Managed Kubernetes (EKS / AKS / GKE)

Definition

Cloud-hosted, fully managed versions of the Kubernetes orchestration system. The cloud provider automatically handles the highly complex 'Control Plane' (the master nodes), leaving the customer to only manage the worker nodes.

Explain Like I'm New

Kubernetes is notoriously difficult to install. Instead of spending a month building a cluster from scratch, you click one button in AWS, and they hand you a perfectly configured, highly-available Kubernetes cluster in 10 minutes.

Real World Example

AWS EKS, Azure AKS, Google GKE. A massive enterprise uses GKE to deploy 500 microservices. Google automatically handles upgrading the Kubernetes API server and backing up the cluster state, saving the company from hiring 5 dedicated administrators.

Common Use Cases

•Massive enterprise architectures
•Multi-cloud portability

Interview Questions

basic

Does Managed Kubernetes completely eliminate the need for you to understand how Kubernetes works?

intermediate

Between EKS (Amazon), AKS (Azure), and GKE (Google), which provider actually invented Kubernetes originally?

Flash Cards

Question

Eliminate need to understand?

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Answer

No. It only manages the *installation and control plane*. You still must write complex YAML files, manage Pods, Services, and Deployments exactly as you would normally.

Question

Who invented K8s?

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Answer

Google. Kubernetes was born out of Google's internal 'Borg' system. Consequently, Google's GKE is widely considered the most advanced and seamless managed Kubernetes service.