What is Kubernetes: A Single-Node Introduction

Kubernetes (also known as K8s) is a powerful container orchestration tool that has gained immense popularity among developers and DevOps teams. In this article, we'll take a closer look at what Kubernetes is, its features, and how to get started with a single-node setup.

For those who are new to Kubernetes, creating a GKE cluster, deploying containers, releasing new versions, setting autoscale policies, and investigating problems can seem like a daunting task. But fear not! With this guide, you'll be able to master the basics of Kubernetes in no time.

To get started with a single-node setup, you'll need to create a deployment YAML file that defines your application's container settings. You can then use the `kubectl apply` command to apply this configuration to your cluster.

One of the key benefits of Kubernetes is its ability to scale your applications horizontally and vertically. Horizontal scaling involves increasing or decreasing the number of replicas based on demand, while vertical scaling involves adjusting resources such as CPU and memory. To set up horizontal pod autoscaling, you can use the `kubectl autoscale` command, which allows you to specify a maximum and minimum number of replicas, as well as a target CPU utilization percentage.

To investigate issues with your pods or deployment, you can use various `kubectl` commands, such as `kubectl get pods` and `kubectl describe`. These commands provide detailed information about the status of your pods and deployments, including any errors that may have occurred during deployment.

Another useful feature of Kubernetes is its ability to roll back to a previous version if something goes wrong. You can do this using the `kubectl rollout undo` command, which allows you to revert to a previous deployment configuration.

In addition to these features, Kubernetes also provides a dashboard for monitoring and managing your cluster. To access the dashboard, simply navigate to the URL provided by your cluster's settings.

When working with Kubernetes, it's essential to remember that secrets are sensitive data that should be kept confidential. You can use the `kubectl exec` command to interact with containers running in your cluster, but make sure to delete any sensitive information before releasing it publicly.

In conclusion, Kubernetes is a powerful tool for container orchestration that offers many benefits for developers and DevOps teams. With its ability to scale applications horizontally and vertically, roll back deployments, and investigate issues, Kubernetes provides a robust foundation for building modern cloud-native applications. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can get started with a single-node setup and begin exploring the many features and capabilities of Kubernetes.

What is kubernetes 1 node