Category: Containers

Kubernetes in the Cloud Q&A

Michelle Tidwell

Kubernetes is a hot topic these days, generating lots of interest and questions. The goal of our SNIA Cloud Storage Technologies Initiative Kubernetes in the Cloud webcast series is to cut through the hype and provide a vendor neutral look at what Kubernetes is and how it is being used. Our most recent webcast, Kubernetes in the Cloud (Part 2), generated some interesting questions. Here are answers from our expert presenters.

Q. If I’m running my Kubernetes infrastructure at a cloud service provider, do I need CSI support by the cloud provider? If this is not available, I will need a virtual storage array that provides CSI leveraging the underlying cloud storage. Do you know whether there are solutions on the market that I can deploy as a virtual machine at my cloud provider?

A. Current solutions using the CSI interface for public cloud storage are not available at this point. It will be up to the cloud provider to decide whether to support those interfaces to their storage layers.

Q. Does each pod run on one CPU core? I am trying to understand how to size the server configuration?

A. Containers use Linux cgroups to limit the amount of CPU and memory a container can consume and this is exposed in Kubernetes as limits that you can set.

Q. In today’s environment for Kubernetes Flex storage, what is the suggested process to “backup” these stateful PVs or is that not necessary anymore?

A. Backups are still as important with containers as they are today with traditional applications. There are many different approaches available to backup containers: storage snapshots via native storage interfaces, deployment of backup clients in containers, application level backups, etc.

Q. You mentioned Kubernetes a lot – but what is the status of native Docker CSI support? Can I use CSI for usage within Docker without deploying Kubernetes? And if yes: Can I get rid of the need for docker volume drivers then?

A. Docker universal control point (UCP) support of CSI is currently in beta. Once UCP is generally available, we’ll be able to answer your question in more detail.

Interested in more Kubernetes in the Cloud information? Watch our first installment Kubernetes in the Cloud (Part 1) on-demand at your convenience and sign up for our next webcast, Kubernetes in the Cloud (Part 3): Stateful Workloads which will be live on August 20, 2019 and available on demand after that.

Stateful Workloads on Kubernetes: (Almost) Everything You Need to Know

Mike Jochimsen

Kubernetes is great for running stateless workloads, like web servers. It’ll run health checks, restart containers when they crash, and do all sorts of other wonderful things. So, what about stateful workloads? Large implementers like Uber say to avoid it if you can [1], and gurus like Kelsey Hightower echo that sentiment [2].

It’s the topic we’ll address on August 20th at our live SNIA Cloud Storage Technologies Initiative webcast “Kubernetes in the Cloud (Part 3): Stateful Workloads.”  In this session, we’ll explore when it’s appropriate to run a stateful workload in cluster, or out. We’ll discuss the best options for running a workload like a database on the cloud, or in the cluster, and what’s needed to set that up.

We’ll cover:

  • Secrets management
  • Running a database on a VM and connecting it to Kubernetes as a service
  • Running a database in Kubernetes using a `stateful set`
  • Running a database in Kubernetes using an Operator
  • Running a database on a cloud managed service

Register today to save your place on August 20th. This is the 3rd installment of our Kubernetes in the Cloud webcast series. Kubernetes in the Cloud (Part 1) and Kubernetes in the Cloud (Part 2) are available on demand. I encourage you to check them out for great information and demonstrations on Kubernetes.

[1] https://eng.uber.com/dockerizing-mysql/

[2] https://twitter.com/kelseyhightower/status/963413508300812295

Stateful Workloads on Kubernetes: (Almost) Everything You Need to Know

Mike Jochimsen
Kubernetes is great for running stateless workloads, like web servers. It’ll run health checks, restart containers when they crash, and do all sorts of other wonderful things. So, what about stateful workloads? Large implementers like Uber say to avoid it if you can [1], and gurus like Kelsey Hightower echo that sentiment [2]. It’s the topic we’ll address on August 20th at our live SNIA Cloud Storage Technologies Initiative webcast “Kubernetes in the Cloud (Part 3): Stateful Workloads.”  In this session, we’ll explore when it’s appropriate to run a stateful workload in cluster, or out. We’ll discuss the best options for running a workload like a database on the cloud, or in the cluster, and what’s needed to set that up. We’ll cover: Read More

Understanding Kubernetes in the Cloud

Mike Jochimsen

Ever wonder why and where you would want to use Kubernetes? You’re not alone, that’s why the SNIA Cloud Storage Technologies Initiative is hosting a live webcast on May 2, 2019 “Kubernetes in the Cloud.”

Kubernetes (k8s) is an open-source system for automating the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. Kubernetes promises simplified management of cloud workloads at scale, whether on-premises, hybrid, or in a public cloud infrastructure, allowing effortless movement of workloads from cloud to cloud. By some reckonings, it is being deployed at a rate several times faster than virtualization.

In this webcast, we’ll introduce Kubernetes and present use cases that make clear where and why you would want to use it in your IT environment. We’ll also focus on the enterprise requirements of orchestration and containerization, and specifically on storage aspects and best practices, discussing:

  • What is Kubernetes? Why would you want to use it?
  • How does Kubernetes help in a multi-cloud/private cloud environment?
  • How does Kubernetes orchestrate and manage storage?
  • Can Kubernetes use Docker?
  • How do we provide persistence and data protection?
  • Example use cases

We’re fortunate to have great experts for this session, Matt Baldwin, the founder and former CEO of Stackpoint Cloud and now with NetApp and Ingo Fuchs, Chief Technologist, Cloud and DevOps at NetApp.

I hope you will register today to join us on May 2nd. It’s live which means our expert presenters will be on-hand to answer your questions on the spot.

Understanding Kubernetes in the Cloud

Mike Jochimsen
Ever wonder why and where you would want to use Kubernetes? You’re not alone, that’s why the SNIA Cloud Storage Technologies Imitative is hosting a live webcast on May 2, 2019 “Kubernetes in the Cloud.” Kubernetes (k8s) is an open-source system for automating the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. Kubernetes promises simplified management of cloud workloads at scale, whether on-premises, hybrid, or in a public cloud infrastructure, allowing effortless movement of workloads from cloud to cloud. By some reckonings, it is being deployed at a rate several times faster than virtualization. Read More

Got Questions on Container Storage? We’ve Got Answers!

Alex McDonald
Keeping up with changes in the world of container storage is not easy. That’s why the SNIA Cloud Storage Technologies Initiative invited expert Keith Hudgins of Docker for a live webcast, “What’s New in Container Storage.” I encourage you to watch it on-demand. It’s well worth the approximately half-hour investment to get up to speed on container storage. As promised during the live event, here are answers to the questions we received: Q. How does the new Container Storage Interface fit in here? Read More

Wondering What’s New in Container Storage?

Alex McDonald
The landscape of containers is moving fast and constantly changing, with new standards emerging every few months. If you wondering what’s new in container storage, you are not alone. That’s why the SNIA Cloud Storage Technologies Initiative is hosting a live webcast on February 26, 2019, “What’s New in Container Storage.” In this webcast, Keith Hudgins of Docker joins us as a follow up to his earlier container webcast “Intro to Containers, Container Storage and Docker.” It’s our most popular webcast to date with thousands of views. If you missed it, it’s available on demand and will provide you with some great background information before our February 26th webcast. I encourage you to register today for the February 26th session where you’ll learn: Read More

A Q&A on Containers and Persistent Memory

Chad Thibodeau
The SNIA Cloud Storage Initiative recently hosted a live webcast “Containers and Persistent Memory.” Where my colleagues and I discussed persistent storage for containers, persistent memory for containers, infrastructure software changes for persistent memory-based containers, and what SNIA is doing to advance persistent memory. If you missed the live event, it’s now available on-demand. You can also download a PDF of the webcast slides. Read More

Unlock the Power of Persistent Memory in Containers

Chad Thibodeau
Containers and persistent memory are both very hot topics these days. Containers are making it easier for developers to know that their software will run, no matter where it is deployed and no matter what the underlying OS is as both Linux and Windows are now fully supported. Persistent memory, a revolutionary data storage technology, will boost the performance of next-generation packaging of applications and libraries into containers. On July 27th, SNIA is hosting a live webcast “Containers and Persistent Memory.” Read More