Kubernetes for Edge Computing: What You Need to Know

Kubernetes is projected to become more relevant in edge computing implementations as interest in extending workloads to the edge grows.

Kubernetes is becoming increasingly popular for managing edge computing workloads.

The terms “edge computing” and “Kubernetes” aren’t often used in the same sentence. Kubernetes can be utilized in a variety of scenarios, including edge computing.

Kubernetes is projected to become more relevant in edge computing implementations as interest in extending workloads to the edge grows. When it comes to installing and managing edge workloads, the platform has a lot to offer.

What is Kubernetes and what does it do?

Kubernetes is a platform that is mostly used for deploying and managing containerized applications (although it can be used to manage virtual machines, too).

Because of its capacity to manage complex, large-scale application deployments, Kubernetes has grown in popularity over the last few years.

Managing dozens of containers and hundreds of container instances by hand would be nearly impossible. Kubernetes automatically manages them by scaling applications up and down in response to demand, resuming failed applications, and balancing workloads across different machines in a cluster.

In other words, Kubernetes makes large, automated administration available to any business, when previously it was only possible for hyperscale enterprises with sophisticated, purpose-built orchestration frameworks.

What are the benefits of Kubernetes for edge computing?

Again, the platform’s qualities make it suitable for a wide range of applications. Kubernetes can be used to manage on-premises or cloud-based environments. Kubernetes can also be used in a multi-cloud or hybrid environment, where it serves as the central control plane for several clouds or both cloud-based and on-prem infrastructure.

Kubernetes, on the other hand, has some major advantages for edge computing.

Infrastructure management that is centralized

The fact that Kubernetes can handle various types of infrastructure at the same time, as we just mentioned, is one of them. Kubernetes is, therefore, suitable for an edge computing situation in which certain programs (or parts of apps) run on-premises or in the cloud, while others run at the edge.

Kubernetes can centrally manage all of these resources, removing the need to switch between separate management tools for each environment.

Scalability in a hurry

Kubernetes can react quickly to changes at the edge because of its automated management tools.

For example, if an edge location goes offline – which could happen in some edge use cases, such as those involving vehicles that turn off when not in use or IoT sensors with intermittent, long-range network connectivity – Kubernetes can react in real-time by rerouting traffic to a different location. A disconnected edge location is similar to a failing node, both of which Kubernetes can manage with ease.

Kubernetes’ ability to swiftly deploy new container or application versions is also advantageous for edge computing use cases. If you need to bring a new location up or update an application, Kubernetes has the automated deployment options you need to get the job done swiftly.

Simple to set up

The ease of deployment is the third benefit of Kubernetes for edge use cases.

You can set up a Kubernetes cluster on almost any infrastructure and with any deployment method. It’s possible to set it up on your own servers. You can use a platform like EKS or GKE to deploy it as a managed service in the cloud. Platform9, a management layer that facilitates Kubernetes administration but is not a Kubernetes distribution, can be used.

In the sense that edge computing is still a relatively new technological specialty, the fact that Kubernetes is a proven and easy-to-deploy platform makes it appealing for edge computing. It’s preferable to learn and deploy brand-new management solutions that are purpose-built for edge settings than it is to build edge environments using technology that businesses already know and trust and can set up quickly.

Another reason why Kubernetes is expected to be an essential component of the edge computing environment for the foreseeable future is because of this.

Conclusion

Kubernetes can be used for a lot of things, and it’s hard to envisage a future when it’s solely utilized for edge computing. However, given the ways in which Kubernetes capabilities adapt to the issues provided by edge computing, managing edge workloads is becoming a more appealing use case.

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