TensorFlow help in simplifying the training of machine learning models.

Azure Kubernetes Service Pricing

Many readers must be thinking about Azure Kubernetes service pricing, aren’t you? Well, the answer is “FREE”! All you have to do is sign-up for an Azure free account and explore different workload resources and Kubernetes components. Then, follow a seven-step tutorial for deploying and running an application in AKS.

Azure Kubernetes Service pricing does not charge users for Kubernetes cluster management. However, users have to pay for cloud resources consumed by containers that contain the application running in the Kubernetes cluster. Therefore, AKS tends to be a favorable choice for container orchestration along with the benefit of cost-effectiveness.

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Conclusion

Based on our observation of AKS, it is a proven instrument to simplify container orchestration. The various features of Azure Kubernetes Services can provide developers with the ease of deploying and managing containers. The specific application of Kubernetes in Azure provides important benefits such as automatic upgrades.

Furthermore, the AKS nodes also have the feature of automatic scaling according to the demand for resources. The facility of creating GPU enabled node pools can also provide additional processing power. The flexible access to AKS is also another vital aspect observed in the discussion. Users could access AKS through AKS CLI or AKS management portal.

The use cases of AKS are also important highlights in this discussion. Major use cases included a reference to simple and faster deployment and management of container-based applications. Presently, AKS is gaining recognition gradually and will be the benchmark for exclusive container orchestration platforms in the future. So start learning and validate your skills with Azure role-based certifications. Enroll now for the Azure certification training courses and become a certified Azure professional.

About Pavan Gumaste

Pavan Rao is a programmer / Developer by Profession and Cloud Computing Professional by choice with in-depth knowledge in AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform. He helps the organisation figure out what to build, ensure successful delivery, and incorporate user learning to improve the strategy and product further.

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