Getting to know Kubernetes and its benefits helps startups become more agile

Google first introduced the term "Kubernetes" in 2014 based on its experience over the past decade and a half running various workloads the result of contributions from various developer communities in its technology ecosystem.

After the initial development, Kubernetes has become increasingly popular among global developers. This is inseparable from the features it claims to have a number of advantages, including scalability, portability, deployment consistent, and separated automated operationsand development.

Some of the advantages of Kubernetes are in line with the spirit of startups and circles enterprise who want to accelerate their digital transformation. Especially since the pandemic, many parties have felt the impact of switching to digital. In discussing this further, #TuesdayStartup this time inviting VP & Managing Director Southeast Asia SUSE Isabella Kusumawati to share her views.

SUSE itself is a software company for enterprise which has a Kubernetes solution named Rancher. Here's a summary of the results:

What is Kubernetes and Why is it needed?

Kubernetes is a container orchestration system open source which provides a framework for developer to set this container. Containers are a modern way that para developer to pack the app for mobile devices to report the, so it can be more easily distributed quickly and effectively. However, if there are too many containers, it can become very difficult to manage.

To optimize the functionality of container technology, developers generally take advantage of a special application, one of which is often recommended lately is Kubernetes. In addition, Kubernetes is portable because it is customizable and can facilitate the automation, deployment, and configuration of containers across groups host.

Kubernetes stands on the Linux platform and is designed in such a way to make it easier for developers to manage containers containing various applications through a short and easy process.

“By loading applications into containers and using Kubernetes, you have designed a system that can zero down time support. Supported by a distribution system that can automatically be integrated with storage solutions, rollout and rollback which is very important for IP,” said Isabella.

By using Kubernetes, users can gain a number of advantages including scalability, portability, deployment consistent, and separated automated operations and development. For example, for scalability, Kubernetes automaticallystairscluster based on user needs.

In this scenario, when the traffic is in a large container, the application can automatically perform load balancing traffic, so that the traffic distribution can still be run stably. Thus, users can save costs and resources.

This capability is certainly very useful for applications whose traffic is often unpredictable. The company must remain online serve the purchase of event tickets online for example, where consumers buy tickets 24 hours a day, seven days a week with loads that vary over time. However, you do know an outline of the load and traffic of visitors, as well as the time patterns. However, there are times where there are spikes that add up exponentially.

Kubernetes for all stages of the company

Isabella emphasized, although it seems that Kubernetes is very appropriate for the level enterprise because it really supports the digital transformation process, but actually it can be applied by all levels of the company. "Especially startups that are very cost conscious, Kubernetes can help them reduce application development costs.”

With its open source, users will benefit from the subscription model pay-as-you-use and is equipped with a monitor manager that automatically provides recommendations for scale up or down.

Generally, Kubernetes is widely used by companies engaged in technology or those with high traffic, such as manufacturing, retail, telecommunications, distribution, healthcare, and others. “Telko is currently the busiest during Covid-19 because they have to continue to ensure bandwidth enough, reduce downtime, must always up time. "

Meanwhile, for large companies who want to use Kubernetes is a new method because it can speed up the development process. Isabella gave an example, a company only takes a maximum of 1,5 months from the initial plan of 10 months in building an application.

“Because in the past, when you built applications, you had to build one by one into an irregular folder. With clustering, we create clusters according to their respective fields. So that when you want to start anew, you don't need to brainstorm where you have come."

To help implement Kubernetes more massively, SUSE created a book Kubernetes Management For Dummies, to get help building an enterprise-grade Kubernetes environment. Also equipped with communities present in each country, including Indonesia who hold regular meetings to share the latest information and ask for help when facing technical problems during migration.

“We also created a guidebook for Rancher University students so they can learn Kubernetes from scratch.”

The guide will make it easier for users to migrate, because there are many challenges in the process because users impose their own version. There are a number of guides that the steps must be followed, for example the latest operating system. “But there are still many who do not believe and feel confident that they can pass this stage without any problems. When it is not in accordance with best practice there will be obstacles, but it depends on the complexity clustering want to build," he concluded.

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