About Kubernetes
Kubernetes is an open source system for running containerized applications across many machines. It started as a project built on years of running production workloads, and it is now maintained by a large community.
What it does
Kubernetes automates how containers are deployed, scaled and managed. It groups the containers that make up an application into logical units so they are easier to find and manage. It can roll out changes gradually, roll them back when health checks fail, and spread traffic between copies of an app.
Key features
- Automated rollouts and rollbacks
- Service discovery and load balancing
- Storage mounted from many sources
- Runs on-premises, hybrid or public cloud
Who it's for
Platform and operations teams that run containerized workloads at scale, and developers who need the same app setup on laptops, test systems and production clusters. Small projects may find it more than they need, so a simpler tool may suit them better.
Pricing and good to know
Kubernetes is free to download and use under the Apache-2.0 licence. The real cost comes from the infrastructure it runs on and the people needed to operate it. Managed Kubernetes services from cloud providers are a common alternative to running your own cluster.
Highlights
- Roll out changes and roll them back automatically
- Give pods their own addresses and one DNS name
- Mount storage from local disks or cloud providers
- Scale containers up or down across many machines
- Move workloads between on-premises and cloud setups
