k8or on Alibaba

Tailoring the Kubernetes cluster with Pre-Selected Products on Alibaba Cloud ACK: An In-Depth Look

Raj Mars Marni February 4, 2024

Here's a detailed map and guide to building k8or example using managed Alibaba services:

Managed Services:

Scheduling and Orchestration:

Utilize Alibaba Cloud Container Service for Kubernetes (ACK) itself. This fully managed service handles upgrades, patching, and scaling, making it ideal for beginners and experienced users alike. Choose between basic, standard, and enterprise editions based on your needs.

Database:

Leverage Alibaba Cloud's diverse managed database offerings

Alibaba Cloud ApsaraDB: Includes managed MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MariaDB instances.
Alibaba Cloud PolarDB: Offers high-performance relational databases with various engines.
Alibaba Cloud AnalyticDB: Provides managed OLAP databases for big data analytics.

Continuous Integration and Delivery:

Employ Alibaba Cloud CodePipeline for building, testing, and deploying your applications to the cluster. It integrates seamlessly with other Alibaba Cloud services and supports diverse build configurations.

Streaming and Messaging:

Utilize Alibaba Cloud RocketMQ for a managed publish-subscribe messaging system. It offers high scalability, reliability, and integration with other Alibaba Cloud services.

Service Mesh:

Simplify service-to-service communication with Alibaba Cloud Service Mesh. It provides traffic management, observability, and security features for your ACK applications.

API Gateway:

Use Alibaba Cloud API Gateway for managing and securing external access to your applications. It simplifies API development, offers scalability, and provides policy enforcement and analytics.

Monitoring:

For comprehensive monitoring of your cluster and applications, utilize Alibaba Cloud CloudMonitor. It collects metrics, logs, and events for analysis and troubleshooting.

Logging:

Employ Alibaba Cloud Log Service for centralized log management. It aggregates logs from various sources and allows filtering, analysis, and visualization.

Storage:

Depending on your needs, consider:

Alibaba Cloud OSS: Object storage for unstructured data like backups and media.
Alibaba Cloud ESS: Block storage for persistent volumes attached to applications.
Alibaba Cloud NAS: Network-attached storage for containerized applications.

Container Registry:

Store and manage container images securely with Alibaba Cloud Container Registry (ACR). It integrates seamlessly with ACK deployments.

Deployment Steps:

Create an Alibaba Cloud Account: Sign up for a free tier account.
Launch an ACK Cluster and set up a basic cluster using the Alibaba Cloud console or CLI.
Configure Managed Services:
- Database: Create appropriate database instances from chosen services like ApsaraDB, PolarDB, or AnalyticDB, following their respective documentation.
- Continuous Integration and Delivery: Set up a CodePipeline with necessary steps for building, testing, and deployment to ACK.
- Streaming and Messaging: Create a RocketMQ instance and configure producers and consumers as needed.
- Service Mesh: Enable Service Mesh on your ACK cluster and configure service meshes for your applications.
- API Gateway: Create and configure API Gateway policies and endpoints for your public or private APIs.
- Monitoring: Install the CloudMonitor and Log Service agents on your cluster nodes and configure dashboards for metrics, logs, and events.
- Logging: Install the CloudMonitor and Log Service agents on your cluster nodes and configure dashboards for metrics, logs, and events.
- Storage: Create appropriate storage resources based on your application needs.
- Container Registry: Set up an ACR repository to store and manage your container images.
Deploy Applications: Use kubectl or Helm to deploy your applications to the ACK cluster, leveraging container images from ACR.

Additional Resources:

Alibaba Cloud Documentation: The official documentation for each service offers detailed instructions and best practices.
Alibaba Cloud Quickstart Guides: Various Alibaba Cloud services provide Getting Started guides that simplify initial setup.
Alibaba Cloud Academy: Enroll in courses and workshops to gain hands-on experience with different services.

Remember:

This is a high-level overview. Each service has its own configuration options and considerations.
Start small and gradually add complexity as you become more comfortable with Alibaba Cloud and Kubernetes.
Consider security best practices throughout the deployment process.
Leverage Alibaba Cloud documentation and support resources for further assistance.
Leverage Azure documentation and support resources for further assistance.
By following these steps and utilizing the recommended managed services, you can build a robust and scalable Kubernetes cluster on Alibaba Cloud, even with limited prior experience.