Explain architecture of Kubernetes?

Kubernetes has revolutionized the way organizations deploy, scale, and manage containerized applications. Its architecture is a marvel of distributed systems design, combining modularity, scalability, and resilience. This guide provides an exhaustive exploration of Kubernetes architecture, dissecting every component, interaction, and best practice to equip you with the knowledge needed to master production-grade deployments.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to Kubernetes Architecture

   • Why Architecture Matters
   • The Evolution of Container Orchestration

2. Kubernetes Cluster: A Holistic View

   • Control Plane vs. Data Plane
   • Cluster Communication Flow

3. Control Plane Components: The Brain of Kubernetes

   • kube-apiserver: The Gatekeeper
   • etcd: The Source of Truth
   • kube-scheduler: The Resource Maestro
   • kube-controller-manager: The State Enforcer
   • cloud-controller-manager: The Cloud Integrator

4. Node Components: The Workhorses

   • kubelet: The Node Agent
   • kube-proxy: The Network Traffic Cop
   • Container Runtime: The Engine of Containers
   • CRI and CSI: Extending Kubernetes’ Capabilities

5. Add-Ons: Extending Kubernetes’ Functionality

   • Core Add-Ons: DNS, Dashboard, and Metrics Server
   • Networking Plugins: Calico, Cilium, and Flannel
   • Service Meshes: Istio and Linkerd

6. Component Interactions: How Kubernetes Works Under the Hood

   • API Request Lifecycle
   • Pod Scheduling Workflow
   • Network Traffic Flow

7. High Availability (HA): Building a Resilient Cluster

   • Multi-Master Control Plane
   • etcd Clustering and Disaster Recovery
   • Node Auto-Scaling and Self-Healing

8. Security: Locking Down Your Cluster

   • Authentication and Authorization (RBAC)
   • Network Policies and Pod Security
   • Secrets Management and Encryption

9. Advanced Topics

   • Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs)
   • Operators: Kubernetes-Native Applications
   • Kubernetes Federation: Multi-Cluster Management

10. Common Pitfalls and Battle-Tested Best Practices

• Resource Management and Quotas
• Storage Pitfalls and Solutions
• Monitoring and Troubleshooting

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