Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)

Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) simplifies deploying, managing, and automating containerized applications using Kubernetes on Azure. AKS provides a managed Kubernetes experience, offloading the operational overhead of managing Kubernetes to Azure.

Key Features

  • Simplified Cluster Management: Azure manages the control plane, while you manage the agent nodes.
  • Integrated Azure Services: Seamless integration with Azure Load Balancer, Azure Storage, Azure Container Registry, and more.
  • Hybrid Cloud Capabilities: Deploy and manage containers consistently across Azure and on-premises environments with Azure Arc.
  • Security: Built-in security features including network policies, Azure Active Directory integration, and encryption.
  • Scalability: Auto-scaling capabilities for both nodes and pods to adapt to application demand.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: Pay only for the agent nodes; the Kubernetes control plane is free.

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 Resource Group:
    Bash 
    az group create --name myResourceGroup --location eastus
  3. Create AKS Cluster:
    Bash 
    az aks create --resource-group myResourceGroup --name myAKSCluster --node-count 1 --enable-addons monitoring --generate-ssh-keys
  4. Connect to Cluster:
    Bash 
    az aks get-credentials --resource-group myResourceGroup --name myAKSCluster
  5. Deploy an Application:
    Bash 
    kubectl run hello-world --repo=mcr.microsoft.com/azuredocs/aci-helloworld --version=latest --port=80
kubectl expose deployment hello-world --type=LoadBalancer --port=80 --target-port=80
kubectl get service hello-world -o wide

Advanced Topics

Networking

AKS supports multiple networking plugins, including Azure CNI and Kubenet. Understanding network policies is crucial for securing your cluster.

Storage

Utilize Azure Disk or Azure Files for persistent storage for your containerized applications.

Monitoring and Logging

AKS integrates with Azure Monitor for comprehensive monitoring and logging of your cluster and applications.

Security Best Practices

Learn about managing access, secrets, and network security to protect your AKS deployments.

Tip: Always keep your AKS cluster and node images up-to-date to benefit from the latest features and security patches.

Further Reading