The Kubernetes container orchestration platform 1.10 release focuses on adding beta functionality to three core areas, including storage, security and networking. In additional Kubernetes-related news, the Cross-cloud CI project (which integrates, tests and deploys projects within the CNCF ecosystem) has recently released the CI Dashboard v1.3.0, and the Kubernetes App Def Working Group have opened a survey for all users of Kubernetes to share their use cases and requirements for deploying applications to Kubernetes.
In the Kubernetes 1.0 release, the implementation of the Container Storage Interface (CSI) moves to beta, which means that installing new volume plugins is now "as easy as deploying a pod". Kubernetes volume plugins were previously all "in-tree" meaning that their source code was included in the main Kubernetes repo. The drawback to this approach was that it requires third-party storage vendors wanting to support Kubernetes to commit code to the Kubernetes repo, and thus be locked into Kubernetes release schedules. This new work conducted primarily by the Storage Special Interest Group (SIG) enables third-party storage providers to develop their solutions independently outside of the core Kubernetes codebase.
Durable (non-shared) local storage management progressed to beta in this release, making locally attached (non-network attached) storage available as a persistent volume source. This means higher performance and lower cost for distributed file systems and databases. This release also includes several beta updates to Persistent Volumes: Kubernetes can automatically prevent deletion of Persistent Volume Claims that are in use by a pod and a Persistent Volume that is bound to a Persistent Volume Claim. This helps ensure that storage API objects are deleted in the correct order.
Kubernetes adds another potential extension point in 1.10, with external kubectl credential providers released in alpha. This allows cloud providers and other platform developers to release binary plugins to handle authentication for specific cloud-provider IAM services, or that integrate with in-house authentication systems that aren't supported in-tree, such as Active Directory. This complements the Cloud Controller Manager feature added in 1.9.
The ability to switch the DNS service from the default kube-dns to the CNCF-hosted CoreDNS project at install time is now supported in beta. CoreDNS has less "moving parts" than the default solution, and is therefore simpler to operate, and engineers can configure CoreDNS to support many more use cases than kube-dns by modifying the Corefile. Addition information on the configuration options can be found on the CoreDNS site.
The CNCF CI Working Group has been working on the Cross-cloud CI project to integrate, test and deploy projects within the CNCF ecosystem. The Cross-cloud CI project consists of a cross-cloud testing system, status repository server and a dashboard. The cross-cloud testing system has three primary components -- the build pipeline process (which is optional, and can use project's build artifacts), cross-cloud, and cross-project -- that continually validate the interoperability of each CNCF project for any commit on stable and head across all supported cloud providers. For example, this allows the Prometheus team to ensure that their latest code changes work with the latest stable Kubernetes release, and the upcoming proposed release. The group recently released CI Dashboard v1.3.0, which is licensed under the Apache License 2.0 and publishes results daily.
In additional Kubernetes-related news, the Kubernetes Application Definitions Working Group, and the Apps Special Interest Group are running a survey to find out how engineers are deploying applications to Kubernetes. The information collected will help those on the Kubernetes project better understand requirements in regards to building and operating applications on Kubernetes. The data collected on the survey is anonymous, and will be made publicly available following the conclusion of the survey. The survey should take approximately ten minutes to complete, and all users of Kubernetes are encouraged to take part.
Kubernetes 1.10 is available for download on GitHub, and a series of interactive tutorials are also available for engineers wanting to learn more about the platform. More information on the cross-cloud continuous integration initiative can be found within the project's GitHub repo, and readers can take part in the Kubernetes Application Survey via the Google Form.
