MSDN - Microsoft Developer Network

Introduction to Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)

Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) simplifies deploying, managing, and automating Kubernetes applications. AKS provides a managed Kubernetes experience, offloading the operational burden of running Kubernetes and allowing developers to focus on application development and innovation.

What is Kubernetes?

Kubernetes is an open-source system for automating deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. It groups containers that make up an application into logical units for easy management and discovery. Kubernetes has a large, growing ecosystem. Its services, support, and tools are widely available.

Key Benefits of AKS

• Simplified Management: Microsoft manages the Kubernetes control plane, including availability, upgrades, and scaling.
• Developer Productivity: Developers can use familiar tools like kubectl, Helm, and the Kubernetes API to build and deploy applications.
• Integrated Services: Seamless integration with other Azure services like Azure Monitor, Azure Active Directory, Azure Policy, and Azure Container Registry.
• Scalability and Reliability: Easily scale your applications and benefit from AKS's built-in high availability.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Pay only for the worker nodes and other Azure resources you consume.

Getting Started with AKS

This section guides you through the initial steps to set up and run your first Kubernetes cluster on Azure.

1. Prerequisites: Ensure you have an Azure subscription and the Azure CLI installed.
2. Create an AKS Cluster: Use the Azure CLI or Azure portal to provision your AKS cluster.

az aks create \
    --resource-group myResourceGroup \
    --name myAKSCluster \
    --node-count 1 \
    --enable-addons monitoring \
    --generate-ssh-keys
                

3. Connect to the Cluster: Configure kubectl to connect to your AKS cluster.

az aks get-credentials --resource-group myResourceGroup --name myAKSCluster
                

4. Deploy a Sample Application: Deploy a simple containerized application to your cluster.

Cluster Management

Learn how to manage the lifecycle of your AKS clusters, including upgrades, scaling, and configuration.

• Upgrading AKS Clusters
• Scaling Worker Nodes
• Managing Node Pools
• Control Plane Updates

Application Deployment

Discover best practices for deploying and managing your containerized applications on AKS.

• Deployments and ReplicaSets
• Kubernetes Services
• Ingress Controllers
• Using Helm for Package Management

Networking

Understand the networking concepts and options available within AKS, including virtual networks, network policies, and ingress.

• Container Network Interface (CNI)
• Network Policies
• Load Balancing

Storage

Configure persistent storage for your applications using Azure Disk, Azure Files, and Azure Blob Storage.

• Persistent Volumes and Claims
• Storage Classes

Monitoring

Monitor your AKS clusters and applications using Azure Monitor for containers and other tools.

• Azure Monitor for Containers
• Logging and Auditing
• Performance Metrics

Security

Implement robust security measures for your AKS environment, including authentication, authorization, and network security.

• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
• Managing Secrets
• Integrating with Azure Active Directory
• Virtual Network Integration

Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions for troubleshooting your AKS deployments.

• Pod Issues
• Service Issues
• Node Issues