Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) is a cloud-based platform that allows you to easily deploy and manage containerized applications. In simple terms, containers are like virtual machines that package up all the necessary code and dependencies needed to run an application, making it easier to deploy and run the application on different platforms.
Kubernetes, on the other hand, is an open-source platform used for automating the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. It provides features like load balancing, service discovery, and self-healing capabilities to ensure that your application runs smoothly.
So, AKS is essentially a managed Kubernetes service provided by Microsoft Azure, which makes it easier for you to deploy and manage containerized applications in the cloud. With AKS, you don't have to worry about the underlying infrastructure, as it is all managed by Azure. This allows you to focus on developing your application, and let AKS handle the deployment and scaling of your containers.
Figure 1: Azure Kubernetes Service components
Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/hybrid/
Figure 1 is an overview of the AKS cluster. Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) runs on physical servers, just like all containers. In fact, containers are deployed and managed on top of a host operating system, which runs on a physical server. AKS provides an abstract layer over the physical infrastructure, allowing you to easily deploy and manage your containerized applications without worrying about the underlying infrastructure.
The architecture of AKS is comprised of several crucial components, as illustrated in Figure 1. These components include:
Physical Host
The physical server that hosts the virtual machines that run the AKS control plane and worker nodes.
Workload Cluster
The Kubernetes cluster that runs the containerized workloads. It consists of one or more worker nodes that run your application workloads.
API Server
The component of the Kubernetes control plane that exposes the Kubernetes API and handles all the requests to the Kubernetes cluster.
Control Plane
The Kubernetes components that manage and control the state of the Kubernetes cluster, including the API server, etcd database, controller manager, and scheduler.
Worker Nodes
The virtual machines that run the containerized workloads. Each worker node runs multiple containers inside pods.
Pods
The smallest deployable units in Kubernetes that encapsulate one or more containers.
Containers
The lightweight and portable runtime environments that contain the application code and all its dependencies.
Storage
The persistent storage volumes that can be attached to containers and used to store application data.
Azure Kubernetes Management
The Azure Kubernetes Management Cluster feature enables teams to centrally manage multiple AKS clusters at scale, ensuring consistent deployment and management of applications across clusters. It provides a unified view of all clusters, simplifying the monitoring and management of Kubernetes environments.
Accessing the Azure Kubernetes Management Cluster can be done through the Azure portal, the Azure CLI, and Azure PowerShell. In addition to these traditional methods, Azure Kubernetes Management Cluster can also be accessed via Azure Arc and Windows Admin Center.
Azure Arc is a hybrid cloud management service that enables organizations to manage resources across on-premises, multi-cloud, and edge environments.
Windows Admin Center is a browser-based management tool that allows IT administrators to manage Windows Server and Windows 10 deployments from a central location. With the integration of Azure Kubernetes Management Cluster, Windows Admin Center can also manage Kubernetes clusters running in Azure. This integration allows administrators to manage both their infrastructure and Kubernetes applications from a single console.
To conclude, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) is an effective cloud-based solution for deploying and managing containerized applications in a scalable and reliable manner. Its easy-to-use interface and management tools allow organizations to focus on developing their applications rather than worrying about the underlying infrastructure. The AKS cluster architecture is designed to provide a streamlined, abstract layer over physical infrastructure, making it simpler for developers to deploy and manage their workloads.
Please see my video on how to deploy AKS cluster:
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