What is Kubernetes, aka K8s?
Kubernetes allows you to manage and run multiple containers across a cluster of machines. Containers are lightweight, isolated environments that package an application and its dependencies, providing consistency and portability. By using Kubernetes, you can define how your containers should run, specify their resource requirements, and ensure high availability and scalability.
Key concepts related to Kubernetes:
Nodes are the individual machines (physical or virtual) in a Kubernetes cluster where containers are deployed. Each node runs a container runtime to host and manage containers.
Pods are the basic unit of deployment – a logical group of one or more containers that share the same network namespace and storage. Pods are co-located and co-scheduled on the same node, and provide an isolated environment for containers to run together.
ReplicaSets ensure that a specified number of identical Pods are running at all times. If a Pod fails or is terminated, the ReplicaSet automatically replaces it to maintain the desired number of replicas.
Services enable communication and load balancing between Pods. They provide a stable network endpoint that other applications can connect to, abstracting the underlying Pods’ dynamic IP addresses.
Deployments are a higher-level abstraction that manage the lifecycle of ReplicaSets and Pods.
Kubernetes offers a rich set of features – horizontal scaling, rolling updates, self-healing, service discovery, and load balancing. It provides a flexible and scalable infrastructure for cloud-native development.
Why listen to us?
Well, we are the first to earn Esri's specialty badge
ROK Technologies is Esri’s first ArcGIS Enterprise on Kubernetes certified specialty partner. What does that mean? We have proved we have the expertise in deploying and managing ArcGIS Enterprise in Kubernetes environments.
ArcGIS Enterprise on Kubernetes
An overview to get started
By adopting Kubernetes, your GIS department can unlock a multitude of benefits, including scalability, efficiency, high availability, and flexibility. It empowers your team to optimize GIS operations, enhance performance, and deliver better services to internal and external stakeholders. Continue reading to gain a foundational understanding of ArcGIS Enterprise on Kubernetes.
How to Know if Kubernetes is Right?
Considering the adoption of ArcGIS Enterprise on Kubernetes for your organization? Making the right decision requires careful evaluation and consideration of various factors. In this article, we will explore key indicators and considerations to help you determine if deploying ArcGIS Enterprise on Kubernetes is the right fit for your organization’s GIS needs.
Kubernetes and ArcGIS:
Staying Ahead of Evolving Tech
The cloud-native deployment option for ArcGIS Enterprise, Kubernetes, has gained popularity due to its scalability, resilience, and maintainability. This webinar explores how ArcGIS on Kubernetes can enhance service scaling, simplify installations and updates, and provide visibility into system operations, helping GIS end-users understand the benefits and considerations of adopting Kubernetes for their containerized applications.
Enterprise GIS and Kubernetes on More Than Just Maps Podcast - Episode 28
In this edition of the URISA Texas Podcast series, “More than Just Maps”, Bryan Palus and Jason Harris from ROK Technologies speaks about the history of Enterprise GIS, a powerful enterprise tool known as Kubernetes, and what all this means to the GIS practitioner now and in the future.
For archived episodes of “More than Just Maps”, visit the URISA Texas site.
3 Things You Need to Know About ArcGIS Enterprise on Kubernetes
Deploying ArcGIS Enterprise on Kubernetes allows organizations to leverage the benefits of containerization and container orchestration for their GIS workflows.
Kubernetes provides a scalable and flexible infrastructure that simplifies the deployment, management, and scaling of ArcGIS Enterprise components across a cluster of machines.
Deploying requires careful planning, configuration, and expertise in both ArcGIS technology and Kubernetes. Involving experienced professionals can greatly assist in a successful deployment and utilization of ArcGIS Enterprise on Kubernetes.
Kubernetes FAQs
The name originates from the ancient Greek word, “helmsman” or “sailing master.” The seven spokes on the wheel of the Kubernetes logo refer to its original codename at Google, Project Seven of Nine.
The name originates from the ancient Greek word, “helmsman” or “sailing master.” The seven spokes on the wheel of the Kubernetes logo refer to its original codename at Google, Project Seven of Nine.
Kubernetes and Docker are often mentioned together, but they serve different purposes. Docker is a containerization platform that allows you to package applications and their dependencies into containers, while Kubernetes is an orchestration platform that manages and coordinates the deployment and scaling of those containers across a cluster of machines.
Kubernetes provides built-in mechanisms for scaling applications. It can automatically scale the number of replicas (containers) based on CPU usage, memory utilization, or custom metrics. Load balancing is achieved through Kubernetes Services, which distribute incoming traffic across multiple Pods to ensure high availability and efficient resource utilization.
Kubernetes supports rolling updates, which allow you to update your application without downtime by gradually replacing old Pods with new ones. This ensures that your application remains available during the update process. If any issues occur during the update, Kubernetes supports rollbacks, allowing you to revert to the previous working version of your application.
A Kubernetes cluster consists of multiple nodes (machines) that work together to run and manage containerized applications. It typically includes a control plane, which manages the cluster and makes decisions about scheduling and scaling, and worker nodes, where the containers are deployed and run.
Want to talk more about K8s?
If you’re interested in introducing Kubernetes in your organization; have a specific question you’d like an expert to answer; or are just curious to know more, schedule 15 minutes with Nate!
