Containerizing and Orchestrating Apps with GKE

Summary

This section introduces containerization and orchestration using Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE). It explains how GKE combines the flexibility of Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) with the developer-oriented features of Platform as a Service (PaaS). The video highlights the benefits of containers, including fast scalability and portability, allowing developers to move applications seamlessly across environments. It also discusses Kubernetes, an open-source container orchestration tool, and how GKE simplifies container management, enabling efficient deployment and scaling of containerized applications in both cloud and on-premises environments.

Takeaways

• 🚀 GKE (Google Kubernetes Engine) combines managed infrastructure of IaaS with the developer focus of PaaS.
• 🖥️ Containers virtualize the operating system and hardware, enabling scalability and modularity in apps.
• ⏱️ Containers start much faster than virtual machines, taking only seconds to boot.
• 🌐 Kubernetes is a powerful orchestration tool for managing containerized environments at scale.
• 🔄 Containers offer flexibility for development, allowing code to move easily between development, staging, and production environments.
• 📦 Docker is the tool used for packaging applications in containers, making them portable across different platforms.
• 🔗 Microservices architecture benefits from containerization, as it allows each service to be scaled and deployed independently.
• 💡 GKE simplifies container management by automating deployments, scaling, rollouts, and monitoring of containers.
• 📊 Kubernetes and GKE allow for efficient resource management and flexibility, supporting both cloud and on-premises deployments.
• 🌍 Google uses containers for nearly all its services, launching over 2 billion containers weekly across its infrastructure.

Q & A

What is containerization and how does it relate to GKE?

Containerization is the process of packaging an application and its dependencies into a container, which allows for independent scalability and portability. GKE (Google Kubernetes Engine) is a managed environment for deploying containerized apps, providing orchestration and cluster management for containers.

How does GKE sit conceptually between IaaS and PaaS?

GKE combines the managed infrastructure capabilities of IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) with the developer-friendly aspects of PaaS (Platform as a Service). It allows developers to manage infrastructure while also providing scalable container orchestration.

What are some differences between using VMs and containers for scaling applications?

Using VMs for scaling requires copying an entire VM, including the guest OS, which can be slow and resource-intensive. Containers, on the other hand, start as quickly as a process, are lightweight, and can be deployed much faster, making them more efficient for scaling applications.

What advantages do containers have over traditional VMs in terms of resource usage?

Containers require fewer resources because they share the host OS kernel, and they start much faster compared to VMs. This allows for more efficient use of compute resources and faster scaling in response to demand.

How does Kubernetes help in managing containerized environments?

Kubernetes is a container orchestration tool that simplifies the management of containerized environments by handling container networking, data storage, rollouts, rollbacks, and monitoring host health, thereby making large-scale deployment and management easier.

What is the main benefit of using microservices architecture with containers?

Using microservices architecture with containers allows developers to break down an application into smaller, independent components that can be deployed, scaled, and updated separately. This modularity makes the application more scalable and easier to manage.

How does GKE leverage Google’s experience in managing large-scale containerized workloads?

GKE leverages Google’s extensive experience in running applications at scale, using technologies like Kubernetes that were inspired by Google's internal systems. Google runs over 2 billion containers per week, and GKE applies this knowledge to offer automated operations and resource efficiency.

What role does Docker play in containerization?

Docker is a tool that packages applications and all their dependencies into a container. This makes the application portable, allowing it to be run anywhere that supports Docker containers, such as on a laptop, server, or cloud provider.

How does Kubernetes enable scaling and manage failures in containerized environments?

Kubernetes manages container clusters by scaling them up or down based on demand, starting or stopping containers as needed, and automatically recovering from host failures. This ensures high availability and efficient resource utilization.

What are some features of Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) that enhance developer productivity?

GKE provides features like automated operations, resource efficiency, cluster management, and orchestration of Docker containers. It offers Google's innovations to accelerate time to market, enabling developers to focus on writing code rather than managing infrastructure.

Outlines

00:00

📦 Containerization and Orchestration with GKE

This section introduces the concepts of containerization and orchestration using Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE). It explains the difference between Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS), and how GKE sits between these two, offering a hybrid solution. Containers provide a self-contained environment for developers to deploy their applications with access to resources like RAM, file systems, and networking interfaces. They offer independent scalability and an abstraction layer over the OS and hardware. However, they come with the trade-off of larger size and longer boot times compared to PaaS offerings. The section also discusses the benefits of using containers, such as portability and flexibility, and how they can be scaled rapidly. It introduces Kubernetes as a tool for managing containerized environments, allowing for the deployment, management, and scaling of applications across a group of hosts.

05:01

🚀 Kubernetes and Docker for Container Management

This paragraph delves into the use of Docker for containerization, emphasizing its role in making applications portable across different environments such as laptops, servers, and cloud providers. It highlights how Kubernetes, an open-source container orchestration tool, manages clusters of Docker containers. Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) is introduced as a managed environment that leverages Kubernetes for deploying containerized applications. GKE automates container management based on resource specifications like CPU and memory, and it is built on the open-source Kubernetes system. The paragraph also touches on the benefits of using containers for service providers, making it easier to develop and run code both in the cloud and on-premises. It concludes by mentioning Google's reliance on containers for its services and the high number of containers launched weekly, showcasing the scale and importance of containerization in modern computing.

Keywords

💡Containerization

Containerization refers to the practice of packaging an application and its dependencies into a self-contained unit called a container. In the video, containerization is a central concept, as it allows applications to be portable and scalable across different environments. Containers ensure that software can run consistently regardless of where it is deployed, providing efficiency and flexibility in managing applications.

💡Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE)

Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) is a managed environment that allows developers to deploy, manage, and scale containerized applications using Kubernetes on Google Cloud. In the video, GKE is highlighted as a service that simplifies orchestration by managing containers automatically, helping businesses take advantage of cloud or hybrid infrastructure without worrying about manual scaling.

💡Kubernetes

Kubernetes is an open-source container orchestration tool that automates the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. The video emphasizes Kubernetes as a tool built by Google, used to manage container clusters efficiently. It enables the seamless management of applications at scale, providing features such as rollouts, rollbacks, and monitoring for containerized environments.

💡Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) refers to the delivery of computing resources such as servers, storage, and networking over the cloud. The video explains that IaaS allows developers to use virtual machines to virtualize hardware, offering more control over infrastructure. However, it requires more management effort compared to Platform as a Service (PaaS).

💡Platform as a Service (PaaS)

Platform as a Service (PaaS) is a cloud computing model where service providers offer a platform allowing customers to develop, run, and manage applications without dealing with the underlying infrastructure. The video contrasts PaaS with IaaS, emphasizing that PaaS provides simplicity in scaling applications but offers limited control over the infrastructure.

💡Virtual Machines (VMs)

Virtual Machines (VMs) emulate physical computers by running operating systems and applications within a virtual environment. The video discusses how VMs allow developers to deploy self-contained environments with their own OS, but they can be resource-intensive and slower to scale compared to containers, which offer faster boot times and lower overhead.

💡Microservices

Microservices architecture refers to building applications as a collection of small, independently deployable services, each serving a specific function. The video mentions microservices in the context of containers, highlighting that each container can perform a separate function, enabling modularity and scalability within an application’s architecture.

💡Scalability

Scalability refers to the ability of a system to handle increased workloads by expanding its resources. In the video, scalability is a core benefit of containers and orchestration tools like Kubernetes. Containers can be quickly scaled up or down depending on demand, allowing applications to efficiently meet user needs without the overhead of traditional VMs.

💡Container Orchestration

Container orchestration refers to the automated management, coordination, and scheduling of containers in an application. The video introduces Kubernetes as the primary orchestration tool that simplifies the deployment and management of containers across clusters of servers. It ensures containers are properly distributed and monitored, improving resource efficiency.

💡Docker

Docker is a platform that enables developers to build, ship, and run applications inside containers. The video explains Docker’s role in containerization by allowing applications and their dependencies to be packaged into containers, making them portable across different environments. Docker containers can run on any platform that supports Docker, ensuring consistent performance.

Highlights

Introduction to containerization and its use with Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE).

Explanation of the difference between Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS), and how GKE sits between them.

Compute Engine is Google Cloud's IaaS offering, providing servers, file systems, and networking.

Containers provide independent scalability of workloads, offering the flexibility of IaaS with the ease of scaling found in PaaS.

A container is an abstraction layer on the OS and hardware, offering lightweight virtualization.

Containers require fewer resources than virtual machines (VMs), allowing faster startup and more efficient scaling.

Containers improve portability, making it easier to move from development to production or from on-premises to the cloud.

Kubernetes simplifies the management of containerized environments through orchestration, networking, and resource management.

Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) runs on managed Compute Engine instances, providing a hosted Kubernetes service.

GKE accelerates developer productivity by automating resource management and offering open-source flexibility.

Kubernetes allows for easy management of container rollouts, rollbacks, and health monitoring across clusters.

Containers enable modular, microservices architectures, allowing individual services to scale independently.

Google’s entire ecosystem, from Gmail to Cloud Functions, operates on containers, launching over 2 billion containers per week.

Docker containers ensure portability across platforms, from local development environments to cloud services.

GKE leverages Google's internal containerization expertise, bringing innovation in automated operations and resource efficiency.

Transcripts

let's move on to the next section

containerizing and orchestrating apps

with gke

in the section of the course you'll

learn about containerization and how to

leverage Google kubernetes engine

we've already discussed the spectrum

between infrastructure as a service and

platform as a service

and we've also discussed compute engine

which is the is offering of Google cloud

with access to servers file systems and

networking

now you'll be introduced to containers

in gke which is a hybrid that

conceptually sits between the two

offering the managed infrastructure of

is with the developer orientation of a

pass offering

is lets you share compute Resources with

other developers by using virtual

machines to virtualize the hardware

this lets each developer deploy their

own operating system or Os access the

hardware and build their applications in

a self-contained environment with access

to Ram file systems networking

interfaces Etc

this is where containers come in

the idea of a container is to give the

independent scalability of workloads and

pass in an abstraction layer of the OS

and Hardware in is

a configurable system lets you install

your favorite runtime web server

database or middleware

configure the underlying system

resources such as disk space disk i o or

networking and build as you like

but flexibility comes with a cost

the smallest unit of compute is an app

with its VM

the guest OS might be large even

gigabytes in size and take minutes to

boot

as demand for your application increases

you have to copy an entire VM and boot

the guest OS for each instance of your

app which can be slow and costly

now with app engine you have access to

programming services so you only need to

write your code in self-contained

workloads that use these services and

include any dependent libraries

this means that as demand for your app

increases

the platform scales your app seamlessly

and independently by workload and

infrastructure

this scales rapidly but there's no

option to fine tune the underlying

architecture to save cost

a container is an invisible box around

your code and its dependencies with

limited access to its own partition of

the file system and Hardware

it only requires a few system calls to

create and it starts as quickly as a

process

all that's needed on each host is an OS

kernel that supports containers in a

container runtime

in essence the OS is being virtualized

it scales like pass but gives you nearly

the same flexibility as is

this makes code Ultra portable and the

OS and Hardware can be treated as a

black box

so you can go from development to

staging to production or from your

laptop to the cloud without changing or

rebuilding anything

as an example let's say you want to

scale a web server

with a container you can do this in

seconds and deploy dozens or hundreds of

servers depending on the size of your

workload on a single host

that's just a simple example of scaling

one container running the whole

application on a single host

however you'll probably want to build

your applications using lots of

containers each performing their own

function as is done when using a

microservices architecture

if you build applications this way and

connect them with network connections

you can make them modular easily

Deployable and scaled independently

across a group of hosts

the host can scale up and down and start

in stop containers as demand for your

app changes or as hosts fail

kubernetes is a container orchestration

tool you can use to simplify the

management of containerized environments

you can install kubernetes on a group of

your own managed servers or run it as a

hosted service on Google Cloud on a

cluster of managed compute engine

instances called Google kubernetes

engine more on that shortly

kubernetes was built by Google to run

applications at scale

it lets you install the system on local

servers in the cloud manage container

networking and data storage deploy

rollouts and rollbacks and monitor and

manage container and host health

a software Container makes it easy for

teams to package manage and ship their

code

they write software applications that

run in a container the container

provides the operating system needed to

run their application

the container will run on any container

platform

this can save a lot of time and cost

compared to running servers on Virtual

machines

like a virtual machine imitates a

computer

a container imitates an operating system

everything at Google runs on containers

Gmail web search maps map reduce batch

Google file system Colossus and even

Cloud functions which are VMS and

containers

Google launches over 2 billion

containers per week

Docker is a tool that puts the

application and everything it needs in

the container

once the application is in a container

it can be moved anywhere that will run

Docker containers any laptop server or

cloud provider

this portability makes code easier to

produce manage troubleshoot and update

for service providers containers make it

easy to develop code that can be easily

transferred and run both in the cloud

and on a customer's on-premises servers

kubernetes is an open source container

orchestration tool for managing a

cluster of Docker Linux containers on a

single system

it can be run in the cloud and

on-premises environments

it's inspired and informed by Google's

experiences and internal systems

Google kubernetes engine or gke is a

managed environment for deploying

containerized apps

it brings Google's latest Innovations in

developer productivity resource

efficiency automated operations and open

source flexibility to accelerate time to

Market

gke is a powerful cluster manager and

orchestration system for running Docker

containers in Google Cloud

gke manages containers automatically

based on specifications such as CPU and

memory

it's built on the open source kubernetes

system making it easy for users to

orchestrate container clusters or groups

of containers and it also gives

customers the flexibility to take

advantage of on-premises hybrid or

public Cloud infrastructure