#76 Kubernetes at the Edge? Think Again

De Nederlandse Kubernetes Podcast

In this episode of the Nederlandse Kubernetes Podcast, hosts Ronald Kers (CNCF Ambassador) and Jan Stomphorst (Senior Solutions Architect bij ACC ICT) sit down with Carl Moberg, an expert in network automation and co-founder of an innovative edge orchestration platform. Carl shares his extensive experience in automation and orchestration, highlighting why Kubernetes, despite its strengths, is not always the best solution for edge computing.

Carl describes how edge computing environments, such as retail stores, manufacturing plants, and mining operations, face unique challenges. Unlike the cloud, edge deployments require systems that are lightweight, resilient, and able to operate offline. These environments often run on constrained hardware with little room for the complexity that Kubernetes introduces.

Why Kubernetes Isn’t Always the Right Choice

Carl explains that while Kubernetes excels in the cloud, it struggles at the edge due to:

• Resource Constraints: Kubernetes assumes ample compute, memory, and network resources, which edge locations lack.
• Operational Overhead: Supporting components like registries, policy engines, and logging tools make Kubernetes impractical across thousands of edge nodes.
• Resilience Needs: At the edge, workloads must run uninterrupted, even when internet connectivity is lost—something Kubernetes’ centralized architecture complicates.

Instead of Kubernetes, Carl and his team developed a 150MB lightweight agent that runs on Docker or Podman. This solution provides core features like:

• Dynamic Application Placement: Applications are deployed based on criteria like hardware capabilities (e.g., GPUs), location, or attached devices (e.g., cameras).
• Resilient Offline Operations: Local registries, automated updates, and failover mechanisms ensure continuity during outages.
• Simplified Management: By abstracting orchestration complexity, the platform avoids Kubernetes’ resource and setup overhead.

Reference:
Kubernetes: The Documentary [PART 1]
Kubernetes: The Documentary [PART 2]
Aflevering 26: Managing 3000 nodes on the Edge | De Nederlandse Kubernetes Podcast

Stuur ons een bericht.

ACC ICT Specialist in IT-CONTINUÏTEIT
Bedrijfskritische applicaties én data veilig beschikbaar, onafhankelijk van derden, altijd en overal

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