This post explores the range of options available for hosting a Kubernetes cluster. Building on the previous discussion about deploying Kubernetes, we’ll now take a closer look at the specific infrastructure choices you can consider.

Deployment Options: Local Machines to the Cloud

Kubernetes clusters can be hosted on a wide array of platforms, from local machines to virtual or physical servers in private data centers, as well as cloud-based environments. The right choice depends on your specific needs, including your cloud strategy and the applications you plan to deploy.

Local Machine Deployment

For those starting with Kubernetes on a laptop or local machine:

  • On Linux systems, Kubernetes can be installed manually by setting up the required binaries. However, this process can be challenging for beginners.
  • On Windows, Kubernetes isn’t supported natively. Instead, virtualization tools like Hyper-V, VMware Workstation, or VirtualBox are required to create Linux virtual machines for running Kubernetes. Alternatively, Kubernetes components can be run as Docker containers within Linux-based Docker images on Windows VMs.

Tools for Local Deployment

Several tools simplify the process of running Kubernetes on a local machine:

  • Minikube: A straightforward tool for deploying single-node clusters, typically relying on virtualization software like VirtualBox.
  • kubeadm: A more versatile tool that can be used to set up single-node or multi-node clusters. It requires pre-configured virtual machines with supported configurations.

Local deployments are generally best suited for learning, development, and testing purposes.

Production-Grade Clusters: Turnkey vs. Hosted Solutions

For production environments, Kubernetes clusters can be deployed in private or public cloud environments. These solutions fall into two main categories:

  • Turnkey Solutions: You provision the virtual machines and use tools or scripts to configure and maintain the Kubernetes cluster.
  • Hosted Solutions: Kubernetes as a service, where the provider handles the deployment and maintenance of the cluster and underlying infrastructure.

Turnkey Solutions

Turnkey solutions provide tools and platforms to streamline cluster deployment and management. Examples include:

  • OpenShift: A Kubernetes-based platform by Red Hat that offers a graphical interface and additional tools for easier management.
  • Cloud Foundry Container Runtime: Uses BOSH to deploy and manage highly available Kubernetes clusters.
  • VMware Cloud PKS: Integrates with VMware environments for Kubernetes deployments.
  • Vagrant: Automates the deployment of Kubernetes clusters across various cloud providers.

These solutions are well-suited for organizations that prefer to maintain full control over their infrastructure.

Hosted Solutions

Hosted solutions simplify Kubernetes adoption by providing it as a managed service. Examples include:

  • Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE): Google Cloud’s widely-used Kubernetes service.
  • OpenShift Online: Red Hat’s cloud-based version of OpenShift.
  • Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS): Microsoft Azure’s managed Kubernetes offering.
  • Amazon EKS: Amazon’s managed Kubernetes service, integrated with AWS.