Learning Path: Kubernetes

Overview

If you're new to Kubernetes and container orchestration and want to begin learning about it, this learning path covers everything from basic prerequisites to more advanced skills needed for containerization.

Objectives

Upon completion of this learning path, you will be able to:

• Understand the basics of containers.
• Build containerized applications and deploy them on Kubernetes.
• Understand the advantages of a deployment that uses Helm charts with Kubernetes.
• Understand basic networking for applications that are running in Kubernetes
• Debug and get logs from your Kubernetes applications.
• Download and install an Istio service mesh.
• Prioritize security when modernizing your applications.

Prerequisites

This learning path is for the beginning Kubernetes developer. However, you do need a basic understanding of Linux, YAML, and command lines.

Skill level

The skill level of this learning path is for a beginner.

Estimated time to complete

It will take you approximately 13 hours to complete this entire learning path.

Modules

The following items make up this learning path:

Kubernetes prerequisite knowledge

• Linux basics: Prerequisites to learning about containers

  Learn Linux basic commands that are commonly used when working with containers.

• YAML basics in Kubernetes

  Explore an example of how YAML is used in Kubernetes.

Containers: The start of a movement

• What are containers and how do they work?

  An introductory video to why containers are a great way to package your cloud-native applications.

• Docker 101

  Labs that introduce you to containers and Docker. Learn how to run your first container, add value with custom images, and manage data in containers.

Kubernetes: Enterprise container orchestration

• Learn the history and fundamentals of Kubernetes

  This video explains the history of containers and how Kubernetes came to be.

• Options for running Kubernetes locally

  Explore different methods to deploy Kubernetes locally to emulate what you would do in a real cloud on your local machine.

Containerizing your applications

• Containerization: Starting with Docker

  An introduction to Docker commands, Dockerfiles, and using Docker with container registries.

• Kubernetes 101

  Labs designed to help you achieve an understanding of Kubernetes and how to use Docker containers on Kubernetes in the IBM Cloud® Kubernetes Service.

Application management in Kubernetes

• Helm 101

  Introductory labs to help you understand the Kubernetes application package manager.

Deploying applications to Kubernetes

• Deploy a scalable WordPress implementation on Kubernetes

  Harness the full power of Kubernetes and host WordPress from the IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service.

• Deploy Java microservices on Kubernetes with polyglot support

  Learn how to deploy a Java microservices application that runs alongside other polyglot microservices, leveraging service discovery, registration, and routing.

Debugging and logging your Kubernetes application

• Debug and log your Kubernetes applications

  Gain an understanding about how to debug and get logs from your Kubernetes applications.

Kubernetes networking and services

• Kubernetes networking for developers

  What developers need to know about Kubernetes networking.

• Kubernetes Service Catalog 101

  Learn how to use the Open Service Broker API and the Kubernetes Service Catalog to automatically deploy and manage cloud services for your Kubernetes application.

Advanced networking: Istio

• Istio service mesh explained

  An explanation of why you might want to use a service mesh, how the Istio service mesh works, and some core concepts for you to get started quickly.

• Istio 101

  Learn how to install Istio alongside microservices for a simple mock app called Guestbook.

• Building an Istio service mesh for a microservices application deployed on Kubernetes

  Containerize an example travel booking app and create a service mesh to connect, control, and monitor the microservice interactions across containers.

Securing your workloads

• A journey to Kubernetes security

  Prioritize security when modernizing your apps.

• Basics of Kubernetes security

  An introduction to important Kubernetes security components.

• Set up runtime container security monitoring with Sysdig Falco and Kubernetes

  Learn how to set up Falco on a Kubernetes cluster on IBM Cloud, create a synthetic security incident, view the incident in Falco, and wire up Falco to send security alerts at run time to Slack.

Suggested next steps

After you complete this Kubernetes learning path, take your skill building to the next level with the following suggestions:

• Extending Kubernetes for a new developer experience

  Learn now Istio and Knative could cause a significant shift in the Kubernetes application developer's life.

• Knative: What is it and why should you care?

  Make sense of the Kubernetes-native platform for developers.

• Knative 101: Exercises designed to help you achieve an understanding of Knative

  Try out a lab that introduces the Kubernetes-based platform used to build, deploy, and manage modern serverless workloads.

• OpenShift vs. Kubernetes for developers

  Five key differences between Red Hat® OpenShift® and Kubernetes.