A Kubernetes crash course through five tutorials.
Ready to start working with Kubernetes? Want to build your Kubernetes skills? The five tutorials in this post will teach you everything you need to know about how to manage your containerized apps with Kubernetes.
Choose from these topics:
1. Kubernetes Tutorials on IBM CloudLabs
What this tutorial offers: IBM CloudLabs offers free, hands-on Kubernetes tutorials that you can do right in your browser.
Why it stands out: In just three easy steps, you’ll learn how to deploy and manage applications on IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service. You can even receive a Kubernetes certification by completing a short quiz at the end of the tutorials.
How it helps with a particular skill: IBM CloudLabs offers three interactive labs that will get you on the way to working with Kubernetes. You’ll learn about containers and Kubernetes essentials, scalable web applications on Kubernetes, and how to analyze logs and monitor application health. Just create a free IBM Cloud account and get started with Kubernetes Tutorials on IBM CloudLabs.
2. Kubernetes 101: Labs designed to help you achieve an understanding of Kubernetes
What this tutorial offers: Learn how to use Docker containers on Kubernetes in the IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service.
Why it stands out: If you’re new to Kubernetes, it can be hard to know where to begin. This tutorial cuts through the noise with a set of labs designed specifically for the developer.
How it helps with a particular skill: Newcomers to Kubernetes will learn core concepts in the first section of the tutorial. From there, you’ll learn to build a Docker image and deploy an application in the IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service. Next, learn to control app deployments in a way that helps you minimize time spent on infrastructure management. Finally, you’ll practice adding AI services to your app and learn to secure and monitor your cluster and app. At the end of the tutorial, you can participate in a bonus lab that offers Kubernetes debugging tips and tricks.
Learn more: Many people think that you use either Kubernetes or Docker. In our video, “Kubernetes vs. Docker: It’s Not an Either/Or Question,” we take a look at the two technologies and illustrate how they are actually complementary.
3. Deploying apps into Kubernetes clusters
What this tutorial offers: You’ll learn how to use the IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service to deploy a containerized app that uses Watson Tone Analyzer.
Why it stands out: You’ll practice building and deploying a progressively more complicated version of the same app. This tutorial is meant for software developers and network administrators learning to deploy an app into a Kubernetes cluster for the first time.
How it helps with a particular skill: When you create a deployment, a Kubernetes pod is generated for each container defined for the deployment. You can define multiple instances of the same app in your deployment and let Kubernetes automatically create replica sets for you, which helps ensure the resiliency, or service level, of your deployments if and when faults occur. Replica sets monitor pods and assures that the correct number of pods are always up and running. If a pod becomes unresponsive, it is recreated automatically.
This tutorial also teaches you how to use a Kubernetes service to access a running app from the internet using a public IP address. You’ll practice deploying a single app instance in a cluster by using a Kubernetes command and script. You will deploy multiple instances of an app in containers that are re-created during health checks. You will also deploy an app that uses functionality from an IBM Cloud service.
Learn more: Interested in learning more about Kubernetes deployments before getting started? Check out our video “Kubernetes Deployments: Get Started Fast“:
4. Set up a continuous delivery pipeline for containerized applications
What this tutorial offers: This tutorial teaches you how to establish an efficient app delivery workflow in Kubernetes.
Why it stands out: One of the main benefits of Kubernetes is setting up a continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) process. This tutorial teaches you how to streamline that process and how to integrate other services that include security scanning, Slack notifications, and analytics.
How it helps with a particular skill: After completing this lab, you’ll be able to create both development and production Kubernetes clusters. You’ll first choose an available starter application, which cuts down on development time by offering boilerplate code. You’ll then configure a DevOps toolchain and delivery pipeline that you can use to clone, build, and locally run your application. Next, you’ll learn how to push the app you created to a Git repository. Learn how to use Vulnerability Advisor to check the security status of container images before deployment, and also check the status of running containers. Next, you’ll set up Slack notifications to notify you whenever your DevOps toolchain executes. At the end of the tutorial, you can take your skills further by practicing log analysis and monitoring with Kibana and Grafana.
5. Container and Kubernetes essentials with IBM Cloud
What this tutorial offers: If you already have experience with Docker containers, this lab takes your learning a step further. Exercises give you hands-on experience with container orchestration, deployment, and security by using Kubernetes and the IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service.
Why it stands out: This course is designed to teach developers how to deploy containers in the cloud by using the container orchestration tool Kubernetes in the IBM Cloud environment.
How it helps with a particular skill: The tutorial explores the relationship between Kubernetes and containers, including the Kubernetes architecture and resource model. There are three labs in this tutorial. The first teaches you how to set up and deploy your first application. Lab 2 shows you how to scale and update your applications, as well as check the health of your apps. In Lab 3, you’ll learn how to deploy an app with IBM Watson services.
Learn more: For an overview of how container orchestration works, see our video “Container Orchestration Explained“:
IBM Learn Hub
- Kubernetes: A Complete Guide
- Containers: A Complete Guide
- Containerization: A Complete Guide
- Istio: A Complete Guide
- Knative: A Complete Guide
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