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A Primer on the 4 Types of Kubernetes

The introduction of containerization to the process of designing application architecture changed the game entirely. Packaging applications as containers brings about improvements to resource efficiency and cost-effectiveness, but the revolution led to an explosive increase in container volume that would be impossible to manage without the Kubernetes container orchestration system.

Kubernetes provides freedom from the excessive tedium of granular container management by providing 4 types of Kubernetes services that each apply to different application use cases.

Key Takeaways:

The basic Kubernetes service types are ClusterIP, NodePort, LoadBalancer, and ExternalName.
Choosing the right Kubernetes service type requires analyzing the application in question and determining the type of network environment needed for that application to function as intended.
The Nutanix platform provides tools such as Nutanix Kubernetes Engine that streamline the process of deploying applications on Kubernetes according to their specific service needs.

The 4 Types of Kubernetes Services

The power of Kubernetes lies in its ability to facilitate deployment, automation, and monitoring of applications in environments where scaling would otherwise be an issue. However, modern applications have very specific needs and requirements in regard to deployment.

The 4 different types of Kubernetes allow you to specify the kind of service you want and therefore enable the requirements necessary for the application in question.

ClusterIP enables communication between pods within a Kubernetes cluster and only within that cluster. It is the default Kubernetes service type and is suitable for internal networking, but it is possible to expose a ClusterIP service to a public network through a Kubernetes proxy.

NodePort is a simple service type that routes traffic to a static port, typically without the need for configuration. It is important to keep in mind that one NodePort service can access a port at a time.

LoadBalancer exposes the service to an external network and enables the routing of traffic to any destination port number, protocol, or hostname. It is also possible to send practically any type of traffic, making LoadBalancer the most generally common among the types of Kubernetes services, though it does require the use of an external load-balancing component or cloud provider.

ExternalName maps the service to the contents of a predefined ExternalName field. The cluster’s configured DNS server then returns a CNAME record with the specified value, allowing for service without the need for a proxy.

Choosing the Right Kubernetes Service Type

Services enable groups of pods based on the function you want the pod deployment to perform. Services also define the access policies that pods will follow and establish how the pods will connect to an interface.

This means that the right service for a given situation will vary based on the type of application you are running and its network requirements. Choosing the type of Kubernetes service for a situation requires a close look at your application.

When deploying an application on Kubernetes, the variables you need to know are the type of service provided by the application, the size and location of the Kubernetes cluster, and the kind of traffic you expect your application to receive. With this information, you can identify the types of Kubernetes best suited for exposing the application to the pods within its cluster.

The ClusterIP service is ideal for internal processes such as debugging, while NodePort will suffice for one-off use cases including technical demos. For a more production-oriented use case, LoadBalancer can satisfy the wide range of ever-changing requirements that arise in cloud-native development.

Building a Suitable Environment for Kubernetes Services

SkyQuest Technology reports that the global Kubernetes market size at valued at USD 1.46 billion in 2022 with a projected growth to USD 9.69 billion by 2030. Kubernetes serves as a foundation for many applications today and will become increasingly prevalent tomorrow.

Harnessing the right Kubernetes services is essential for getting the most out of the pods that make up a containerized application, but doing so requires operating in an IT environment that fully accommodates the features and functionality of Kubernetes.

The Nutanix Kubernetes Engine(NKE) is a solution that can provide cloud-native enterprises with an environment where managing Kubernetes and configuring different types of Kubernetes services become simple, one-click tasks. With NKE, you get a complete Kubernetes solution with the guarantee of simple deployment and no risk of vendor lock-in.

Organizations operating in the Nutanix environment can also get access to Nutanix Data Services for Kubernetes(NDK). NDK expands the Kubernetes capabilities for Nutanix users by simplifying and unifying the entire lifecycle management of business-critical applications and extending enterprise data services to containerized applications.

Operational Freedom for All Types of Kubernetes Services

The Kubernetes system ensures network functionality for all types of application-based services by providing ClusterIP, NodePort, LoadBalancer, and ExternalName services as different options for exposing those applications to a network. Having multiple Kubernetes service types enables freedom of choice for the organization looking to deploy applications on Kubernetes.

The need to choose between 4 service types can also bring complexity to the decision-making process, however. Running NKE on Nutanix Cloud Platform hides that potential for complexity under layers of simplicity, allowing you to deploy, configure, and scale workloads on Kubernetes in a streamlined process that all but removes the need to choose a service type.

The core purpose of Kubernetes is to grant freedom to developers by removing the burden of managing containers manually. The existence of multiple types of Kubernetes services extends that freedom to a greater level - one which you can deploy at by leveraging a platform that empowers you to harness the operational freedom of Kubernetes to its fullest.

Learn more about implementing Kubernetes as a service and other cloud-native innovations that fuel growth.

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