Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)

What is Azure Kubernetes Service?

Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) makes it simple to deploy, manage, and scale containerized applications and microservices using Kubernetes. AKS offers:

• Managed Control Plane: Azure manages the Kubernetes control plane for you, so you only need to manage the worker nodes.
• Developer Productivity: Streamline your development experience with tools and integrations that help you deliver applications faster.
• Operational Simplicity: Reduce the complexity of managing Kubernetes clusters with automated updates, patching, and scaling.
• Enterprise Grade: Benefit from Azure's robust security, networking, and identity management capabilities.

AKS provides a free control plane, and you only pay for the worker nodes your applications run on.

Key Features of AKS

Automated Upgrades and Patching

Keep your Kubernetes cluster up-to-date with automated upgrades and security patching to reduce operational overhead.

Built-in CI/CD Integration

Integrate seamlessly with Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, and other CI/CD tools to automate your build, test, and deployment pipelines.

Hybrid and Multi-cloud Scenarios

Leverage Azure Arc to manage your AKS clusters across on-premises, edge, and other cloud environments.

Advanced Networking

Utilize Azure Virtual Network integration, network policies, and advanced load balancing options for secure and scalable deployments.

Integrated Security

Benefit from Azure Active Directory integration, role-based access control (RBAC), and Azure Security Center for comprehensive security management.

Monitoring and Diagnostics

Gain insights into your cluster's health and performance with Azure Monitor and container insights.

Getting Started with AKS

Follow these steps to create your first AKS cluster:

1. Prerequisites: Ensure you have an Azure subscription and the Azure CLI installed.
2. Create a Resource Group:

   az group create --name myResourceGroup --location eastus

3. Create an AKS Cluster:

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

4. Connect to your Cluster:

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

5. Deploy an Application: Use kubectl to deploy your containerized applications.

   kubectl create deployment my-app --image=mcr.microsoft.com/azuredocs/aks-helloworld:v1
   kubectl expose deployment my-app --port=80 --type=LoadBalancer

Tutorials and Guides

Explore our comprehensive tutorials to learn how to:

• Deploy stateless applications
• Deploy stateful applications with persistent storage
• Configure advanced networking and security
• Implement CI/CD pipelines for AKS
• Manage and monitor your AKS clusters

API Reference and Tools

Access detailed API documentation, SDKs, and command-line tools for managing AKS:

• Azure CLI for AKS
• Azure PowerShell for AKS
• Kubernetes API Reference

Learn More About Azure Kubernetes Service

AKS is a powerful platform for modernizing your applications and embracing cloud-native development. Discover how AKS can help you achieve your business goals.