How Kubernetes Works to Support Microservices Architecture

Kubernetes is, by nature, complex, but this article attempts to provide an overview of what it is and how it works in the context of microservices artchitecture. Also known as K8s (obtained by replacing the word "ubernete" having 8 letters with the digit 8), it was open-sourced by Google in 2014. They had used it for more than a decade for scaling production workloads.

Kubernetes, as the emerging de-facto standard, is being put to increased use as more apps are moving into containers. Kubernetes, primarily, increases infrastructure utilization by sharing computing resources across many processes in an efficient manner. The technology helps to allocate computing resources in a dynamic fashion as the demands occur.

Kubernetes Support in Microservices Architecture

What are the plus points in using Kubernetes? Kubernetes functions well both in an on-premise environment as well as within a public cloud (AWS, Microsoft Azure). Public cloud providers also provide facilities in the form of managed solutions that help to start up K8s quickly and operate efficiently.

Kubernetes is seen to complement business advantages when it is used with the microservices architecture in large enterprises. They are as follows:

• Reduction in resource costs
• Faster app development and deployment
• Multi-cloud flexibility
• Workload scalability
• Effective migration to the cloud

Let us examine the advantages in more detail.

Read our blog "Microservices Architecture Security Best Practices and Patterns".

Faster App Development and Deployment

When a large enterprise is using the microservices architecture, it pays to use Kuberenetes. This is because Kubernetes uses microservices to deploy applications.  Splitting the IT development teams into smaller outfits will help you to focus better on the smaller services. This means better focus on a functional area, which translates to better performance.

The APIs that work among the chosen microservices will help to reduce the total cross-team communications. The application can thereafter be scaled up or down according to the requirements. Kubernetes inherently allows access to storage from cloud service providers such as AWS and Microsoft Azure, and this helps with faster communication between the various containers.

Reduction in Resource Costs

If yours is a large-scale enterprise/business, using Kubernetes can help to reduce your resource costs considerably. When moving into a microservices architecture, the requirement for resource allocation on demand generally increases. That is, you have resources that can be deployed on demand. Generally, prior to using Kubernetes, business owners often over-provisioned computing resources to handle sudden increases in demand.

However, when using Kubernetes, it allows a container-based architecture. Kubernetes makes a clear estimate of the resources before smartly allocating the available resources and scheduling their participation in the computing job into tight containers. If an increase is sensed by Kubernetes by users of a specific app, it adds more computing power to that app. Users can continue to operate the app without a hitch while developers can focus on more productive work.

The Best Kubernetes Hosting is essential to support microservices architecture because it ensures resource efficiency, high availability, scalability, and security. It leverages Kubernetes’ powerful features, such as automated scaling, self-healing, and load balancing, to provide a robust platform for running modern, distributed applications.
 
If you want to establish microservices architecture in your organization, speak to our expert developers today!

Scalability of Workload

Kubernetes containers are light in weight and can be created easily. Ultimately, the application is broken down into smaller parts performing individual functions. This helps to quickly scale up on occasions of demand and also respond suitably whenever the demand is up. It also scales down when the demand goes down. All the different metrics: the infrastructure, resource utilization and custom metrics are scaled up with Kubernetes.

Effective Migration to the Cloud

Kubernetes is the clear favorite when it comes to migrating app or web services to a container-based cloud environment. With the cloud infrastructure itself being both scalable and stable, migration to the cloud helps to reduce operational difficulties and costs. You can re-host an app easily or make small changes quickly using Kubernetes with almost zero downtime, which helps with seamless operations.

Download Ebook for FREE "How to choose the best microservices vendor and trim the cost"

Kubernetes offers a lot of flexibility for any change that is made in an app. Further, Kubernetes offers a straightforward method to transfer apps to the cloud environment from an on-premise environment. This is because the apps will run in a reliable fashion both on the cloud (AWS/Azure) and in the on-premise environments.

Kubernetes allows 3 predefined migration paths: On-premise migration to Kubernetes, re-hosting the app, and refactoring.

On-premise migration to Kubernetes involves re-platforming the apps into containers and bringing them under the orchestration of Kubernetes.

Rehosting involves shifting the app from one cloud to a Kubernetes cluster. The app has been shifted in its entirety, with no changes made.This offers the speediest migration method.

Download and read our eBook "Porting from Monoliths to Microservices"
 
In refactoring, you can take complete advantage of the benefits offered by the cloud environment. Once shifted to the cloud, the developer can make whatever change is required according to the cloud environment. It is an advanced migration method.

Multi-Cloud Flexibility

After migrating to Kubernetes, organizations will find it easy to run applications on either one cloud or a combination of public and private clouds. There is a lot of flexibility offered by Kubernetes as it is an open-source system. For organizations, it is easy to switch from a not-so-good service provider to a better one.

Kubernetes allows hybrid-cloud and multi-cloud advantages. It is predicted that large corporations are already using and many more will start and continue to use multi-cloud systems. It is a good idea to use Kubernetes in case you want to use its dedicated features and when you want to migrate apps that would improve your ROI.  Kubernetes is a suitable platform for complex applications that comprise many microservices.
 
How SayOne Can Assist
 
As a future-ready technology solutions provider for businesses, we at SayOne Technologies can help you to efficiently implement microservices architecture in your organization. In addition to combining Agile and DevOps to deliver high-quality software, we can also provide relevant advice on adopting cost-efficient Kubernetes container orchestrators that will help you achieve your business and financial goals easily and effectively improve your ROI.

Do you want to overcome business bottlenecks by implementing microservices? Talk to us today!